Hungarian Foundation for Self-Reliance

The Pakiv European Roma Fund is facilitating the initiation of a network of autonomous civic organisations and programs in Central and Eastern Europe that combat poverty, especially through the support of income-generating activities and new employment opportunities of local Roma and non-Roma poor.
'Pakiv' (Pachiv) means trust; respect in Rromani language, and the name itself reflects the value-orientation of Pakiv programs. In this regard, community development methods should involve the establishment of trust with local Roma, horizontal dialogue and active participation of the community in taking decisions concerning their own lives.
Program implementation began in September 2000, with the initiation of a one-year long leadership and management training of 21 young Roma from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. At the end of the training, the participants will prepare their proposals for initiating new programs in their countries.

Participants of the Pakiv Leadership and Management Training

Training outline:

4 months of intensive English language at the British Councils (Sofia, Budapest) and St. Giles College (Brighton, UK);
3 months of organisational and program management, human rights and project planning training at the International People's College (Helsingor, Denmark);
3 months of practical organisational and project analysis in Roma communities of Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, and strategic planning and proposal writing;
2 months of resource and needs assessment in the home countries.

Promoting new income and employment opportunities amongst Roma in Central and Eastern Europe.

In the process of transforming from centrally planned to market economies, the Roma were not only the first to lose their jobs, but for the most part have remained as long term unemployed.
Roma worked mostly in low paying job requiring the least qualifications, in industries that were unable to compete on the market economy. These included construction, masonry, factory workers, heavy industry and mining, and sanitation in cities. At the start of the process of economic reform, these industries began to downsize or close down altogether, meaning that Roma and others lost their jobs.
In terms of agriculture, Roma were most often hired as day or seasonal labourers, either locally or in zones where there was insufficient local labour. Such internal, seasonal labour migrations are still practiced in some areas today. As most did not own land before collectivisation, they subsequently did not receive land in the post-Socialist restitution.
Nowadays, everyday anti-Roma sentiments, discriminatory treatment and low levels of education and skills result in widespread exclusion of Roma from the formal economy. Among the majority populations in the CEE region formal unemployment rates generally range from 5-15%, while amongst Roma communities, unemployment ranges from about 65-100%. In everyday life this translates into a dead-end road with limited security and prospects for future development.
The Pakiv European Roma Fund will promote the initiation of programs that provide new income and employment opportunities amongst local Roma and non-Roma poor. In doings so, community development methods are to involve democratic practices, mutual respect, and active participation.
Examples of such initiatives in the region include income-generating projects (brick-making, construction works, agriculture, pallet-making), labour market training and placement, and the further development of already existing, small-scale entrepreneurial activities of local Roma.

Pakiv - Europe Registration!

After nearly 3 years of program operations under the administrative support of the Hungarian Foundation for Self-reliance, in August 2001, the Pakiv European Roma Fund - for the promotion of social and economic development of Roma in Europe, was legally registered in Germany. The operational office will soon be set up in Eastern Europe. The establishment of the Pakiv European Roma Fund is a joint initiative of the Freudenberg Foundation (Germany), the Hungarian Foundation for Self-reliance, Roma Centre for Social intervention and Studies - CRISS (Romania), and the Roma-Lom Foundation (Bulgaria). In the near future, the Pakiv European Roma Fund will be opening a regional office in Eastern Europe.

Taking action against poverty and social discrimination of Roma in Europe;
Promoting understanding amongst Roma themselves as well as with other ethnic and religious groups;
Contributing to the strengthening and practical recognition of human rights and democratic culture;
Promoting vocational training and further education as well as entrepreneurial qualifications for young Roma;
Promoting the willingness and ability of young Roma to take on responsibility within the community;
Promoting social commitment of young Roma within their community;
Supporting organisations in Europe that are committed to the development and implementation of programs and projects having the objectives listed under a-f above.

Past and present supporters of the Pakiv European Roma Fund initiative include: British Embassy Budapest, Council of Europe, Ford Foundation, Freudenberg Stiftung, Hungarian Foundation for Self-reliance, Roma Center for Social Intervention and Studies, Roma Lom Foundation, World Bank.

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