The secco (fresco) represented on V.A.P profile pic was painted in Bódvalenke, Hungary by József Ferkovics and is called "Déva vára" ~ "The Castle of Deva".

FAQ 1: Why support Bódvalenke Fresco Village now? 

ANSWER 1.1: The 95% Roma village, population 205, is in dire poverty, with 38 children under the age of 4 years old and 105 kids under 18. 

ANSWER 1.2: The people of the village are malnourished. 

ANSWER 1.3: Per capita income is below USD 2 a day as of March 2014.

ANSWER 1.4: Running water exists in only 7 houses.

ANSWER 1.5: The villagers are criminalized for gathering firewood but as they cannot afford to buy firewood, the only option besides collecting wood is to freeze.

ANSWER 1.6: No public institutions exist, not even a functioning mayor’s office.

ANSWER 1.7: Since 2009, the Fresco Village Project has become the only group to provide social services to the villagers.

ANSWER 1.8: Only 3 people are employed in Bódvalenke. 

ANSWER 1.9: The Fresco Village Social Cooperative that employed 12 men has just been dissolved as of March 2014 due to late result announcement by Hungarian government, causing the Cooperative to miss EU funding deadlines.

ANSWER 1.10: The Bódvalenke Fresco Village is a cultural treasure, the only settlement in world to have seccos (murals) on most houses. In fact, when funding is obtained to invite a few more artists, it will be an authentic cross section of contemporary European Roma paintings to present to the world, “to make hitherto invisible Roma art visible,” as artist and muralist, Zoran Tairovic put it.

ANSWER 1.11: Even teachers and students in Tanzania are looking to Bódvalenke Fresco Village Social Cooperative as a model to follow. (http://www.clippens.renfrewshire.sch.uk/ic_alt.html)

ANSWER 1.12: “The village has become a genuine and meaningful venue of intercultural dialogue, and this dialogue has been transforming the villagers, the members of the project team, the painters working there and the visitors alike,” Eszter Pásztor reports.

FAQ 2: How has Fresco Village Social Cooperative already been successful?

ANSWER 2.1: The villagers and visitors smile, spirits lifted, upon seeing murals.

ANSWER 2.2: Sustainable, systematic activities have been implemented to support positive health/well being of each individual, community, visitors.

Rromani Culture course

Rromani Folk Art to sell: corn dolls, embroidery, wicker baskets

Waldorf School: academics, 4 computers, food, eastern martial arts, plays, poetry recitals, story telling, painting, sculpting

Tele-house with tech assistant and social worker

summer art camp

Women’s Group               

Women’s Choir 

garbage collection (by women’s group) 

Biomass project

gardens

fishing pond

Dragon Festivals

ANSWER 2.3: In 2009, only 4 out of 28 primary schoolers finished their studies. In 2013, 34 out of 35 primary schoolers passed AND school masters praised their performance relative to children from any other village in the neighborhood.

ANSWER 2.4: a 2014 Achievement needs a little more help...........

In process of being created is a village house-nursery, facilitated by Sure Beginnings (program of a Hungarian NGO) to support best growth and development of adolescent mothers and their babies. Needs $35,000 April 2014.

ANSWER 2.5: The Fresco Village hosts The Dragon Festival as a 3-day event. The fifth annual event takes place in July 2014. It has become the most significant music festival in the region, featuring Roma art, music, poetry, theatre and film.

ANSWER 2.6: Fifteen Bódvalenke Fresco Village children won scholarships to help with school.

ANSWER 2.7: The Fresco Village Project finances the dormitory fees of all secondary students.

ANSWER 2.8: An exhibition of Bódvalenke Fresco Village youth artworks was held during the autumn of 2013 for the second time in Budapest.

ANSWER 2.9: 17.5% of population (20 people) already moved into better housing with bathroom.

ANSWER 2.10: The Women’s Choir created a CD with amazing Roma artist, Zoran Tairovic, and was invited to sing to European Parliament.

ANSWER 2.11: “Fresco Village project was one of the 27 projects receiving the Honorary Award/Country Winner by Erste Foundation, out of the 1867 projects nominated for their Social Integration Prize from 12 countries, in 2011,” reports Eszter Pásztor.

ANSWER 2.12: Premiering December 2011 was a 1-hour documentary on the first three years of the project, The Legend of the Fresco Village. The film was invited to international film festivals and the Community Channel broadcast it twice in December 2012.

ANSWER 2.13: In 2013, European Commissioner László Andor welcomed International Romani Day from the Fresco Village of Bódvalenke.

ANSWER 2.14: In February 2014, the Bódvalenke Fresco Village received recognition for social innovation by winning second place internationally AND first place within Hungary for the Sozial Marie contest.

ANSWER 2.15: For June 20-21, 2014, is a benefit festival for Bódvalenke in Alte Kaserne, Zürich: International Romafestival: Roma-ember Against Racism. 

