ROMED programme: intercultural mediation

Engaging Roma communities for more liveable communities

What is the aim of the ROMED programme?

A cooperation with Roma communities is a challenge for many mayors.

The vast majority of the marginalised and segregated community live in extreme poverty on the fringes of towns and villages. The situation is seen as a problem by most people on all sides, due to a lack of trust and accumulated bad experiences; there is no or conflicting relationship between the Roma community and the local administration, no real dialogue.

The Partners Hungary Foundation offers local authorities a tried and tested methodology and toolset - in more than 50 European and dozens of Hungarian municipalities, which strengthens dialogue and cooperation between communities, local institutions and the municipality. As a result reduce tensions and start working together to solve local problems. This is intercultural mediation.

What do we do during ROMED?

The methodology is based on the Council of Europe's ROMED programme, complemented by the Partners Hungary Foundation's more than 20 years of experience in the field of Roma inclusion.

An intercultural mediator is an accepted member of the local Roma community who gains skills in conflict resolution and community planning through the training of Partners.

From a Local Community Action Group (LAG) is set up with the help of an intercultural mediator. Members of the group discuss community problems and discuss them with representatives of local institutions, local decision-makers work together to develop and, depending on resources, implement possible solutions.

The programme is low-cost, easy to adapt, the results of successful cooperation can be tangible within a year, and in the long term it contributes to the development of local society, the cohesion of local communities and the strengthening of social cohesion.

What are the results?

• In the municipality of Gyulaj more than 20 houses renovated in Kalaka by the local communityi Action Group. Bathrooms have been built in some homes, water has been installed in some, several households have been sanitised and a sterile room has been constructed, thanks to the community and local partnerships.
• Salt room built in the kindergarten building in Nagydobos, which is used by the population of the municipality, in addition to children, to relieve and prevent respiratory diseases.
• In the city of Nagyecsed, living in a segregated area the Roma community now runs and successfully maintains a civil society organisation, which strengthens the links between Roma parents and schools and offers meaningful activities for young people. Previously, 30 outdoor toilets were built. Through community collaboration, bins were purchased and regular garbage collection was arranged.
• In Nyírbátor, in the framework of municipal cooperation, from own resources launched targeting Roma and people living in extreme poverty school scholarship and employment programme.
• In Jászfényszaru, the local government, with the involvement of the Community Action Group, launched a housing renovation programme.
• More than 100 outdoor toilets built in Porcsalma and a blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring point was set up in the community centre.