COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATION IN DOR MARUNT (Călăraşi county)
- 4 new dwellings built, 6 existent dwellings rehabilitated, a social center built The Dor Mărunt project for community consolidation proposes an increase in the
level of habitation for the local community living in conditions of extreme poverty and
access facilitation to social services. The process that has been developed throughout 2011
consisted of the democratic consolidation of the community by means of creating a
Community Development Group that has been involving the participation of the community
in taking the decisions even from the first phases of the context analysis. Thus, the local
community appointed the 4 beneficiaries of the program of building new dwellings and the 6
beneficiaries of the rehabilitation of the dwellings. It was the community too that decided the
necessary function of the social center: a center for non-formal education and an afterschool.
The design of these establishments was carried out during several sessions of participatory
planning; during the sessions the community members analyzed scale models of the
dwellings and of the social center and provided feedback.
The designed social dwellings offer minimal habitation comprised of two rooms
and additional functions, which can be completed in the execution phase with two more
rooms. This extension is possible due to the large roof surface available, together with the
1
© ARHIPERA 2011, all rights reserved
support structure. The interior can be configurated by each family in accordance with its way
of living and the personal needs. The frontside will be treated differently by each family.
During the execution stage, every family participates with 100 hours of labour in the actual
building of the dwelling.
The function of the social center has been chosen on the basis of the analysis of the
needs approved by the community. The three elements that compose the social center
determine a community central public space and leisure/sports areas for the children.
The action upon the existing housing resources was doubled by a community
consolidation activity through the development of social programs for children and adults.
2
© ARHIPERA 2011, all rights reserved
The social partner of Soros Foundation Romania is the „Together for them” Humanitarian
Association.
The RURES program of Soros Foundation Romania, aiming to occupy labour force,
is also active in Dor Mărunt.
3
© ARHIPERA 2011, all rights reserved