Mama Terra, Romania
The activity of the organisation Mama Terra, or For Mother Earth, is founded
on the will to take part in social and economic change in Romania. Mama Terra:
* feels that in our country it is imperative to start extensive actions for setting
up ecological agriculture, alternative sources of energy and small rural unpolluting
industry.
* believes that the next generation have the right to a healthy life in an unpolluted
environment, their future being dependent on each of us.
* campaigns for eradication of poverty, famine and homelessness.
The Ecological Project: Boteni-Contesti
In 1994, this project was started with the aim of providing healthy food for children in the care of various nearby Romanian charities.
The project is located in Boteni, a poor Romanian village about 50 Km West of Bucharest. Many people here have no possibilities for working their own land. The few tractors and machinery in the village are old, and to rent one expensive.
By cultivating its few hectares of land, this project is able to provide enough food for the nearby Romanian children's homes. Besides agriculture, we are planning to build a small scale industry unit, to ensure the self-sufficiency of the project and improve the quality of life of people living in Boteni and the surrounding villages.
This project gives opportunity for grass-roots participation and later it can also provide jobs for those who are today the orphan and street children in Romania. A major problem in our country is that most institutions for orphans are unable to provide a future to the children after the age of 18.
Needs
If you have these to spare in your country and you can bring them along, we have some needs:
- tools for gardening
- water pump
- hose, water accessories
- heaters/lights
(gas)
- gas cylinders
- solar-house (polythene)
- small furniture for the farm
house
- carpets, curtains, etc.
- bicycles/parts
- energy-saving bulbs
- office
equipment/materials
- small mill machine
- any tools and machinery for workshops (mechanic, electric, carpentry, plumbing, etc.)
- books on eco-agriculture (in
English)
- blender, juicer, kitchen machines
- pressure-cooker
- small oil press
- chainsaw
- organic seeds
- tents, mattresses, sleeping-bags
- photo materials,
video camera
- school supplies, toys
- anything else useful in a smallholding
community.
Mama Terra also campaigns on nuclear issues, organises ecological workshops and takes volunteers from other European countries. Visit www.geocities.com/boteni
Aurel Duta, Project co-ordinator