Hungarian Foundation for Self-Reliance

We are confronted with a perpetuation of disparities between and within nations,
a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy,
and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems
on which we depend for our well-being. However, integration of environment
and development concerns and greater attention to them will lead
to the fulfillment of basic needs,
improved living standards for all, better protected and managed ecosystems
and a safer, more prosperous future.

(Report Of The United Nations Conference On Environment And Development
(Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992) Preamble, Chapter 1

The Rio Declaration draws our attention to a global challenge: the tension between the present basic needs of the poor and concerns about the future of the ecosystem. As it is stated in Chapter 1. Paragraph 1.5 this question is especially relevant to the economies in transition.

The challenge

For us it has always been a great challenge to reconcile the concerns for the ecosystem and the immediate interests of the local unemployed Roma. In our definition sustainable development means adopting strategies and activities that meet the needs of the local people while protecting, sustaining and enhancing the human and natural resources that will be needed in the future, thus avoiding irreversible changes in the ecological system.

One of the major obstacles of development in the small, underdeveloped areas, regions is their dependence on external resources. As a consequence of that local knowledge and resources hardly can be internalized and integrated for the benefit of the local community. A local barrier of this desired progress is the lack of communication and cooperation among the local interest groups, actors of civil society and administration, the mutual devaluation of each others capacities, traditions. This is even more controversial as of along global environmental challenges humankind must realize to build on cultural and natural heritage.

The resources of the joint program

Autonómia since its establishment in 1990 has supported about 500 projects in the field of poverty/ethnicity, has gained a great experience working with local Roma organizations assisting their income generating and advocacy projects. It has developed a monitoring system unique in the sector to promote horizontal relationship and mutual understanding between grantees and grant-makers.

Environmental Partnership since its establishment has founded 550 projects of environmental nonprofits and local governments. Throughout this grantmaking and other programs like technical assistance and training the foundations gained large expertise and experience in the field of implementation of Agenda 21 on local scale.

The challenges to be addressed

Skill share of partners

The program

Greenworks aims to bring together environmental organizations with Roma groups, to tackle environmental problems at the same time as creating work for locally unemployed Roma. Traditionally environmental cases have been supported largely by the middle classes, and have not been directly relevant to people from disadvantaged communities. At the same time many deprived areas where most of the Roma people live suffer from bad environmental conditions. There is therefore a need amongst areas of high unemployment and deprivation for projects tackling environmental problems as well as creating employment and community solidarity.

The two foundations started to launch a joint program in 1997, within the framework of which the combined efforts and experience could lead to successful projects in the field of sustainable development based on the co-operation of local Roma and non Roma. Decisions are taken jointly by the Boards of the two Foundations.

In Phase I and II 37 Greenworks projects were supported, providing work opportunities for many Roma. Most projects involved a high level of co-operation between Roma groups or minority self governments and environmental groups. Projects were focused on either improving the immediate living environment (such as improving waste disposal, or clearing rubbish) or sustainable development.

Co-operating for rubbish removal

Kerecsend is a village in North East Hungary. A significant number of the inhabitants are Roma. Most of them live in the valley by the stream Lasko. Because there has not been rubbish removal for ages in the settlement, waste has accumulated in the stream itself and on the banks, blocking the water and causing infections amongst the children. The local minority government and the Tree of Life environmental organizations jointly solved the problem: by employing Roma unemployed as public workers the stream was cleaned, and gardens were made out of the cleansed plots. Also the disposal of household waste was solved by purchasing waste bins for the families in the village. In the meantime, after a series of negotiations with the municipal authorities, the transport of the rubbish to its proper place was also solved.

In Phase III 1998 more emphasis was laid on the enhancement of teh cooperation of the Roma and Non Roma organizations. The aim of the program is not only to achieve temporary cooperation, but also the mutual understanding of the perspectives of such a collaboration.

This aim was pursued through a series of training, which was open for those with a proven record in Greenworks I. And II. 28 of them applied, 9 of them were given support in step 1 to elaborate their projects. Applicants have been granted up to 300,000 HUF for the development of their projects, so that they can pay for experts and consultants. Step 1 was funded, organized and led by Environmental Partnership Foundation, who could make use of their skills in training on a high level.

The three day sessions for the grantees were held in centers constructed for sustainable development operated by NGOs. The participants could also experience, how the ideas work in practice. The individual projects were discussed in the circle of the experts and Roma and Non-Roma NGO people present. This proved to be a good opportunity to resolve the potential conflicts, get to know about each other, get never expected positive experiences with other people, belonging to a group unknown and fearful to them. Long forgotten or latent skills were revitalized, the self confidence of the participants clearly grew.

Joint monitoring of the experts of the two foundations proved to be very fruitful, so was the idea that both program officers participated in the training of the candidates. It also proved to be extremely productive as to the capacity building of both partners, experiences gained in different sectors of society, different points of view contributed to the development of new skills.

The new applications prepared in Phase III step 1 were submitted to the boards in December. The organizations had ample time to work on their projects. There were some very promising projects:

Cooperating for Plum Preserve

In a local community the Roma used to collect herbs, as a traditional trade. Recently, however, they have found out, that there are long forgotten old fruit trees in the area. They picked the plums, pears and apples to eat and sell, but could never do anything with the surplus. The new project is about processing it in the way traditional in the community, making jam out of it, selling it in the region. It is a part of the project to discover traditional technologies, characteristic to the region, making preserves without using chemicals, and to market the goods.

Cooperating for Bio-Bricks

In another village bricklaying was a traditional Roma trade, forgotten years ago, as it was supposed, that Roma bricks, made out of mud, would not sell. However, constructing materials which are environment friendly are more and more fashionable among the middle classes. The project is about combining traditional Roma skills with modern marketing.

Cooperation for sustainable forest management

Sustainable forest management is a hot issue in Hungary, as lots of forests have been privatized and most of them are victims of the eagerness for immediate profit of the new proprietors. The sustainability of the forests is a key challenge for the whole society. At the same time it is more and more difficult to get the necessary wood for fire for the poor people in the villages - they used to collect fallen wood free, now the forests are guarded. Traditional Roma skills in forestry could meet the sustainability requirements, without causing irreversible harm to the system. Enough wood could be collected to warm up the people in the winter, and also some income can be earned if the Roma are employed by the local forest company for this job.

Lessons learnt up to now

the Roma bring entrepreneurial spirit to the program
the environmental non-profits are able to take a lead in designing and implementing local sustainable programs
reinforcement of traditional professions promotes not only economic but social empowerment of the marginal groups of Roma
learning about each other’s everyday culture was a positive new experience for both sides
the likelihood of becoming self-sustainable in the foreseeable future, instead of depending on outside resources has obviously grown
there is an unexpected transfer and cross fertilizing, multiplying effect among
the grant makers’ high and fast expectations inevitable lead to failures – small scale small steps must be preferred
the more elements of the production and marketing cycle are included in the sustainability project the more predictable the success is.

According to our best conviction it is crucial for the society that donors, intermediaries and development agents should launch programs to promote local development based on integration of local resources and local knowledge

The donors, whose support has been indispensable for this program are the following:
The British Know How Fund, The Pew Charitable Trust
and both foundations’ core donors:
the Anonymous Donors, the Ford Foundation,
the German Marshall Fund of the U.S.,
the Mott Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers’ Fund, the Soros Foundation Hungary

	Introduction	Programs	Equal	Donors	Board	Staff	Annual Reports

A joint program of Environmental Partnership Foundation and Autonómia Foundation