"the worst place I have ever visited..."

...was the shocked opinion of a well seasoned traveller, who had spent time in Africa, India and across the world when they visited visited Csekefalva - a gypsy village near Cristuru-Secuiesc, Romania.

With no running water or sanitation, ramshackle single-room huts accommodating large families and temperatures that drop to minus 30 in the winter it is not hard to see why. In the heart of the European Community these people are long forgotten.

HfR has decided to work with the local council to make some basic improvements to the village and to work with the villagers themselves to try and improve their lives.

The priorities, which the villagers themselves set are (i) running water, (ii) sanitation and (iii) access - to reach the village at the moment you have to cross this bridge...

The council have already committed to supplying Csekefalva with mains water - and we have agreed to fund the piping of that water into each home or plot of land.

Following community consultation we also plan to work with the villagers to build a basic toilet for each family. We are also asking a local builder to draw up plans to re-do the bridge and we have ambitions to begin work on developing the houses as well.

Not only are we working with the basic infrastructure, we are offering training in basket making and other craft - and with our links to our links with Craft Romania we have a ready made export market for their goods once they are up to standard. We are also looking into supporting  the local school, working with the women to take more control over their family planning and are helping with a number of specific health issues among the children. 

If you would like to support our work in Csekefalva, or any of our other projects please visit our website where you can make a one of donation or set up a standing order.