President Zuzana Čaputová visited the Community centre of minorities in Veľký Krtíš

Community centre of minorities in Veľký Krtíš has been in charge of dwellings for socially disadvantaged citizens since 2001. At the beginning of the corona crisis, Zuzana Čaputová, the president of Slovak republic, visited the centre to show her support.

On April 30, 2020, president Zuzana Čaputová visited Veľký Krtíš. The president visited the companies that were able to keep all their employees during the pandemic. Besides that, Zuzana Čaputová met the employees of Community centre of minorities that have been participating in providing sustainable living solutions to marginalized Roma community in Veľký Krtíš since 2009.

“At the moment, 10 residential buildings – 136 housing units, are in possession of Roma people. The only way to improve the housing situation and assure sustainable living for the marginalized Roma community is communal works and its basic principle – direct involvement of the tenants.” explains Janette Knapeková, one of the founders of the Community centre of minorities. Community centre of minorities took over the house management of the dwellings – and thus prevented a possible takeover by a commercial company that might have led to tenants not paying the rents and, consequently, to their eviction. “At the moment, 95 % of the tenants are Roma. We manage the housing units along with the tenants – together we do the maintenance, self-fixes, and keep the area clean and neat. Moreover, our workers train and educate the tenants about the principles of tenants’ association and lead them towards the independence. Two caretakers, who are also tenants in here, are being trained to become house managers – how to coordinate the repairs, and how to do the accounts,” adds Knapeková.

The words of the president – You have gained a good reputation, I have heard a lot about your work. – gave the workers of the community centre great deal of satisfaction.

Community centre is able to carry out their own projects under a project of NP BOKKÚ, as well as thanks to collaboration with the Carpathian Foundation and Ekopolis Foundation under the Roma Communities Development Programme. During the pandemic, both foundations were crucial to provide Roma community with protective gear.  President enjoyed her stay and highly appreciated the efforts of Community centre of minorities.

More information:
Roma Communities Development Programme

Program manager Milan Hronec, 00421 911 452 457, hronec@ekopolis.sk