July 19, 2006

Families with aging parents, Roma schoolchildren, businesspeople from Ardeal and refugees – with support from the U.S. Government, civil society organizations work to assist these groups and many others throughout Romania. Today, 26 such NGOs were announced as the recipients of a new series of grants that will help them sharpen their advocacy skills so they can expand their work protecting the interests of Romania’s citizens.

Funded through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Romania Civil Society Strengthening Program provides financial support and technical assistance to Romanian NGOs. Some of these NGOs are involved in helping authorities and institutions make public policy. A number of “watchdog” NGOs monitor the actions of the government in order to protect and assist Romanian citizens. Other NGOs provide social services, such as job training or physical therapy, to families and individuals.

U.S. Embassy Political Counselor Robert Gilchrist and Romania Civil Society Strengthening Program Director Jan Karpowicz congratulated representatives of the 26 NGOs receiving grants at a brief press conference hosted by the U.S. Embassy this morning.

"Active and engaged Civil Society organizations are critical in modern democracy. I applaud the efforts of these groups, which have been key in Romania's transition over the past 16 years," Mr. Gilchrist said. "I urge all Romanians to become informed of the work of these impressive groups and to become active in supporting them. Over time, Civil Society will only continue to grow and thrive in Romania through the active support of engaged citizens."

As Romania prepares to enter the European Union, and as development assistance from the U.S. and other donors begins to phase out, programs such as the Romania Civil Society Strengthening Program have been essential to help Romanian NGOs gain the skills they need to become financially sustainable in years to come.

The Romania Civil Society Strengthening Program is implemented by World Learning. Some of the twenty-six grant recipients are the Pro-Democracy Association; the Institute for Public Policy; ACCEPT; the Center for Independent Journalism; the Bistrita-Nasaud Chamber of Commerce; Ovidiu Rom Association; ICAR Foundation Medical Rehabilitation Center; the Romanian Society for Multiple Sclerosis, Oradea; “Casa Sperantei” Hospice, Brasov; the Resource Center for Roma Communities, Cluj; and the Motivation Romania Foundation.

For more information, please contact Ruxandra Datcu, USAID Democracy and Social Reform Deputy Director, tel: 021 316 1222

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19 Iulie 2006

Familiile cu parinti in varsta, elevi ai comunitatilor rome, oameni de afaceri din Ardeal, refugiati – cu finantare de la guvernul S.U.A. organizatii ale societatii civile deruleaza activitati in sprijinul acestor grupuri precum si al altor cetateni romani. Astazi 26 de asemenea organizatii au fost anuntate oficial ca beneficiari ai unor imprumuturi nerambursabile care le vor ajuta in activitatea lor de protejare a intereselor cetatenilor romani.

Programul de Dezvoltare a Societatii Civile din Romania, finantat prin Agentia S.U.A. pentru Dezvoltare Internationala (USAID), acorda sprijin financiar si asistenta tehnica ONG-urilor din Romania. Unele dintre aceste ONG-uri ajuta autoritatile sa elaboreze politici publice. Un numar de ONG-uri de tip “watchdog” monitorizeaza actiunile guvernului pentru a proteja si ajuta cetatenii romani. Altele ofera servicii sociale, cum ar fi terapie fizica sau cursuri despre ce trebuie facut pentru a obtine o slujba.

In cadrul unei scurte conferinte de presa ce a avut loc in aceasta dimineata la sediul Ambasadei S.U.A., Robert Gilchrist, consilierul politic al Ambasadei S.U.A., si Jan Karpowicz, directorul Programului de Dezvoltare a Societatii Civile, au felicitat reprezentantii celor 26 de ONG-uri care au primit imprumuturi nerambursabile.

“Este esential ca intr-o democratie moderna sa existe organizatii ale societatii civile puternice si active. Doresc sa-mi exprim aprecierea fata de aceste organizatii care au avut un rol foarte important in acesti 16 ani de tranzitie din Romania” a spus Robert Gilchrist. Domnul Gilchrist a continuat: “Fac un apel la toti romanii sa se informeze in legatura cu activitatea acestor organizatii remarcabile si sa le sprijine activ in viitor. In timp, prin sprijinul activ al cetatenilor, societatea civila va continua sa se dezvolte si sa prospere”.

In perspectiva aderarii Romaniei la Uniunea Europeana si a incheierii finantarilor primite de la guvernul american si de la ceilalti donori, programele de genul Programului de Dezvoltare a Societatii Civile din Romania au jucat si joaca un rol important in sprijinirea ONG-urilor romanesti pentru ca ele sa capete abilitatile necesare asigurarii de fonduri.

Printre cele 26 de organizatii care au primit imprumuturi nerambursabile sunt: Asociatia Pro Democratia, Institutul pentru Politici Publice, Accept, Centrul pentru Jurnalism Independent; Camera de Comert din Bistrita Nasaud, Asociatia Ovidiu Rom, Centrul Medical de Reabilitare al Fundatiei ICAR, Societatea Romana pentru Scleroza Multipla din Oradea, hospice “Casa Sperantei” din Brasov, Centrul de Resurse pentru Comunitatile de Romi din Cluj si Fundatia Motivation Romania.

Pentru informatii suplimentare: Ruxandra Datcu, Director Adjunct, Directia Democratie si Reforma Sociala, USAID; 021 316 1222

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