Income generating activities, the Agas commune

The project was meant to contribute to the reconstruction and development of two localities affected by flooding in the summer of 2005 - Agas commune (Bacau county) and Cobatesti village (Harghita county). Three types of activities would take place in Agas: a partial renovation of the Agas Vocational School and providing the necessary equipment for the carpentry workshop, developing income-generating activities and developing social activities.

the Agas commune (Bacau county)

March 2006 - December 2006

This project aimed at creating a post-emergency approach of the affected communities, contributing to their reconstruction and development on the long term.

All inhabitants of Agas who were willing to get involved and be responsible for setting up and developing a business venture were welcome to participate. They did not need to have particular resources, capital or business experience. It was enough to have ideas, to be interested, to be able to cooperate with other inhabitants of Agas so that they could contribute together to a better life in their commune.

•    Entrepreneurship courses on topics such as business development, legislation and the practices related to small and medium companies in Romania, funding opportunities and business management. The courses took place with the support of Junior Achievement Romania.
•    Funding two businesses from within the community with amounts of up to 5000 € each. The funding was reimbursable with 0% interest, with a grace period of 6 months and a reimbursement period of 14 months. The amounts reimbursed were to finance a social project to be later implemented in Agas.
•    Consultancy for developing and running the business - a POD consultant with business experience offered consultancy on developing a business plan, registering the company and managing the business.

In November 2006, two business agreements were signed in Agas commune. Pietro Dom SRL, the firm set up by Gh. Luca, received the amount of 7580 RON to start a stone building business. Mario Pact SRL, the firm set up by Antoanela Ciurcanu, received 9500 RON to open a cereal shop in the commune. PACT Foundation offered consultancy to the two new entrepreneurs regarding the administration and management of the two businesses. Starting with April 2006, Pietro Dom SRL was to start returning the value of the capital received in the form of labor force in projects of public interest within the community and Mario Pact SRL was to return the funding in the form of construction materials.

Arcanum Foundation, firms and individuals from Romania

Roxana Florescu, Executive Director, Foundation PACT

The project was run by POD (Partenership for People and Development), a partnership of 4 non-profit organisations from Romania - Association for Community Relations, The Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation, Partnership Foundation, Foundation PACT

AgasProjectPresentation