Bódvalenke - Fresco village

Help is requested for the implementation of a very special project. One of the country’s most deprived ghetto villages struck with multiple deprivation wishes to get back on its feet, to demonstrate that with a little help it is able to break out of poverty through its own efforts. If they do get the assistance requested, a communal work of art unique in Europe will come into being: led by a Miskolc painter, János Horváth; they will decorate the walls of the houses of the village with murals. The murals will present the life, legends, dreams, sorrows and desires of the Gypsy. In the first phase of the project, that is, until the autumn of this year, the painting of the walls of some 15-17 houses, the infrastructure development that the village needs the most (spring water drainage, putting the houses and the village in order) and the construction of a small restaurant, a small camping and an arts and crafts house will be completed. During the subsequent phases of the project, we shall continue with painting the murals inviting other Roma painters also from other countries. In co-operation with the Aggtelek National Park, the exceedingly valuable moors surrounding the village will be opened up for tourists (construction of tourist paths, bridges, guided tours, etc.). If the approximately 300,000 euro required for the first phase of the project can be collected, we shall be able to provide ongoing employment for at least 40 people (in view of the planned subsequent phases of the project, these jobs will be retained in the future); at least 3-4 promising micro businesses can be set up; a small local market will be launched (local gardening and livestock); a unique communal work of art will come into being which is a tourist attraction and the self-expression and presentation of the culture of a unique community at the same time; the lifestyle of the village will be transformed with substantial improvement in the quality of life and health conditions of the entire village; there will be a substantial improvement in the attitudes of the young towards learning and in their prospects; a good example will be created which may have an impact on other settlements; a confident, industrious community conscious of its value will come into being.