In de nadagen van de communistische dictatuur van Ceaucescu werden vele plattelandsdorpen die met vernietiging werden bedreigd door West-Europese dorpen geadopteerd om hen voor de ondergang te behoeden. Na de revolutie van december 1989 kwam een grote hulpstroom op gang. Het Netwerk Adoptiedorpen Roemenië (ADR) is hiervan een blijvend resultaat.
De gemeente Kasterlee kreeg het Transsylvaanse (Zevenburgse) dorp Murgesti (Hongaars: Nyaradszentbenedek) onder zijn hoede. Murgesti is een deelgemeente van Acatari (Hongaars: Ákosfalva) die gelegen is in de regio van Tirgu Mures. Etnisch en taalkundig is onze partnergemeente Hongaars. Er wonen ook een aantal zigeuners en een handvol Roemeenstaligen. Het Murgesticomité is het ganse jaar actief om financiële middelen en goederen te verzamelen om in ons adoptiedorp materiële en andere noden te lenigen. Met hulp vanuit Kasterlee werd een waterleiding en een gasnetwerk aangelegd en werd een historisch gebouw (Toldalaghy Huis) gekocht. We hopen dat het op termijn een belangrijke sociale en culturele functie kan vervullen in de gemeenschap van Murgesti. Tijdens de zomer trokken geregeld jeugdleiders naar Roemenië om daar ondersteuning te bieden bij de uitbouw van een eigen jeugdwerking. In 2008 en 2012 werd een brandweervoertuig geschonken aan Açatari.
Europe for citizens
Van 14/08/2014 tot 18/08/2014 is een grote delegatie van Kasterlee in Açatari, Murgesti op verbroedering geweest in het kader van het project 'European citizenship - a heritage for the future - meeting of the twinned localitities in Açatari, funded with the support of the Euopean Union under the programme "Europe for Citizens". Foto's en mee info kan je bekijken op de website van Açatari.
The project 'EU citizens in Sutyu Valley' was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme 'Europe for Citizens'
The project involved 5180 citizens, notably 5000 participants from the municipality of Modrany (Slovak Republic), 135 participants from the municipality of Sükösd (Hungary), 45 participants from the city of Kasterlee (Belgium). The event took place in Modrany (Slovak Republic) from the 3rd October 2014 to 5th October 2014.
The day of 3rd October 2014 was dedicated to welcoming and closer acquaintance of partner organizations. A joint ceremonial lunch was held after welcoming the guest organizations. After the lunch, a ceremonial opening of EU information tent and signing of partnership agreements took place. Throughout the day, a market of European crafts and wines was held where the participants of project partners were presenting their local crafts, arts, wines, gastronomy specialties. The project partners were presenting their culture through folklore, dancing and singing cultural performances. Various concerts were held in the evening hours.
The day of 4th October 2014 was dedicated to European policy. Public discussion on topic “National representatives in European parliament and their task” was held. Subsequently a public presentation of project partners took place. Partner representatives presented crafts, wines, gastronomy specialties and traditions typical for their region at the EU market. Throughout the day a dancing, singing and folklore performances of partner organizations took place. Knowledge contest on EU topic took place in EU tent. Information about EU and advantages of EU membership were promoted in EU tent. Information leaflets with information on EU were given out in EU tent to participants of the event. Participants of the event drew a picture “Together in Europe”. Various concerts were held in the evening hours.
The day of 5th October 2014 was dedicated to acquaintance with the surrounding area of Modrany and presentation of crafts, wines, gastronomy specialties and traditional customs typical for the region of project partners. Throughout the day, a concerts, dancing, singing, folklore performances of partners took place. Knowledge contest on EU topic took place in EU tent. Information about EU and advantages of EU membership were promoted in EU tent. Information leaflets with information on EU were given out in EU tent to participants of the event. In the late afternoon hours, the partners said goodbye and departed.