Description
The "Volunteering a bridge between ethnic groups" project will be implemented by the Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre. The main aim of the project is the development of three rural communities of Cluj county (Floresti, Tureni and Sanpaul), all three with a significant Roma population. The project addresses the problem of multi-ethnic communities and their development through volunteering, by mobilizing all local stakeholders to generate positive change. To achieve its objectives the project will pursue several lines of action: - Organizing a weekly multicultural club for 25 students (classes I-IV) in each beneficiary school. - Mobilizing the local community members of Floresti, Tureni and Sanpaul by organizing two community actions that are based on specific needs identified and are facilitated by members of these communities. - Increasing the capacity of public authorities in managing inter-ethnic relations by offering a training course on multiculturalism as well as a study visit in Norway, in organizations relevant for the topic of the project.
Summary of project results
The project was implemented by the Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre (CVCN) between March 2015 and April 2016. The main aim of the project was the development of three rural communities in Cluj County (Floresti, Tureni and Sinpaul), all three with a significant Roma population. The project addressed the problem of multi-ethnic communities and their development through volunteering, by mobilising all local stakeholders to generate positive changes. During the project, seven public institutions (Floresti City Hall, Tureni City Hall, Sinpaul City Hall, Floresti School, Tureni School, Sinpaul School, Cluj-Napoca City Hall) signed partnerships with CVCN and 30 local and international volunteers were involved in different activities, accumulating more than 2,580 volunteering hours. The team of volunteers participated in a training and two teambuilding sessions, so that their actions would have more impact. The project offered 142 children (6 to 10 years old) the possibility to attend the 79 weekly meetings of the multicultural clubs in each of the three rural communities. Also as a part of the project, 4 representations of a puppet theatre play focused on interethnic relations were staged in the three communities, and two other representations in Cluj-Napoca. The schools and municipalities' representatives (12 direct beneficiaries) attended a training course on interculturalism and a job shadowing visit in Norway. Other activities which contributed to achieving the goal of the project included translating and producing two training tools (card based exercises) and organising 8 presentation sessions for 105 professionals, 3 community volunteering actions, 4 PhotoVoice expositions in the 3 communities and in Cluj-Napoca, with a total of 106 photos exhibited, created by the children involved in the multicultural clubs. Also, a training course disseminated the results of the project to representatives of schools and municipalities from Cluj County (19 direct beneficiaries, employees of 15 public institutions from Cluj County). 600 booklets containing a collection of educational activities for children in multicultural context, both Romanian and English version, were distributed.
Summary of bilateral results