The primary purpose of "Romano kher" is to assist qualified Roma with the acquisition of a secure and permanent home. In view of the de-facto apartheid system that prevails in much of rural Slovakia, the realization of this basic goal extends far beyond the financial sphere. It includes many seemingly simple tasks which the semi-literate and marginalized residents of isolated squatter settlements are poorly prepared for.

"Romano kher" is a small organization which operates in the Presov region of eastern Slovakia. In this circumscribed area we focus on the Roma of Svinia - a community which we know intimately and where habitable housing is in particularly short supply. Unfortunately, because of limited resources, we must limit our attention to only the most promising candidates for relocation.

Our assistance extends to three priorities:

1. Provision of interest-free loans to individuals who can demonstrate ability and willingness to pay off their debt, as well as a good potential for integration into mainstream society;

2. Advocacy on behalf of the future homeowners with municipal authorities, White neighbours, and local opinion-makers;

3. Close cooperation with the relocated families in matters affecting legal and social integration into their new neighbourhood;

Since the formal inception of our activities in the spring of 2005, we have helped four families from the settlement make a successful move to the White - dominated district of Svinia. They are the first Roma living within the confines of the village proper since their arrival here more than a century ago.