Romania is full of heritage sites and buildings that have become derelict and abandoned. These idle sites have potential to function as culturally important hubs for the communities they are in. Fortunately, there are organizations we refer to as Heritage NGOs (H-NGOs) working to revitalize these assets. This is a difficult and lengthy process, riddled with challenges. However our collaborator, Make Better (MKBT) is working to provide support for these H-NGOs. To help them target and expand their efforts, our team interviewed ten H-NGOs in different regions of Romania and identified the challenges they faced during the restoration process to help MKBT understand the most pressing needs. We also interviewed five US support organizations and identified the support programs they offer H-NGOs. Using this information, we assessed which of these programs could enhance H-NGO support in Romania by addressing common challenges we saw. Our final recommendations included adding a resources page, creating a community walk, and executing monthly office hours.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Wix, Anna
• Willemsen, Nathan
• Scully, Paige
• Budde, Eli
• Lewis, Albert

Subject

• Community
• Well-Being
• Infrastructure

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 121856
• E-project-042624-021144

Keyword

• NGO
• Support
• Revitalization
• Restoration
• Capacity Development
• Heritage

Advisor

• Higgins, Lorraine D.
• Bosin, Yury

Year

• 2024

Center

• Bucharest, Romania Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Make Better Association (MKBT)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not Specified

Date created

• 2024-04-26

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Source

• E-project-042624-021144

Rights statement

• In Copyright