Description
The project TransylvaNet – Consolidating Civil Society for Development through Heritage Promotion, implemented by Heritas–Transylvanian Foundation for Integrated Development, Preservation and Revitalization of Cultural Patrimony and the 3 Partners (MET, ASTRA and AIDC) addresses the continuous deterioration of the cultural heritage in the region of Transylvania. In March 2013 a collaboration agreement was signed to set the basis for a strategic cooperation between the civil society and the cultural institutions of the Central Region. The objective of this project is to consolidate the partnership and to formalize a network of 20 NGOS and culture institutions from Brașov, Sibiu and Mureș counties, that will lead to viable solutions for the preservation and sustainable utilization of the cultural heritage in Transylvania. The direct beneficiaries are 20 Ngos and institutions active in the fields of heritage and community development, 20 representatives of these organizations and 1250 local community members from 3 towns and 15 villages from the 3 counties already mentioned– main users of the existing cultural heritage.
Summary of project results
The project was conditioned by the existence of two major issues identified by the member organisations of the informal network created in 2013 with the purpose of protecting the Transylvanian heritage. The following fundamental problems have outlined the necessity of developing the project: the danger of losing the built cultural heritage, especially in the rural areas of Transylvania, and the lack of long term strategic cooperation between specific civil society representatives from this region. Main activities of the project were: establishing the formal federation, creating the statute, structures of leadership and secretarial office for the newly established federation, running a training programme that developed the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of 20 representatives of organisations in project management and advocacy, running a promotion campaign of the new federation, which increased awareness of people and disseminated project results. After the implementation of the project, the Transylvanet - Federation for Transylvanian Heritage was formally established and functioning, currently having 20 members. The federation implemented a campaign to raise awareness of the owners of built heritage about the importance of preserving and protecting heritage. An advocacy activity was initiated, with a position paper proposing legislative amendments for a clear, unified, unequivocal legal framework that provides the legal basis for registration and commitment of expenditures from central and local budgets regarding rehabilitation works of monuments owned by individuals and private legal entities. 20 NGOs and institutions in the field of heritage and community development, their 20 representatives and 716 members of local communities in the counties of Sibiu, Mures and Brasov were directly involved in the project.
Summary of bilateral results