Negoi

Negoi commune is located in the southern area of Dolj County in the Danube plain, 72km from Craiova. The nearest urban area, Băileşti, is 21 km away. The population consists of 2235 people including 911 self-identified Roma (2011 Census).

Negoi Roma community is mixed, but consists predominantly of Rudari or the brick makers (Caramidari) from Satul Vechi (“Craioviţa”), where there are about 15 families dispersed among the majority. The community is compact, located on the outskirts 2 km from the centre. It is easily accessible without natural barriers or constructed barriers.

The Roma of the community speak both Romany and Romanian. From the religious point of view, they are orthodox (Cărămidari) or repented (some Rudari). Regarding the cultural specificity of Roma communities, there are Rudari (former lingurari – spoon makers) and cărămidari – brick makers.

Education

The members of Roma community have access to Negoi Secondary School, attended by 244 children (127 in primary grades and 117 in lower secondary grades). The percentage of Roma students is 70 %, and of the total 15 students per classroom only two to three children are non-Roma. There have been no inter-ethnic conflicts in the school. Preschool children have access to Negoi Kindergarten which is an integral part of the school, attended by about 60 children, of whom 70 % are Roma. The main problems are the big distance to school (2 km), which is problematic especially for small children. In winter they need to walk on the road because the sidewalks are not accessible. The community does not have a school mediator. The main problems perceived by the authorities in terms of education are adult illiteracy and the inability to support their children in the educational process, the absence of parents working abroad (Spain), and when they take their children with them they do not enrol them in school. When children stay at home, their relatives take care of them. The school does not have a health permit due to unsuitable conditions, and the library needs repairs (there is a book collection of 4600 pieces).

Health

The Roma community has a dispensary and two individual medical practices, where two doctors and two nurses are employed. The main problems of the Roma community in the medical field perceived by healthcare professionals are reduced access to laboratory investigations, inadequate facilities and the need of a health mediator. Around 100 Roma of the community have no medical insurance. The community has no money and no access to investigation and treatment. The distance between the Roma community and the nearest medical centre is 5 km and Băileşti is 21 km away.

Housing

Most Roma housings have precarious conditions. Access roads to the Roma community are paved and the ones within the community are either cobbled or dirt roads. The community has access to the electricity network, drinking water and partially to sewerage. Also, they do not have access to local public / private transport.

The status of the electricity supply network is a real problem because it is very old and causes disruption of supply.

The Roma people do not participate in training courses due to their migration abroad. Locally there are few employment opportunities. Most homes have poor conditions, some being affected by the flooding in the area. The Roma who go abroad succeed to repair their houses or build others.

As important points for the implementation of zefiR in the past, they implemented a project in partnership with Terre Des Hommes, which implemented activities through which they managed to increase school attendance. People know how to make bricks, but because of the lack of outlets they stopped producing them. There is openness from the Town Hall to support such activities. An educational centre is under construction and will take the form of a day care centre / preschool with extended schedule/after-school service near the school that serves the Roma district, funded by the National Rural Development Programme. There is an initiative to qualify 28 people from the locality in agriculture, but it seems that Roma people do not participate in this program due to their migration abroad.