Press Release 27.07.2023

Crăcăoani, Neamț County, 27 July 2023 - starting at 11:00, in the meeting room of the Town Hall of Crăcăoani, Neamț County, the event `Talking with Roma women from Crăcăoani` was organized. Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation (CMSC) in partnership with Romanian Women’s Lobby Association (RoWL), Foreningen Hedda, Bulgarian Platform of European Women's Lobby, The Network of East-West Women (NEWW) și Magyar Nöi Erdekérvényesitö Szövetség/Hungarian Women’s Lobby, with the support of the Asociația Centrul de Dezvoltare Comunitară Neamț presented the results of the activities carried out in Crăcăoani, jud. Neamt within the project `GLORIA - feminism and strategic approach of gender equality`.

With the help of the project experts, between June and July 2023, 5 personal development events were held for Roma women from Crăcăoani - under the coordination of the Asociația Centrul de Dezvoltare Comunitară Neamț (member of the Romanian Women's Lobby Association). By supporting these emblematic events for Roma women, we aimed to strengthen the presence of the association in the life of the citizens and to support it in expanding its membership and creating a feminist solidarity between the leaders of the organization and the beneficiaries of the community of Crăcăoani. Over the course of two months, the Roma women of Crăcăoani found answers to the questions: "Who am I?", "What do I want for myself and my children?", "How can I get involved in order to change my perspective and the context created for a quality life?". After these working sessions, Mrs Carmen Andrei, President of Asociația Centrul de Dezvoltare Comunitară Neamț, gave us the following conclusion: "We, women, are and can become a force!".

During the event `Talking to Roma women from Crăcăoani` on July 27, 2023, we learned more about their personal experiences and discoveries during these two months. It was an intense dialogue with two enterprising women leaders from the host commune of Crăcăoani and the neighbouring commune of Vînători Neamț, young and more experienced Roma women, local and regional civil society, the media and professionals working in the field. "I felt equal to the important women around the table", said one of the participants. "I didn't think there was anywhere else a real dialogue on women's issues in the Roma community and all in such an optimistic tone", remarked a doctor present at the hopeful discussions of the women around the council table.

The discussions at the Crăcăoani town hall table continued directly in the community in the form of a rural Brunch for which the Roma women (despite the rain that messed up the fire and the preparations) cooked traditional Roma dishes in a cauldron on the stoves, packed 550 sarmas the night before the event, but also cozonac, cake and many other goodies appreciated by the guests coming from Iași, Roman, Piatra Neamț and the communes neighboring the village of Crăcăoani.

It was an unforgettable day, we hope for all those who learned more about the life of Roma women in the Romanian rural communities, and the feminist support and solidarity shown by all the participants in the event will turn into a constant, and the model of good practice will be move to other rural localities as well. "When are you coming to our commune?" was the question asked by a participant from a village 30 km away from Crăcăoani. Soon, we hope, soon.

The project is implemented by Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation in partnership with the Romanian Women's Lobby Association (RoWL) from Romania, Foreningen Hedda from Norway; Bulgarian Platform of European Women's Lobby from Bulgaria; Network of East West Women from Poland; MagyarNöi Erdekérvényesitö Szövetség/Hungarian Women's Lobby from Hungary and benefits from a 249,943 euros grant from Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Grants 2014 -2021. The project aims to support 21 member NGOs in the Romanian Women’s Lobby (ROWL) through organizational development, strengthening the role of monitoring and advocacy on women’s rights, gender equality, and combating gender-based violence in order to achieve a strategic approach, strengthen financial resources and increase the capacity to raise public awareness of the problems faced by women beneficiaries of NGO services.

About us

The projects and services of Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation are based on the development and promotion of public policies and models of community development, cooperation and development of good practices, as well as campaigns or legislative initiatives that can contribute to a safer life for our communities. CMSC has coordinated over 30 regional projects since 2000 and continues its activities constantly focused on introducing new and better standards in community development and victim support. Introduction of European and international Community safety models, adapted to the needs and realities of the underdeveloped region in which it develops its programs (both in rural and urban areas, in 9 counties and almost 20 communities - in the NE part of Romania) constituted the highest priority since its establishment.

About the Active Citizens Fund Romania

The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The programme is administered by a consortium composed of Civil Society Development Foundation, Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma Communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as Fund Operator designated by FMO – Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. The objectives of the Active Citizens Fund Romania are to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46,000,000 euro, the programme pursues a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please go to www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, go to www.eeagrants.org.

Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

For more information about the project, please visit:https://www.feminismgloria.com.

Contact:

Irina Simiuc, Project Manager

E-mail: irina.simiuc@cmsc.ro