FAQ 3: How is the situation for Rromani so dire in for the Bódvalenke Fresco Village in Hungary?

ANSWER 3.1: Hungary has high incidence of discrimination, violence on Roma.

ANSWER 3.2: When Fresco Village Social Cooperative applies for government funding, like for small animal breeding project and the building up of tourist infrastructure, over 75% of the time funding has not been allocated. Most recently, the biomass project that would have employed 12 men in taking care of basic village services that currently do not exist lost funding due to the withholding of result announcements by Hungarian government, causing: one, the project to miss EU deadlines; and two, the Fresco Village Social Cooperative to dissolve.

ANSWER 3.3: Hungary declares 70% unemployment in their Roma population.

ANSWER 3.4: Employment near village shut down (quarry, coal mines, farming).

ANSWER 3.5: Welfare payments have been cut in half in the past two years.

ANSWER 3.6: Not enough donors and political support for Roma grassroots fund.

ANSWER 3.7: Bódvalenke Fresco Village is a 3 hour drive from Budapest.

FAQ 4: What do the children, youth, and adults of Bódvalenke need now?

ANSWER 4.1: IN ORDER FOR the operating expenses of a Bódvalenke house-nursery Sure Beginnings (program of a Hungarian NGO) to be eligible for state funding, $35,000 must be raised (on top of the $35,000 already raised) for the house-nursery to be bought, refurbished and opened in May 2014. SEE FAQ 9.

ANSWER 4.2: An investment of 150 million forint ($709,000), mostly for building a guest house and restaurant to employ every body honestly. SEE FAQ 9.

ANSWER 4.3: Support for RomaFestival 20-21 June 2014 (donations: education, food, money, arts/performing arts). SEE FAQ 9.

ANSWER 4.4: Support for Dragon Festival July 2014 (donations: education, food, money, art/performing arts). SEE FAQ 9.

ANSWER 4.5: Support of individuals worldwide, especially in Europe, the United Nations, those in governmental authority positions in the U.S.A. and Hungary.

FAQ 5: How might you help the children, youth and adults of Bódvalenke?

ANSWER 5.1: Donate money for one, Fresco Village; two, RomaFestival; and/or three, Sure Beginnings. SEE FAQ #9.

ANSWER 5.2: Become pen pals with the villagers, from children to adults.

ANSWER 5.3: Promote the Bódvalenke Fresco Village Women’s Choir CD to raise money to buy food for the village.

ANSWER 5.4: Advocate for the Bódvalenke Fresco Village project to people in positions of authority running the government of Hungary. 

ANSWER 5.5: Advocate for the Bódvalenke Fresco Village with potential donors.

ANSWER 5.6: Create AND maintain basic village infrastructure

housing with AC/HV and plumbing

guest house for visitors

restaurant for visitors

Sure Beginnings house-nursery

ANSWER 5.7: Promote and support Bódvalenke Fresco Village project website: www.bodvalenke.eu. 

ANSWER 5.8: Promote and support Bódvalenke Fresco Village on Facebook: Bódvalenke Freskófalu.

ANSWER 5.9: Collaborate with Eszter Pásztor and Khetanes Visual Arts and Painting Group.

FAQ 6: Who are the participating Rroma painters of the 33 seccos (murals)?

ANSWER 6.1: Amigo (János Bogdán) ~ Sitters on Stones

ANSWER 6.2: András Balázs Balog & Jósef Ferkovics (Khetanes member) ~ Village in the Forest

ANSWER 6.3: Omar Bhatia (Khetanes member) ~ Romanistan 

ANSWER 6.4: Bódvalenke children + Students of the True Pearl Foundation ~

Fairy Tales

ANSWER 6.5: Rozi Csámpai ~ A Day in Bódvalenke

ANSWER 6.6: Bogusha Delimata ~ Milestones in a Woman’s Life

ANSWER 6.7: Jósef Ferkovics ~ (Khetanes member)

1.         Dragon (Sárkány) Festival

1. Birds
2. The Castle of Deva 
3. End of September

ANSWER 6.8: János Horváth  ~ (Khetanes member)

1. Fire Heads

1. The Stinking Witch and the Kids of Bódvalenke
2. Escaping Angels
3. The Sun and the Moon
4. The Clown

ANSWER 6.9: Barbara Illés ~ India, the Scent of Sandalwood

ANSWER 6.10: Henrik Kállai ~

1. Persecution
2. Angels

ANSWER 6.11: András Kállai ~ St. Francis

ANSWER 6.12: Róbert Kökény (Khetanes member) ~ The Life of the Rroma, Genre Painting

