While the EU heads of government to think in Sibiu on the future of Europe, living only 30 miles away Romas in Slums. The situation of the Romanian Roma is in many places of misery. A report by Barbara Wesel.
From the regional capital of Sibiu you drive only half an hour in the village of Altana, but it is a little time travel. High above the street with a stork sitting in his Nest, the old houses of the peasants in Transylvania style and are painted in pastel colours, at the intersection of a horse waiting for carts. On the outskirts, but, on a muddy hill, is the Roma settlement. A clearly separated misery.
The Prikops build a house
The way to get there are unpaved, and when it rains everything in the mud is sinking here. From a hut a girl peeks out curious, but in addition a group of men working on a building under construction. Progress here means, of one of these huts, the sticks are traditionally made of wood and clay, were built in a small brick house to move.
The construction of the family Prikop is soon finished, but it was worth the money for the interior is still missing. Father Cosmin works just with his brother. Even Cosmin Prikop lives with his wife and six children in one of these old cottages, a room of four by four meters, is an iron stove for heating and cooking, a water line runs in front of the door. There is also a sea of mud, through the cheerful, the children jump. A rural Slum on how to get to him in Europe in the 21st century. Century is no longer expected.
Also, Romania has one of the EU enacted national action plan for the Integration of the Roma, but it is in this village, as in many other rural regions, still nothing arrived. Help comes from a private organization, the “help the children of Transylvania,” the German Jenny Swift. She came over 15 years ago, and remained to change things from the ground up. She has financed your organization, the first phase of Cosmin Prikops house with donations, now he has to wait until new money can be raised.
Father Cosmin Prikop (with red cap) and his family when building a house
The father of a family had for a while a Job as an unskilled worker in the building materials trade. But since it is paid to the Roma in the best case, the minimum wage, the family can not live. And Cosmin wanted to build a better house. “I’ve tried it at the Bank, but because my salary was so small, you have given me nothing.” Only Jenny Swift support brought hope to the settlement.
The poverty of the Roma is a case of
Also, the German worker had to learn only how you can break the cycle. They had come to be neglected and to help put children. In the meantime, you know that you have to start with the parents and in the family. And that starts at home. If the children from the mud huts and dirty to go to school, you will be excluded and not supported. You can not learn if they are malnourished, in need of clothing, books and school books. All of this now comes from the donations requested by the families of employees. It aims to help people to help themselves, who is looking for a Job, you will be rewarded, for example with more food.
So far, only one out of five Roma children here in the school – Jenny Swift dream is that everyone should get an education. Because it’s the only way for you to have a Chance at a better future. But the path is long. Even for the children who make it to high school and then an apprenticeship, there are other hurdles. The jump can fail because the family cannot raise the money for the bus ticket in the city.
Rapid self-chosen task, to liberate the Roma in the area of Sibiu from this cycle appears endless. But with their hard-hitting ways she has learned to always do the Nearest. Each finished house, every little girl that wanders in the morning in the village school, was a victory, she says.
Jenny Swift and her organization help the children of Transylvania are since 15 years in Romania
And where is Europe?
The Roma are the largest minority in Europe. And each EU member country must submit a national action plan for its Integration and promotion. But regularly the main cities are admonished to do more, because still many are registered stands. The Problem is that the national States are responsible for the implementation of the plans responsible for Altana ultimately, the government in Bucharest is responsible. And has many other priorities.
And whoever you ask here for help from the authorities, the power from waves and mutters the word “corruption”. Jenny Swift has been trying for years to work together with the local administration. But has put more obstacles in the way than support. She’s not trying to get EU funding for your projects, because she believes that she can’t cope with the bureaucratic procedures. Apart from that, however, Brussels would have to exert a lot more control on the spot, check where the European funds are flowing and how they are really used.
Money for Integration
Nevertheless, Romania had benefited “enormously from EU membership,” said the German assistant. The police and authorities could treat the Roma like we used to, as all settlements are cleared away, the people in buses and taken somewhere far away were exposed to. But, as before, a third of Romanians live in poverty, especially in rural areas. And among them the Roma are the poorest group.
Many of the children in the Slum, in which the Roma live, go to school
Tens of billions of euros, Romania will receive annually from European funds for regional development. Of money for Roma Integration is provided for, but the controls are missing, and the regular reminders from Brussels unheeded.
Sibiu has been spruced up for the EU summit, with banners and beautifully restored facades. The heads of government – as it is everywhere in their meeting places – only the beautiful side of the host country. What Jenny Swift wishes of those who want to discuss the “social Europe”? “You should only go once to get up from their tables and us out of here, to see how life really is”. A look at the mud huts of Altana is likely to be for some, actually quite a shock.