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Grant to NGO Helps Roma Women Help Themselves

U.S. Embassy Vienna
Vienna, April 8, 2009

Video Remarks for International Roma Day - April 8, 2009, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State ( video)
International Roma Day, Statement, U.S. Department of State, April 8, 2009
VinziWerke

In honor of International Roma Day (April 8), the Public Affairs Section of Embassy Vienna provided a $2,000 grant to an Arbeit statt Betteln (“Work instead of Begging”) project called VinziPasta. The money funded two machines to make pasta noodles. The project was created by VinziWerke, an NGO dedicated to publicizing the plight of the Roma and eliminating discrimination against them. VinziPasta is a self-help endeavor for 14 formerly indigent women from the predominantly Roma community of Hostice, Slovakia. The women make pasta that is sold at supermarkets in Graz, Austria and the women receive all the proceeds. This income allows the women and their families to reduce their dependence on social welfare. At a ceremony in the Chancery, Assistant Public Affairs Officer Steve Labensky presented the equipment to Michael Bachler and Elisabeth Praitenlachner of VinziWerke and VinziPasta, respectively.


F.l.t.r.: Assistant Public Affairs Officer Steve Labensky (U.S. Embassy Vienna ), Elisabeth Praitenlachner and Michael Bachler (VinziPasta/VinziWerke).