The context
The project, now in its third year and carried out in collaboration with the Romanian municipality of Alba Iulia and with the support of the Intesa Sanpaolo Charity Fund, aims to improve social inclusion and quality of life for boys and girls in conditions of poverty, social marginalization or in need of medical assistance in Alba Iulia, through the implementation of services dedicated to minors with serious neuro-psychomotor dysfunctions at the “Maria Beatrice” Rehabilitation Center and a diversification of social-health interventions at the “Sfanta Maria” Support and Listening Center.
Project Map
The context
Despite recent progress, Romania has one of the weakest economies among the members of the European Union, with a GDP per capita 5 times lower than the average of European states and with a relative poverty rate of 25%. Of the 19.5 million inhabitants, 45% live in rural areas and, compared to the European average, Romania is one of the states with the lowest rate of urbanization, and inequalities between city and countryside are considerable and increasing. 70% of the rural population lives below the poverty line, due to the absence of a welfare system for the most vulnerable.
Romania allocates only 5% of GDP to the national health sector : the smallest share in the whole of Europe.
In this context, people in conditions of social marginalization and economic hardship are particularly disadvantaged, and almost half of children are at risk of poverty (a figure significantly higher than the average of European countries).
Both local technical partners are based in Alba Iulia, Transylvania, an economically depressed area of Romania.
Activities
In order to respond to needs not adequately covered by the Romanian Welfare system, the project intends to:
– offer social and health rehabilitation services to minors in need, without any distinction of nationality, ethnicity, culture, sex and religion;
– facilitate medical and rehabilitation interventions for the minors hosted by the “Maria Beatrice” Social and Health Rehabilitation Center;
– offer minors and families specific psychological support;
– promote training, education and support courses on various areas of interest for the minors hosted by the “Sfanta Maria” Support and Counseling Center;
– train and support students and postgraduates in physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
