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Case Study
Small NGO helps educate Romanian children and increases funding for new projects
Small Project Assistance Leads to Big Changes
Challenge
In Targu Mures, as in other Romanian cities, Roma (Gypsy) children often abandon school because their families cannot afford class materials or clothing. Without an education, Roma children are disadvantaged as adults in competing for jobs which reinforces the cycle of poverty.
Photo: USAID/ Jay Sorensen
This Roma student now successfully attends a city high school after being tutored through the local NGO.
Initiative
USAID and the Curcubeu Foundation (a local non-governmental organization) helped fill the education niche for children ages 5-15 who are unable to attend mainstream schools.
In partnership with local Romanian schools, the foundation purchased class materials, a copying machine, and supplies to help educate 100 children. Students were tutored until they reached a level which enabled them to attend local schools. The project proved instructive not only for the children, but also for the new foundation as it learned to manage project budgets and to apply for additional grants to fund future projects.
“The quality of these projects has increased as Roma beneficiaries become more involved in writing and implementing proposals themselves.”
– Jonathan Scheele, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Romania
Results
As part of the program, 120 children have been tutored and now attend schools in their local community. USAID’s grant was able to help the Curcubeu Foundation leverage its success to receive in-kind support from the local government, and to obtain tens of thousands of dollars in external funds from the European Union and other funding organizations. The Government of Romania has praised the Foundation as a model for other NGOs because of its success in partnering with local government and international donors.
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