Inter-ethnic Democracy, Institution-building and Cultural Heritage Awareness
at the Local Level in Laslea Commune, Sibiu County, Transylvania Region, Romania.

The project focuses on democracy training, cultural heritage awareness and physical maintenance of cultural heritage objects.   One core activity is to create income generation activities based on use and maintenance of cultural heritage (job creation, skills training, agriculture development).

The Plan of Action for Candidate Countries to the EU of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given priority to the following areas in Romania:
1. Democracy-building, strengthening of civil society and minority rights.
2. Justice and home affairs, including the courts, reform of the legal system, combating corruption etc.
3. Training and/or further education in the public sector and central administration.
4. Environmental measures at the municipal level.

The project comprises the following 3 main task areas:

Task 1. Restoration of historic valuable buildings and skills training.
Training courses and practical work with building restoration and maintenance, assistance with restoration and frescoes at the Mãlâncrav church.

Task 2. Cultural landscape conservation, agriculture training and creation of a model farm.  Development of a farm with its buildings complex to create a demonstration farm. The farm is built on tradition, compatible with small scale sustainable agriculture and traditional land and crop use.   It incorporates innovative elements to meet the need for modernisation and improved income generation.   Measures are innovative new crops and crop combinations, marketing assistance for cash crops, improved techniques, new use of farm buildings and facilities, etc.

Task 3. Public sector development.
Working in co-operation with municipal authorities to develop communicative and administrative capabilities.   Special focus is on cultural heritage administration and planning issues. Work includes a limited social science survey to study identification and appreciation of local cultural heritage.

Participating parties are:
The Municipality of Laslea, Sibiu County, Transylvania Region, Romania. Collaborating agency.
The Town of Medias, Sibiu County, Transylvania Region, Romania. Collaborating agency.
The Foundation for Culture and Ecology (FCE), Romania and Germany. Implementing agency. Romanian Foundation is Executive agency for project.
The Mihai Eminescu Trust (MET), Romania and United Kingdom. Implementing agency.
Riksantikvaren, Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Norway. Implementing agency.