Jilava City Hall, in partnership with the Amfiteatru Foundation, presented the final results of the project “Intercultural Development in Jilava Commune, Ilfov County,” which was carried out over nearly two years. The project aimed to improve the quality of life for the Roma community in Jilava through desegregation and empowerment measures, with a particular focus on women and youth. Additionally, the project sought to increase access to integrated and sectoral services for vulnerable individuals, contributing to the social inclusion of Roma in Romania.
Funded by the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021, under the program “Local Development, Poverty Reduction, and Roma Inclusion,” the project received a grant of €946,656 and ran from July 2022 to April 2024.
Closing Event and Key Conclusions
The closing event was attended by Ilie Elefterie, Mayor of Jilava Commune; Cristian Marin, Deputy Mayor of Jilava; Mihail Bumbeș, the project coordinator from the Amfiteatru Foundation; Constantin Cojocea, the director of School No. 2 in Jilava; as well as teachers and researchers involved in the project.
Mayor Ilie Elefterie presented the project’s results, emphasizing its positive impact on the community. Mihail Bumbeș highlighted the importance of extracurricular activities for students, noting that these activities contribute to building self-confidence and discovering children’s talents. He stressed the need to incorporate such activities into public policy to ensure that all children have access to a well-rounded education.
Impact on Education and the Community
Maria Prodan, a teacher at School No. 2, pointed out that the introduction of hot meals for students was a key factor in improving attendance, helping reduce absenteeism and increasing academic performance. Constantin Cojocea added that remedial and extracurricular activities had significantly impacted school attendance and promotion rates, supporting a decrease in school dropout rates and functional illiteracy.
Throughout the project, workshops in various fields such as photography, dance, music, theater, and sports were organized, attracting hundreds of children and helping them develop new skills and passions. Additionally, vocational training and counseling courses provided new opportunities for adults in the community, increasing their chances of integration into the labor market.
Key Project Results
Children:
- 270 students from School No. 2, Jilava, benefited from remedial education (preparatory grade – 8th grade: communication/ Romanian language/ mathematics)
- 40 preschoolers participated in an additional educational program
- 8 teachers were involved
- 9,090 hot meals were provided
- 4 sessions of 20 extracurricular workshops each: theater, photography, arts & crafts, civic education, drawing, floral arrangement, and sports activities
- 270 students received age-appropriate first aid courses
- School No. 2’s library was equipped with 300 books, games, educational materials, 20 tablets, and an electronic whiteboard
- 270 students attended school empowerment workshops
- 30 children joined reading clubs
Employment:
- 400 adults received professional counseling
- 15 adults were professionally mediated
- 25 adults received professional certification (bricklayer, elderly caregiver, waiter)
- 80 adults received vocational training (green space maintenance, kitchen assistant, sales worker)
Adults:
- 200 adults attended parental education workshops
- 200 households (over 700 people) benefited from housing packages (appliances and other household items)
- 200 adults participated in 20 workshops on accessing rights
- 80 adults attended cultural empowerment workshops
- 350 people took part in cultural empowerment through theater performances (“The Most Loved Child in the World,” “The Muddy Mill,” “Sun with Teeth,” and “You Didn’t See Anything”)
Health:
- 1,000 people (adults and children) received health services
National Impact of the Project
The “Intercultural Development in Jilava Commune, Ilfov County” project not only brought positive changes to the community in Jilava but also serves as a model of best practices for other communities in Romania. The social inclusion, education, and empowerment measures implemented through this project can be replicated and adapted in other regions to combat social exclusion and poverty, thus contributing to the sustainable development of society as a whole.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The conclusions drawn from this project highlight the need to continue and expand such initiatives at both local and national levels. The project has demonstrated that social inclusion, access to education, and support for vulnerable communities’ development are fundamental to a more equitable and prosperous future. Therefore, Jilava City Hall and the Amfiteatru Foundation aim to seek new funding and collaboration opportunities to ensure the continuity of intercultural and social development efforts in Jilava and beyond.
The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary states in Eastern and Southern Europe and the Baltics. These funding mechanisms are established under the European Economic Area Agreement, which brings together EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. For the period 2014-2021, €2.8 billion has been allocated. The EEA Grants amounting to €1.5 billion are jointly financed by all three donors and are available in all 15 countries. The Norway Grants, totaling €1.3 billion, are exclusively financed by Norway and are available in the 13 countries that joined the EU after 2003. More details are available at www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro.