EN Contact us
Member
  1. World Nomads
  2. Create
  3. Scholarships
  4. Photography
  5. 2015
  6. Applications
  7. Kashtalo The Untouchables

Kashtalo- The Untouchables

by Patricia Gabriela Iftene

Romania

Shares
In Romania's Carpathian Mountains, three kilometers up from the last nearby village, lives one of the few remaining communities of forest gypsies. They are the poorest and lowest caste in the gypsy hierarchy, which call them 'kashtalo', meaning 'the untouchables'.
In Romania's Carpathian Mountains, three kilometers up from the last nearby village, lives one of the few remaining communities of forest gypsies. They are the poorest and lowest caste in the gypsy hierarchy, which call them 'kashtalo', meaning 'the untouchables'.
This is a typical house. Because mountains tend to have much wetter climates, for a better ventilation and to decrease the level of moisture, houses in Hetea will stay with such open rooftops until late autumn.
This is a typical house. Because mountains tend to have much wetter climates, for a better ventilation and to decrease the level of moisture, houses in Hetea will stay with such open rooftops until late autumn.
There is no asphalt road from the community down to the village. A truck of the City Council has just unloaded stones in the main street. Boys of all ages pick up the shovels and start spreading around the stones.
There is no asphalt road from the community down to the village. A truck of the City Council has just unloaded stones in the main street. Boys of all ages pick up the shovels and start spreading around the stones.
Kids gather up for a group photo. Most families in Hetea have three or more children, while girls usually become mothers in their early teenage years.
Kids gather up for a group photo. Most families in Hetea have three or more children, while girls usually become mothers in their early teenage years.
Families in Hetea are living mostly off the mushrooms and the berries they collect from the forest. They barely survive from selling them in the local market, along with other products which they handcraft (baskets, brooms, wooden spoons etc.).
Families in Hetea are living mostly off the mushrooms and the berries they collect from the forest. They barely survive from selling them in the local market, along with other products which they handcraft (baskets, brooms, wooden spoons etc.).

View other applications

View all