Caransebes

General Information
 
ROMACT Cycle: 
Closed
Mayor of the Municipality: 
Felix Borcean
Contact Person within the Municipality: 
Mihai Vasile – Local expert for Roma issues/
Facilitators: 
Daniel Grebeldinger
Total population: 
24 689
Source: 
Census 2011
Roma living in the Municipality: 
527
Description of the Municipality: 

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Last update: 12/01/2017
 
Caransebes is a city in Caraș-Severin County, part of Banat region, in southwestern Romania, located at the confluence of the River Timiș with the River Sebeș. Caransebes is the second largest town of the County and it is composed out of two localities - Jupa and Caransebes. The city’s population numbers 24.689 inhabitants. The main economic activities are: agriculture focuses on horticulture and livestock
Industry-based woodworking and metalworking; crafts, commercial activities; transportation.

There are 5 Roma communities in Caransebes: Pipirig, Balta Sarata, Nato Blocks, Psychiatric Hospital and At the Bridge. In Balta Sarata - a Roma community were are living low educated Roma which half don’t have a jobs - they are living in 3 buildings (barracks) and the living conditions are very bad. In Pipirig is located the Roma community which has the best living conditions and they are the ones which attend school the most. In Nato Blocks there is a community with 3 buildings with around 150 apartments; here, children don’t attend school and adults have big problems with employment. All communities face problems of infrastructure, unemployment and health.
 

 

The ROMACT Process

Caransebes joined ROMACT Program in July 2016. The local action plan was developed and approved on February 28th 2017, under the ROMACT Program, for the period of 2016 - 2020. 

The Community Action Group (CAG) identified some of the short/medium/long-term problems:
 
Short-term priorities:
 

  • - Organize School after school activities
  • - Employment of a school mediator
  • - Provide  employment and training activities
  • - Legal advising and making ID papers
  • - Providing health services
  • - Organize cultural activities with the kids and young people

    Long-term priorities:
     

  • - Solve the property situation in the community
  • - Build a community center in Pipirig
  • - Connect to drinking water all the houses
  • - Asphalt the roads
  • - Provide young families with land to build new houses
  • - Improve the quality of the services in the hospital
  • - Renovate some sections of the hospital 
  •  
    Trainings/expertise provided for the local administration:
     
    Applying for European Structural Funds
    Elaboration of the JAP
    Coaching the LA in the contracting phase - project won under the Human Capital Operational Program 2014-2020, Axis 5.1
  • Implementation of projects funded under HCOP
     
    Activities involving the community action group:
     
    Training on community development and civic participation

So far, the following measures to solve problems in Roma community were taken:
 
Employment of a school mediator    
Local Authority budget – 5.000 euro/year
Status: Process ongoing
Beneficiaries: 600 persons
 
Free travel for Roma kids and students        
Local Authority budget - 350 euro/month
Status: Process ongoing
Beneficiaries: 100 persons

Employment of a health mediator    
Local Authority budget – 6.600 euro/year      
Status: Process ongoing
Beneficiaries: 600 persons
 
Road Repairing in Pipirig 
Local Authority Budget – 11.000 euro
Status: Process finished
Beneficiaries: 350 persons

Second Chance School           
County School Inspectorate budget – amount Unknown     
Status: Process ongoing
Beneficiaries: 10 persons
 
One chance for the marginalized communities from Caransebes Municipality
EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND, Human Capital Operational Program 2014-2020, Axis 4.1 - Social inclusion and combating poverty in Roma marginalized communities
Budget: 5.000.000 eur
Beneficiaries: 1.000 persons
 
 

Timeline Points

12 Aug 2016
Step 1- Becoming Commited- Signature of the letter of commitment
15 Nov 2016
Creation of Taskforce
28 Feb 2017
Step 3- Translating priorities into measures- Joint Action Plan for Roma inclusion adopted by City Council
22 Aug 2017
End of ROMACT Process
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