By installing a reliable source of drinking water for the Romani in Sobrance, Slovakia, this EU-funded project is helping to improve their health while reducing discrimination against this minority group.
Improving quality of life for the Roma community in Sobrance, Slovakia
- 29 May 2020
Building a drinking water dispensing system has created better conditions for personal hygiene and, as a result, has improved the quality of life of the 657 inhabitants of the marginalised Roma community in Sobrance. In particular, the risk of epidemics has been reduced, thus creating the basic preconditions for improving the overall quality of life and a higher potential for integration and participation in society.
There are 657 Romani in Michalovská in Sobrance, a town in the Košice region of eastern Slovakia. An EU-funded project set out to improve the living and sanitary conditions of this marginalised community by installing a reliable source of drinking water in the centre of the municipality.
Clean water
With the help of EU funds, a large drinking water dispensing system was acquired and installed. This significantly improved their personal hygiene and sanitary conditions. As a result, there have been fewer cases of disease related to poor hygiene. The project also led to improved housing conditions for the community’s 75 households.
Two jobs were created for the Romani during the project’s public procurement process.
Reducing discrimination
Approximately 2 % of Slovakia’s population is Romani. As they suffer from serious discrimination in the country, improving their quality of their life allows for a better chance at social inclusion and integration.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Improving access to drinking water for MRK municipality Sobrance” is EUR 14 647, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 13 826 through the “Human Resources” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Social inclusion”.