07/06/2011
Eight bighearted villagers of Aricestii Zeletin, Prahova County, decided to work together to capitalize one of the most important resources of their community: trees. They have established a task force based on volunteers who want to found a school to train a new generation of specialists in tree growing, an occupation almost forgotten in the last twenty years.
"If, until 1989, there was more interest in local orchards for exploitation by the fact that they were cared for and maintained, now, they are abandoned, we can admit that they are only operated, which will gradually lead to their total destruction" justify Ionel Mihalcea, group leader and teacher at the village school.
The initiative begun through a PACT Foundation project, an organization aimed at increasing the capacity of rural inhabitants to assume a better life for themselves and their communities through volunteer involvement with their resources and ideas, in activities that improved community conditions. Since October 2010, they were closely sustained by PACT Foundation team, who trained in community development by identifying needs and resources, as well as writing and management project.
So far, residents from Aricestii Zeletin have formed a partnership with local school, which owns an area with a 6 acres orchard of fruit trees. Guided by a horticulturist engineer, who offered to provide expertise voluntarily, and with the support of 10 volunteers with higher or lower experience will dig around the trees in the orchard for a better fertilization of the land. But to continue rehabilitation, maintenance and enhancement of fruit trees, the group needs equipment such as water pump and mower, and herbicide, useful in treating various trees against pests and certain diseases. In the community there is no such equipment, and therefore no orchards received appropriate treatment and, according to villagers, fruiting trees is not as expected.
Urge to sustain Romanian villages
PACT has initiated a fundraising campaign totaling 81.000 RON, to support Aricestii Zeletin residents to go through with their project, and another 17 rural initiative groups in southern Romania, to implement their ambitious efforts for the good of the community.
"It was needed a spark to ignite the desire again," said Professor Ionel Mihalcea.
"We could say that it’s already noticeable, how it arouse the locals interest, because after discussions were followed by cleaning and planting of about 250 plum trees in the orchard of school," he emphasizes.
Any person who believes in the chance of Romanian village to become once more the community that values the dignity and spirit of reciprocity which build big characters is invited to make a contribution to PACT Foundation donations account (RO24 BPOS 7060 6197 144R ON0P open at BANCPOST University) or online at www.fundatiapact.ro page where they can learn and further details about the work of the Foundation. By funding community projects with such success, special people who want to make a real difference for their peers are encouraged and supported in their approach.
