Culture in the Slums
This is an article presenting the project prepared by Nevo Parudimos, Romania, given the subgrants under the ERGO sub-granting scheme 2024, funded by the EU
Roma communities continue to face persistent challenges of social exclusion, discrimination, and limited access to primary services. In Reșița and its surrounding areas, these struggles remain visible in daily life, from barriers to employment and education to inadequate housing and systemic neglect. In response, Nevo Parudimos conducted a series of advocacy and community engagement activities to address these pressing issues. The initiative included three community meetings, consultations with local authorities, and cultural events promoting intercultural understanding.
Strengthening Communities
In May, community meetings were organised in Muncitoresc, Dealu Mare, and Calnic, providing a space for Roma residents to discuss their concerns. The community has been facing several challenges, including a lack of access to water, and despite promises from the municipality, there are still no housing documents. Young people are struggling to find work, and although NGOs and the municipality have collected information from residents and promised projects, nothing has moved forward.
The children are not able to attend school due to its distance, and the school mediator has shown no interest as he/she is not visiting children in the communities. These conditions will possibly improve once the nearby school, currently under renovation, is completed. On top of it, the family doctor sometimes refuses treatment because people don’t have legal insurance, and when the spring floods threatened the area, the municipality didn’t take any action.
To address these issues, Nevo Parudimos arranged a meeting with the water company to sort out the water supply and planned a meeting with the municipality to address the problems their community is facing. They aim to ensure these issues are included in the local Roma action plan. Furthermore, they intend to make everyone informed about any job opportunities and to make sure that mediators are present in the lives of children in their communities.
Municipality Meeting – Building a Better Community Together
During their visit to the municipality, Nevo Parudimos reviewed the local action plan for Roma in Reșița alongside community representatives, civil society, and public institutions, as well as the mayor and deputy mayor. Updates on various projects were provided by the Local Action Group (LAG). All projects were completed by the end of 2024, except for social housing initiatives, which are expected to be finalised in 2025.
Representatives from civil society organisations, including Pro Vitam, Nevo Parudimos, and Humanitas Pro Deo, called on the municipality to pressure the water and public transport companies to ensure all citizens have reliable access to water and essential services.
Culture in the Slums
The municipality and community meetings, along with the Ethnicities Festival, represent the main efforts to improve the lives of Roma communities in Reșița. While meetings focused on concrete policy discussions, the festival used culture as a powerful tool for advocacy and change. By engaging with local authorities, civil society, and public institutions, Nevo Parudimos and its partners worked to ensure that Roma voices were heard in decision-making processes.
The festival provided a platform to celebrate Roma identity, challenge stereotypes, and foster a sense of unity. The Ethnicities Festival was held last year under the theme “Culture in the Slum,” in Banat.
Hosted in the Măgura neighbourhood of Bocșa and along Calea Caransebeșului în Reșița, the festival was organised by the Nevo Parudimos Association, in collaboration with the Caraș-Severin County Centre for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture, the city halls of Reșița and Bocșa, and the Caraș-Severin County Council.
The event was dedicated to Roma culture, showcasing a vibrant set of folklore representing the diverse ethnic groups that are living in the Banat region. Part of the “Culture in the Slum” project, the festival was funded by the European Commission through the ERGO Network to highlight the real issues faced by Roma communities in Reșița, bringing them to the attention of local authorities. Its goal was also to shift the general perception of the Roma community, using culture to showcase the unique aspects of the Roma minority.
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