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Description
The Ferentari neighborhood continues to be a marginalized, isolated community whose members often live below the poverty line. People that live in this place are discriminated by other people and also by some authorities and also the most exposed to violence, stigmatisation and discrimination are women and children.
The main problem is that many laws and public policies that affect the citizens of the neighborhood are made without consulting them, respectively the impact on the community is often non-existent and sometimes even negative. Such examples may include: in order to benefit from social assistance, citizens must have an address in sector 5 and the list of minimum required documents includes about 20 documents, plus two standardized ones; for the family support allowance there are even more documents required, including documents issued by 4 different institutions. The project will create a nucleus of action consisting of residents of the area who will be informed and trained in community development and advocacy, who will be able to "fight" in the long run to ensure and access the rights of citizens in the neighborhood. In addition to this core, the project will ensure the development of a local action plan developed by citizens for citizens and will provide communication bridges with public institutions. The main beneficiaries are 100 children from Phillip Home and 50 adults from Ferentari; in addition, the activities will involve several hundred people from the neighborhood and the information will be provided at the level of the entire neighborhood. The applicant runs the information and services components, the Phillip Home is the bridge to the target group and is a long-term service provider in the neighborhood and the Respiro Association has expertise in advocacy and community organization.
Summary of project results
Inside Ferentari, a marginalized, isolated neighborhood located in Bucharest, the members of the community often live below the poverty line in improper and often unsanitary conditions and are exposed to a high risk of contracting various diseases. Most of the apartments do not have running water or heat, which makes the situation much worse during winter. Also, the vast majority of children do not eat adequately, and for many of them, the meal offered in the centers is the only meal of the day. One of the key problems that perpetuates these conditions is that many laws and public policies that affect the neighborhood''s citizens are made without their consultation, respectively the impact on the community is often non-existent and sometimes even negative.
Overall, the project implemented a comprehensive approach to address the socio-economic challenges faced by the Ferentari community, focusing on community empowerment, advocacy, infrastructure enhancement, and educational initiatives.
On one hand, the main activities of the project included consultations with 254 residents, resulting in the identification of key community issues, the selection of 7 community leaders, and the recruitment of 70 residents for the Ferentari Community Action Group - Nucleo. Further on, the 7 leaders participated in basic training in community organizing and advocacy. This group served as a platform for community members to collaborate on addressing local issues and advocating for change. The action group managed to implement eight advocacy campaigns that targeted various community issues, aiming to influence local policies and improve living conditions in Ferentari.
On the other hand, the project carried out activities such as non-formal education workshops conducted for 100 children, covering topics such as photography, science, and civic education, and financial literacy workshops for 50 adults, empowering them with essential financial management skills.
Other activities implemented were the organization of the festival aimed to promote social cohesion and cultural celebration, with a focus on Roma culture, to engage both Roma and non-Roma populations and the equipment of the Phillip House Foundation, Partner in the project, with a washing machine, dryer and dishes for the kitchen so to sustain the basic needs of the disadvantaged people.
The project successfully identified and nurtured 7 community leaders, equipping them with essential skills in community organizing and advocacy. These leaders emerged as catalysts for change, mobilizing the other recruited residents, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility within the community.
Through eight robust advocacy campaigns implemented by Ferentari Community Action Group - Nucleo, the community successfully lobbied for tangible policy changes and improvements in local infrastructure and services. From addressing public health concerns like rodent infestations to advocating for pedestrian safety measures, these campaigns had a direct and immediate impact on the daily lives of Ferentari residents.
Furthermore, the project empowered vulnerable individuals through targeted non-formal education workshops and financial literacy sessions and equipped the Phillip House Foundation with a washing machine, dryer, and dishes for the kitchen so to sustain the basic needs of the disadvantaged people.
Overall, the project fostered a culture of active citizenship, promoting social cohesion, and empowering individuals through education and advocacy.