A storm destroyed three of the greenhouses at the bio&co social farm in Romania, a non-profit organic farming project employing 7 marginalized people, impacting the farm's production in the coming weeks and months and also its revenue, thus endangering the livelihood of the hired workers who have been excluded from all other job opportunities for years, even decades. By funding our project you'll help us save their jobs and income, in a time when our entire country is in pandemic lock down.
In Ciocanari, a village in rural Romania, there aren't many jobs available for the locals and the members of the Roma community have been excluded and marginalized. When the non-profit Ateliere Fara Frontiere (Workshops without Borders) created the organic farm bio&co here, those excluded could finally have a job and the support they needed in accessing many of their rights. In March 2020, a violent storm destroyed 3 of the social farm's greenhouses, putting their livelihoods in danger.
Rebuilding the destroyed greenhouses is very expensive, and to make things worse, Romania is currently in lock down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so the farm is also dealing with many restrictions and there are no or few private funds available for sponsoring our social integration program. By funding the project and allowing us to keep our employees for 9 more weeks, you will give us the time to replace the lost vegetables and plants and try to repair what can be salvaged from the greenhouses.
The bio&co organic farm is serving a social purpose and also an environmental one - it employs people who have been excluded and marginalized and it also protects nature, biodiversity, soil, air quality, and groundwater, respecting all European and national standards. Helping it get past this difficult moment and keep all its employees will benefit the local community and also the environment.
