Ludovic Teglas

Ludovic (Marinel) Teglas, 46, Tinca, Romania

Note: ITD RO/ ITD Monde FR, is a member of the PAL Network

Ludovic (Marinel) Teglas is 46. He was born in Salonta (Jud Bihor), Romania— him and his wife, Domnica, live in Tinca, where they own a house.

Marinel was recommended for the ‘PAL success story’ as ‘a hard working man and a role model for the local community’, by his colleague of three years, Lavinia Lazar, who is the Project Manager of the Association for Territorial Integration and Development (ITD Romania), in Tinca; the mother association, ITD Monde, is located in France– Thomas Ott is President of ITD RO and Project Manager with ITD Monde.

Marinel is a Social Mediator, as well as the Administrator of Tinca Multifunctional Center, responsible for the implementation project of renovation and rehabilitation of the homes for the disadvantaged Roma community.

Since early school years, Marinel wished to go to a technical high school and learn a skill, in order to get a job, earn a living, have a family and live in a nice house– and so he did. He received the qualification as ‘steel moulder’, and his first job was with CFR (Romanian Railroads). Then, he worked with a foundation helping the Roma community. His most rewarding job is with ITD RO, where he feels that his work ‘truly makes a difference’ for his community. The work is challenging, and he also likes that.

At ITD the team is working on an ambitious social project of rehabilitation— in two years, 53 homes (in urgent need of renovation) were rehabilitated. This year, the results of the 1^st phase of the project were presented by Marinel– the results looked promising, and the decision was that the project should move forward into its 2^nd phase. The financial support of the project is partially ensured by ITD, partially by the beneficiaries.

The Roma community in Tinca is of approximately 1500 people. Those who know Marinel are grateful for the work he does, and the attention they get makes them feel more confident— as they are slowly but surely reaching a sense of belonging. They respect the joined team effort of ITD in France and Romania.

Marinel’s work covers the broad topic of Roma integration, blending in with other ethnicities. Helping the community reach, through education and employment, a good level of respect, made things look up. The Multifunctional Center in Tinca is running as envisaged.

It was almost a leitmotif, talking to Marinel— he repeated often the fact that ‘education is most important’ and ‘being trained to master a qualification, get a job, and be part of the system is what everyone should aspire to’ but, it is still a long way to change the tradition of many years… The two, education & employment, have strong ties and he calls them ‘accomplishments’, when achieved.

The Roma community evolution relies on education— he thinks it is the first and foremost condition that available funding is invested in and convincing them NOT to give up school.

No role model, ‘just becoming one, would be nice’, he said– to show his community that ‘they can do it!’.

For Marinel, fulfilment comes from when things are working well for him and his family and adds “I also feel fulfilled when my community, which I belong to, progresses, develops and I am able to participate in this entire process of assisting them; and the work continues!”