Harsova

General Information
 
ROMACT Cycle: 
Closed
Mayor of the Municipality: 
Viorel Ionescu
Contact Person within the Municipality: 
Stan Dumitra, vice mayor
Facilitators: 
Daniel Ganea
Total population: 
10 420
Source: 
National census 2011
Roma living in the Municipality: 
1 550
Description of the Municipality: 

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Hârșova is located on the right bank of the Danube, in Constanța County. The town also administers the village of Vadu-Oii.
The unofficial number of Roma is about 2 300. They live in two large communities – one of Christian Roma and another one of Muslim Roma.

The ROMACT Process

ROMACT process started in Hârșova with the signature of the Letter of Agreement in April 2018.

The Joint Action Plan was adopted in November 2018. In March 2019, the Municipal Taskforce for Roma Inclusion was created.

In May 2019, the Taskforce for Roma Inclusion (p2)  was created.

As of June 2022, ROMACT process is reinforced in Hârșova and a new agreement was signed by the Mayor. 

Several trainings were provided:

The local authorities were trained/coached in:
* Implementation of projects financed from the Operational Programme for Human Capital (OPHC) 2014-2020
* Project management (vocational training)
* Public procurement (vocational training)
* Accessing Structural Cohesion Funds
* Social assistance - working procedures for children with migrant parents
* Partnership management
* Implementing, evaluating, monitoring

The CAG was trained/coached in:
* Obtaining property documents in Court
* Creating a NGO
* Attributions of the Local Council

CAG and Local Authorities were jointly trained in:
* Multiculturalism  and fighting early marriages phenomena
* Obtaining property documents in Court
* Creating a NGO
* Attributions of the Local Council
* Inclusive education
* Writing small projects
* Applying for a project under “Open Danube Award 2019” program

The following measures to solve problems in Roma community were taken:
* Celebration of Roma International Day
* Recruitment of a local expert for Roma issues
* Provision of professional training for 32 individuals 
* Recruitment of a school mediator
* School after school program for 200 students  
* Second chance program for 50 students
* Intensive educational support for 60 Roma pupils
* Health campaign on reproductive health
* Antidiscrimination campaign

ROMACT Small Grants Scheme

ROMACT offers small grants scheme to support the efforts of the municipalities and Community Action Groups to respond together to the needs of the most vulnerable and to multiply the good practices across ROMACT municipalities.
 
Under the scheme of small grants, the following projects were supported by ROMACT between April 2020 - January 2021:

Social and medical protection measures for the vulnerable community - Municipality of Harsova
 ROMACT supported the municipality with 4356 € and reached 300 people during the first peak of pandemic. The project covered information campaign on COVID19 and provided masks, disinfectant products, informative flyers for the vulnerable families in the community. Essential food packages were also provided for families with dire financial status. Telephone consultancy and specialized assistance were offered to people who are at high risk of health due to COVID19.

Integrated measures against school dropout – Ioan Cotovu Highschool
ROMACT supported Ioan Cotovu Highschool with 5295 €, reaching 50+ pupils. The project increased the school attendance with higher level of self-esteem in a proper sanitary environment through the procurement of school supplies, proper clothing and footwear, and hygiene products for each pupil whose families have dire financial status. Telephone consultancy and specialized assistance were also offered to pupils and their families.

 

Timeline Points

2 Apr 2018
Step 1- Becoming Commited- Signature of the letter of agreement
29 Nov 2018
Step 3- Translating priorities into measures- Joint Action Plan for Roma inclusion adopted by City Council
29 May 2019
Creation of the Taskforce
2 Sep 2020
End of ROMACT process
15 Jun 2022
Start of ROMACT reinforced process with the signature of a new letter of agreement
27 Feb 2023
Adoption of the new Joint Action Plan for Roma inclusion by the Local Council
28 Feb 2023
End of ROMACT reinforced process
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