'People and Castles' National Project Has Helped to Restore 31 Monuments

Bratislava, 11 January (TASR) - Thanks to a national project called 'People and Castles', 31 ruined monuments throughout Slovakia have been restored, the Office of the Government Proxy for Roma Communities announced in connection with the completion of the project, which ran from May 2024 to December 2025. A total of 575 workers were involved in the project's various activities, with a significant proportion of them, on average 64 percent, coming from marginalised Roma communities. Government Proxy Alexander Dasko highlighted the project as an example of a functional solution to multiple challenges and a link between protecting cultural heritage and promoting employment and social inclusion. "Local residents, including people from marginalised Roma communities, have not only gained a stable income, but also important working habits, new skills and self-confidence that they can later use on the open labour market. Restored monuments make the regions more attractive and support the development of tourism," he emphasised. Dasko is convinced that the implemented project has become an example of good practice, but also an inspiration for further systemic solutions in the field of inclusion and employment of disadvantaged groups. The 'People and Castles' national project was financed under the Slovakia Programme through a combination of EU funds and co-financing from the state budget. The total amount of the non-refundable financial contribution was €12.9 million. The funds were used to create and maintain jobs. am/df