For three days in May (28th to 30th) in Romania took place the sixth meeting of PAIRS on “Effective Programs for the Active Integration/Inclusion of the Roma in South-East Europe”
On the first day the attendees were introduced with the project “Romano ButiQ”, which was a social economy workshop. The project was introduced by Nicoleta Bitu, Executive Director of the Association “Romano ButiQ”. Then the attendees visited the construction site of the Romani Culture Museum, which was again presented by Nicoleta Bitu.The next visit was at Sastipen – a Roma Center for Health Policies, where it was presented the project “Resource Community Centers: strategic instruments in the process of improving the situation of vulnerable groups in the rural area”, presented by Daniel Rădulescu, Project Manager and Eugenia Bratu, Health Specialist.
On the second day, the study visit started with the presentation of the activity of the Office for the Roma and the Roma human resource active in County of Olt, by Cristina Mihai, County Office for the Roma, Daniela Gheorghită, health mediator in Iancu Jianu commune, and Marinela Nitu, school mediator in Corabia.The second activity of the day was the presentation of the project “Empowering Roma communities in influencing and monitoring local agendas in Romania”. This presentation included a film presented by Ana Icasiuc, former M&E expert on the project and Mihai Ioana, former project facilitator, Mayor of Grădinari.
“Drăgănesti Roma communities and their situation” was the next presentation by Sofia Baciu, local Roma expert, and Gheorghe Fieraru, Romani language teacher.
The last presentation of the day was the project “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, a project introduced by a film presented by the project team members.The second day was concluded with the visit to Gradinary community.
The third day the attendees visited the offices of the National Agency for Roma (NAR), in which took place the last presentations: “NAR, its objectives and plans for the future” by Daniel Vasile, President of NAR, “Roma health mediator” by Mariana Buceanu, PAIRS Thematic Expert, and “The importance of the concept of Community Development in Romania” by Mariea Ionescu, PAIRS Thematic Expert.
The program of the day and of the whole study visit in Romania ended with the conclusions of the visit and the main key-issues.