On April 8th, we celebrate the International Romani Day.

"The smile has no ethnicity!" the children from Boldești-Scăeni have transmitted to the residents of the city in a march dedicated to inter-ethnic tolerance and knowledge.

At the "Mihai Viteazu" School in Boldești Scăeni, children celebrated multiculturalism through a poetry and music show held in Romanian and Romani. The children sang "Gelem Gelem" (the official anthem of the Roma community), recited poems about the language, culture and Roma origins, and sang well-known Romani songs such as "Muro Shavo" or "Șatra". Also during the celebration, two students gave a short drumming concert.

After the celebration, the children left for the center of the city in a march of tolerance and shared paper flowers to passers, which were carefully crafted by them. From their stems, they tied messages that transmitted wishes both in Romanian and in Romani, for a better understanding between the Roma and the Romanian communities.

The initiative in Boldești is part of a wider program started by OMV Petrom in 2012, through which the company supports educational activities that have the purpose of reducing dropping out of school, increasing self-esteem among the Roma community, parental education and mentoring for the young and the completion of basic education for disadvantaged social groups. Educational activities are coordinated by the Roma Center Amare Rromentza Organization.

Soon, at Boldești, OMV Petrom will complete the construction of an Educational Center, created in partnership with the Center for Sustainability in Built Environment, Habitat for Humanity Romania and Boldeşti Scăeni Town Hall. In addition to continuing educational activities, the Center will host professional qualification courses for adults, with the purpose of helping them find a workplace.

The center from Boldești-Scăeni will be inaugurated in May this year and was build according to the highest standards of sustainability in construction.

Since 2012, OMV Petrom's contribution to this project amounts to over 650,000 Euro, money allocated to the development of the Boldești community through education and intercultural activities.

The Roma community represents about 9% of the total population of Boldesti-Scăeni city, and 90% of its members does not have a steady workplace.

The International Romani Day was established on April 8th, the day when the first congress of Roma representatives was held in 1971 in London, occasion in which the International Union of Roma has been created. Also then, the official flag of Romani people was chosen, consisting of three elements: the blue color of the sky, symbolizing freedom, the green color of sprouted wheat, suggesting nature and fertility of the earth, and in the center, where the two elements unite, sits the red wheel, symbol of the Romani people's origin in India and their long exodus. The official anthem, "Gelem Gelem" ("Go, Go") is a song in Romani, whose origin is lost in the distant folklore.

About OMV Petrom
OMV Petrom is the largest integrated oil and gas group in South-Eastern Europe, with an annual oil and gas production of approximately 66 mn boe. The Group has a refining capacity of 4.2 mn tons / year and owns an 860 MW high efficiency power plant and a 45 MW wind park. OMV Petrom is present on the oil products retail markets in Romania and neighboring countries through approximately 780 filling stations.

OMV, one of Austria's largest listed industrial companies, holds a 51.01% share in OMV Petrom. The Romanian state, via the Ministry of Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises and Business environment, holds 20.64% of OMV Petrom shares, the Property Fund holds 18.99% and 9.36% is free float on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

In the last ten years investments for the consolidation and modernization of OMV Petrom amounted to more than EUR 11 bn. The annual direct, indirect and induced impact of OMV Petrom in Romania's GDP is around 4.5%.

Starting 2007, OMV Petrom integrated the principles of corporate responsibility within its business strategy. In this period, the company allocated more than EUR 40 mn for the development of communities in Romania, focusing on environment protection, education, health and local development. Andrei's School is the main platform for community involvement.

For more details and information:
OMV Petrom Sustainability Department: CSR.Office@petrom.com
Website: www.petrom.com / www.taraluiandrei.ro

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