Cugir
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Cugir is a Romanian town situated in the center of the country, about 40 kilometers south-west of Alba-Iulia (the capital City of Alba County). The town administers seven villages: Bocșitura (Potschitur), Bucuru (Bukur), Calene (Kalleney), Feteni (Fetzeberg), Goasele (Eisenhammer), Mugesti (Kudschirstallen) and Vinerea (Wolfsdorf). According to the 2011 census, the total population living in the town numbers 21.376 - 95.4% Romanians, 3.4% Roma, 0.9% Hungarians and 0.2% Germans.
There are 4 Roma communities in Cugir: Cosbuc neighborhood - the largest Roma community, including about 1.600 Roma inhabitants living in blocks of studio type, Raul Mic community – which numbers almost 400 Roma who live in small houses located under a hill, Rozelor street- includes almost 200 Roma who live in two blocks with low standard of living and Cindeni neighborhood – with approx. 100 Roma who live in regular houses.
The ROMACT Process
ROMACT process in Cugir started in February 2017. The Local Action Plan for Roma was adopted, under the ROMACT Programme, on 30 May 2017 and the Joint Action Plan became an annex to the Development Strategy of the Locality.
The Community Action Group (CAG) identified its short/medium/long-term needs:
| Short and mid-term priorities | Objective 1 | Objective 2 | Objective 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Providing services for disinsection, disinfestation, current repairs in schools and kindergartens. | Organizing competitions, extracurricular activities and school camps for Roma children | |
| Culture | Organizing cultural events with specific/inspiration from Roma folklore and culture | Establishing a Roma Cultural Center | Organizing an annual event with the local Roma Fanfare |
| Health | Organizing health promotion/ anti-drug/ vaccination campaigns | Improving of gynecology-pediatrics section conditions at the local maternity |
| Long-term priorities | Objective 1 | Objective 2 | Objective 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Repairing/asphalting the streets in the neighborhoods. Modernizing the public transport | Expansion of the electricity and water/sewage network | Arranging a collecting channel for rainwater and implementing a flood prevention system |
| Housing | Offering financial support and legal advice for people lacking identity and property documents | Rehabilitating the social houses | Arrangement of a leisure complex and skate park for children in the community |
| Employment | Supporting the process of developing competences for young people in the process of skills development and employment | Providing mentoring and support program to help Roma entrepreneurs create jobs and develop human capital in the community | Achieving a information, counseling, mediation process for a number of 1.000 Roma people |
| Education | Setting-up 2 school mediator positions | Ensuring a warm meal for Roma children going to school. Providing equipment, furniture, teaching materials in schools. | Develop "School after School" programs |
| Other | Modernizing the social canteen and setting up a shelter for homeless people | Setting up an Integrated Community Center and an information office for business ideas and non-reimbursable funds | Hiring one Roma local police officer |
Several trainings were also provided:
- Local Authorities representatives were coached/trained on:
- * Accessing EU funds
- * Developing of a project financed under ROP
- * Implementation of a project financed under OPHC 4.1
- * Accessing Structural and Cohesion Funds
CAG members were coached/trained on :
* Community development and civic participation
The following measures to solve problems in Roma community were taken:
* Rehabilitation of Block 15 and 8 Cosbuc neighbourhood
* Recruitment onf a health mediator from Roma community
* Rehabilitation of the street lighting in Raul Mic community
* Contruction of a wall to stop potential landslide
The Municipality benefited of ROMACT expertise for the following project:
* Rehabilitation, modernization and equipment of Pervain school in Cugir - ROP 13.1- Under Evaluation
* Inclusion - European investment for social development in Cugir - OPHC 4.1- Approved- Budget 3 209 745 €
As of August 2023, ROMACT process is reinforced in Cugir and a new agreement was signed by the Mayor.