Slovakia: Organic farm hiring Roma appreciated abroad, but not by the state

News server Romovia.sme.sk reports that yesterday the US Chamber of Commerce expressed its appreciation for an organic farm in the Slovak village of Rudlov u Vranově nad Topľou that is staffed by Romani people. For the past seven years, the Svatobor NGO has been teaching Romani residents how to farm there.

The farm is supported from the sale of compost and vegetables and by providing trainings to municipalities. Slovakia has an aid package worth EUR 200 million available for Romani integration, but the farm has received none of that funding.

"When we came here it was like a jungle, no one was taking care of the land and illegal garbage dumping was going on. Today we employ 10 Romani staff members year-round and we have more than 100 volunteers. We have applied for support to the Plenipotentiary [for Roma Community Affairs] with five different projects so far. They told us that they like our activities, but that was all," says association founder Štefan Straka. 

Last month a session of UNESCO in Paris also expressed appreciation for the farm. In a competition for best charity project of the year, it came in fourth place.