PRESERVING ETHNIC IDENTITY VERSUS SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF THE ROMA COMMUNITIES

The analysis is based on data collected from the second and third year students, majoring in Sociology and Social Work at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Oradea, in March 2014 and also on the data obtained by direct observation as a participant observer of the phenomenon of social integration dynamics of the Roma comunity in the town of Tinca, Bihor county, in the past 25 years. Highlighted is the role of social mechanisms and institutions in social integration : protestant churches (Baptist and Pentecostal), Day Centre, Multifunctional soup kitchens, kindergarten, school and medical clinic. The survey methods used : observation, interview, focus group, all the mentioned institutions, interviews with mayors and the Roma advisor, Romani language teacher at the "Nicolae Jiga" school in the town of Tinca, representatives from local and religious leaders, Foundation Director" Romanian Relife". We also studied a large quantity of documents from the archives of the Town Hall, from citizens, old photographs, with a special mention of an interview with the eldest representative of the Roma community. Noted that the analysis took into account economic status, cultural issues, the migration in Western European countries for financial resources with the social effects of this phenomenon, family stability versus divorce, children's education, the rate of school dropout and last but not least, considerations on relationships between the Roma comunity and the ethnic majority of that area, and also the evolution of the criminal activity phenomenon in the Roma community. The complexity of the study derives not only from the multitude of issues concerning the Roma community's social life, but also taking into account the Romas comunity large number of 1200 people, which makes it one of the most significant Roma communities in Bihor County.