ANSWER 6.13: Ferenc Kunhegyesi (Khetanes member) ~

1.The Legend of Bódvalenke

2. The Teacher

ANSWER 6.14: Katarzyna Pollock (Khetanes member) ~ Blessings from India 

ANSWER 6.15: André Raatzsch ~ Family

ANSWER 6.16: Gyöngyi Rácz-Kalányos ~ Tarot, Dance, Family

ANSWER 6.17: Zoran Tairovic (Khetanes member) ~
1. Metamorphosis of Horsepower

2. Ego, Id, Superego

3. Annunciation

4. Divine Comedy

5. Towards the Future

ANSWER 6.18: Gábor Váradi (Khetanes member) ~ 

In Memoriam the Victims of Kisléta (a visual eulogy about one of a series of attacks against Roma in Hungary in 2008-2009)

ANSWER 6.19: Students of Miskolc Otto Herman School ~ The Three-Headed Dragon’s Tale

FAQ 7: What other art, crafts, events and festivals make Bódvalenke Fresco Village a destination besides the seccos (murals)?

ANSWER 7.1: wicker basket weavers: József Rusznyák, András Horváth

ANSWER 7.2: catering (pickled food, cakes)

ANSWER 7.3: corn dolls

ANSWER 7.4: annual International Roma Day celebration

ANSWER 7.5: Dragon Festival during the first weekend of July is an annual celebration. (Roma music, dance, poetry, theater, film, children’s programs, cooking competition and lots of surprises.) 

ANSWER 7.6: embroidery

ANSWER 7.7: garden / grounds

ANSWER 7.8: fishing pond

ANSWER 7.9: Women’s Circles

ANSWER 7.10: Women’s Choir

FAQ 8: Who already supports the Fresco Village Social Cooperative?

ANSWER 8.1: Eszter Pásztor has been project leader since before 2009.

ANSWER 8.2: Dragon Festival receives some funding ~Hungarian Forint (HUF) 6.5 million / EUR 21,800~ from the following organizations:

Open Society Institute (OSI) ~ SOROS

Ertse Foundation

National Cultural Fund

ANSWER 8.3: Thanks to Christian Mehr, Skullhead Management, ZH, Roma Switzerland, 20-21 June 2014 International Romafestival will benefit the Village.

ANSWER 8.4: CIB (Commercial International Bank) Social Responsibility Foundation gives HUF 10 million/EUR 33,500 annually to finance partially: mural painting; support of secondary school children; operation of community house.

ANSWER 8.5: Apart from CNN, all major television broadcasters like:

Reuters

BBC

CBC

Al Jazeera

ORF

Euronews CableTelevision

ARTE TV

ANSWER 8.6: Mainstream and periphery newspapers, magazines like:

California Times

Los Angeles

Le Monde

Der Standard

Paris Match

The Wall Street Journal

The Washington Post (and many others)

ANSWER 8.7: Virtually every significant Hungarian media carried at least one (but usually several) reports on the Fresco Village project. 

ANSWER 8.8: There has not been a month without at least one television crew working in Bódvalenke, nor a week without at least one article published on the project.

ANSWER 8.9: Five departments from three Hungarian universities have collaborated with the Bódvalenke Fresco Village project.

Corvinus

MOME

Miskolc

Lenkeland’s Mashina –The Gastronomical Prints of Bódvalenke

ANSWER 8.10: IFUA (international consulting firm, nonprofit partner)

ANSWER 8.11: NGOs (non-governmental organizations)

Hungary’s Reformed Church Aid Foundation (President Sándor Pál)

OSI

Professor Hankiss’ movement 

Védegylet

SozialMarie Project

ANSWER 8.12: Over 300 volunteers

university students

doctors

summer camp

architects at Hello Wood

Angelika Biro, Roma photographer
Cicsero - Viktor Siroki, Péter Siroki and Laci Siroki

János Csonka, leads Hungarian green energy, Innova-Eco Kft

World Artists’ Initiative “Khetanes” (Visual Arts and Painting group)

and many others

FAQ 9: How send money for Bódvalenke Fresco Village Social Cooperative?

ANSWER 9.1: For Bódvalenke Fresco Village, transfer by wire money ~indicating Fresco Village on the transfer order~ to the account of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid Foundation (1146 Budapest, Hungária krt. 200, Hungary), account number: IBAN: HU67 1070 2019 8500 8898 5110 0005 SWIFT/BIC: CIBH HU HB, kept by CIB Bank, Budapest.

ANSWER 9.2: For Romafestival, transfer by wire money ~indicating ROMA-FESTIVAL ZH 2014, BENEFIZ on the transfer order~ to Migros Bank in Limmatplatz, IBAN: CH74 0840 1000 0565 6414B7 SWIFT CODE: MIGRCHZZ80A, account number: 80-533-6.

ANSWER 9.3: For Sure Beginnings house-nursery program for the village, transfer by wire money ~indicating Fresco Village on the transfer order~ to the account of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid Foundation (1146 Budapest, Hungária krt. 200, Hungary), account number: IBAN: HU67 1070 2019 8500 8898 5110 0005 SWIFT/BIC: CIBH HU HB, kept by CIB Bank Budapest.