Community Development and Community Cultural Wanderer Camp in Homorodszentmarton
Study Case
Homorodszentmarton is a commune including 11 villages, but its entire population is not more than 3,500 people. Geographically it lays nin the Nagyhomorod river valley. Years ago, before the communist era, people from the Kishomorod valley, came here to work for "rich people". In the way of thinking of people living in Homorodszentmarton even today it is characteristic to judge things as rich people do. Because some of these settlements border with the land of Saxons, in the relationship among Homorodszentmarton commune villages can be observed a kind of Saxon closeliness. As a result of collectivisation among this population appeared a negative selection, i.e. educated people left the villages to move to a town or city. Furthermore, not only this kind of social relationships were enrooted, but most of people became very old, and there appers the threat that some "outer" villages may
disappear, so many people had left for town. In the commune there is an outer village and an inner village discrimination. This means that villages by the main road are inner villages, and the others are the outer villages. It is considered a negative discrimination for somebody to live in an outer village.There is also an another rivalisation among villages in the commune. People say that the commune
centre, Homorodszentmarton takes away all the taxes and does not re-invest in the outer villages.
The above described place was the work territory for the Community Development and Community Cultural Wanderer Camp in the year 2001. We had invited to take part on training and the following work teachers living in these villages, and other people that, on one hand we proposed by the leaders of the settlement (mayor, vet, etc), and on the other hand we had known them through
other activities. The camp was a one-week programme, including three days theoretical training, and 2-3days practical work.
During terrain work, first of all we had tried the interview method among the activisation methods.Grouping: one person was an experienced SZEKE-member, and the other a local person. But we were very careful for the other person not to make an interview in his/her own settlement. With such methods we "attacked" three villages: Homorodszentpal, Recsenyed and Homorodszentmarton..
During making the interviews we invited -through the interview subjects - the whole population to take part on the community discussion. Furthermore, we made coloured papers to let know people the local news.
Homorodszentpal
In this village there was an important agro-mechanical station of the former agricultural co-operative, and there has been created by the village a fishing lake system. Inside the commune this settlement wants to separate.
During the discussions the interview-subjects were very quite enthusiastic. This happened, probably, because in the same period with the camp, moved to this village a young priest, and people had much expectation. Furthermore, the head-master of the school was a respected person, and all his family had taken part in the whole organizational duty. The interview work had not much effect, as only six persons came to the community discussion. In co-operation with the four persons from this settlement that took part on training we have made a community questionaire, according to the problems that had appeared during making interviews and during the community discussion, and these were given to villagers, … issues. In order to process problems that had appeared in the questionnaries, we invited persons to participate on a community discussion, after two weeks. This method seemed more productive, as about 60 persons came to take part on the community discussion Local contact persons succeeded to make owner close the pub during the community discussion. The discussion was a very difficult one. Some people could not be ‘stopped’, others – because of this – hardly could decide to tell their opinion. At last, during the discussion more directions had developed. There was an opportunity for some responsable people to assume to make another meeting for community discussion in order to discuss unsolved problems.
As a result of this work and because of the priest’s participation started an English language course, and was founded a womens’ association. Also was founded a local newspaper, called Homoródszentmártoni Hírmondó, to assure local publicity .
Recsenyéd
This village is situated between Homoródszentpál and Homoródszentmárton.
According to its population, inside the commune, the village is considered to be a large one. But on the other hand it is considered a smallone. Its population is … people.
Following the interviews only few people gathered for the community discussion, although the mayor advertised the news in the village (he lives in this village). Unfortunately, the work did not come at an end. In the following activities nobody took part, although some people promised on the community discussion to do some things.
Homoródszentmárton
Following the interviews, on the community discussion we considered necessary to make a community questionaire. Because participants on the training were from this village, using the community discussion and with the help of the trainees we made a questionare as well which was given to villagers. For the discussionadvertised for two weeks later had not come even those who helped in the questionaire work. But some participants help editing Hírmondó newspaper. During the training and the discussions came the idea about the necessity of running a folk dance circle. Thisprogramme sterted, and the participation wa so successful, that a part of the children participants took part on the third Homorod Valley Cultural Contest.
Two Years Later
Although participants on the course were enthusiastic at the beginning, they did not really trust in themselves (not all of them). Those who believed, even today are working in the settlement’s life. Most of people are still waiting for an external assistance. And if somebody wants to start a community activity, the first question will be: ’What is his/her profit?’ That is why somebody hardly decides to start doing something. It is characteristic for their whole style of living that that there is a great number of retired people (former agricultural workers). The level of their income is very low, and all that they can do is agricultural work. |