Description
In the Danube Delta Letea village has a unique traditional architecture that is threatened by the chaotic house building, lack of regulations for the conservation of the rural landscape, poverty and lack of alternatives for sustainable development, exodus and aging of the population. The reed is cool! project aims to mobilize the local community to start a constant development of the living conditions by protecting the genuine rural landscape and promoting traditional products of Letea village, Tulcea. The objectives of the project are to create the necessary premises to include local workmanship of building reed roofs in the UNESCO immaterial universal heritage, to elaborate the local development strategy, to ensure the institutional development conditions for the Letea in UNESCO organization. As a result of the project, a nomination file to include the local workmanship of building reed roofs in the UNESCO heritage will be prepared, a local development strategy will be elaborated and approximately 1000 inhabitants will be informed. The target group is represented by the local- and county public authorities, central authorities and the population.
Summary of project results
“The reed is cool!” project implemented by the Letea in UNESCO Association aimed to mobilize the local community to start a constant development of the living conditions in Letea village (Tulcea county - Danube Delta), by protecting the genuine rural landscape and promoting the traditional products. The objectives of the project were to create the necessary premises to include the local handicraft of building reed roofs in the UNESCO immaterial universal heritage, to elaborate the local development strategy for Letea village and to ensure the institutional development conditions for the “Letea in UNESCO” organization. Over 1,000 inhabitants were informed and 500 signed the petition for including the local handicraft of building reed roofs in the UNESCO immaterial universal heritage. The project team elaborated the Development Strategy of the C.A. Rosetti area. The Delta Local Action Group submitted the documents for obtaining funds designated for solving locally identified problems. 21 local authorities and NGOs signed in Tulcea, the Delta countryside UNESCO World Heritage Paper, supporting the introduction of thatched roofs in the UNESCO intangible heritage. Letea in UNESCO Association conducted a working visit in Transylvanian villages in order to identify effective methods for rural development, which could be applied in the village of Letea. The project team visited the community kitchen and pottery workshops in the village of Saschiz. They also visited the Topa organic farm and the guesthouse Viscri 125, that respects the traditional architecture and promotes sustainable development in the area. In what concerns the organisational development, the association’s website was developed and the annual report of the organisation was released and distributed in the community.
Summary of bilateral results