Humanitarian Roofing project in Prislop, Romania
Thanks to gifts from private donors in many countries 15 families received sheets for making their roofs water proof
14.08.2009 | Margriet Samwel
horse cars transport the sheets from the square in Rasinari to Prislop
Prislop is a small Roma settlement nearby the city Sibiu in the county Transylvania. Thanks to gifts from Dutch private donors WECF started in the summer of 2008 a project to repair 10 out of the 80 leaking roofs in Prislop in Romania. This grassroots initiative was locally organised by a committed woman from the nearby city, while the house owners did all the work themselves. This year again efforts were undertaken to collect donations in The Netherlands and in Germany.
Donations for Prislop roofing action 2009
On March 7, 2009 WECF organised a charity concert in the St. Martinus church in the Dutch town Zaltbommel in collaboration with the talented, young Romanian virtuoso violinist Razvan Stoica and pianist Andreea Stoica. Thanks to their contribution and the support of the representatives of the Dutch church 930 Euro was collected during that event. Additional private donations from the Netherlands, Germany, France and Sweden increased the amount up to 2714 Euro.
15 Poor families received materials for repairing their leaking roofs
Fortunately prices for sheets had gone down in 2009 compared with the previous year, so the budget was sufficient to cover the material costs for at least 15 huts!
The 15 families were selected according to criteria such as whether or not having a roof with many leakages, having children and having no or very little income. All the families were visited in advance and their houses were checked on leaks and overall state. Many of the families were known to Anca, the local project coordinator, who visits Prislop 3 times a week for cooking sessions in which 27 women take part. The sessions are combined with discussions about hygiene, healthy food, diseases and problems of their daily life, contributing to the self-confidence of the women.
Christina is one of the benificiares; is 21 years old and has 3 children
With the support of Illie, an inhabitant of Prislop, Anca organised for each of the 15 selected families in Prislop:
- 20 „Guttapral“ bitumen roof sheets for covering at least a part of the huts of the families
- 180 Screws for fixing the sheets
- 5 Covers for the top of the roof
On the 2nd of July the firm delivered the materials to a square of the nearby village Rasinari, where Anca, Illie and WECF handed over the materials to the receiving families. Horses with cars took over the transport via the hilly and stony road from Rasinari to Prislop. The families themselves are responsible for fixing the roof sheets.
WECF continues supporting Prislop
The roofing action has not only had major impact on the living conditions of the Roma in Prislop, but has also added to their self-confidence knowing that people from Romania, the Netherlands, France and Germany want to improve their future. For many of the Prislop people living in those poor conditions, it is difficult to believe in a better future for them and their children. Now 10 poor families are left with roofs in a desperate condition and need urgent help for repairing their roofs. The other remaining 45 leaking roofs are less urgent and will probably need support in 2 years. Besides the leaking roofs many families have corroded leaking stoves, causing smoke and bad air in the living rooms.
That means, WECF will continue with supporting the Prislop people for improving the living conditions.
What you can do!
Donate or ask friends or family to donate the cost of one or more roofing sheets.
All the donations go straight into the roofs.
- For approximately 10 Euros we can buy one roofing sheet.
- For one roof we need at least 20 roofing sheets or 200 Euro.
Bank account numbers for tax deductible donations, please mention: Donation Prislop roofing Project:
The Netherlands: Women in Europe for a Common Future, WECF
Account Number: 435 42 99 14
IBAN: NL 84 ABNA 0435429914
BIC: ABNANL2A ABN-AMRO Utrecht
Germany: Women in Europe for a Common Future, WECF e.V.
Account Number 13 1390 50, Bank code 701 500 00
SWIFT: SSKMDEMM
IBAN: DE68 7015 0000 0013 1390 50 Banc: Stadtsparkasse München
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