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Stories About Roma People’ Is a Collection of Testimonials About People from Roma Communities Across Europe

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Stories About Roma People’ Is a Collection of Testimonials About People from Roma Communities Across Europe Breaking down barriers Inspiring aspiration Setting an example Voice for change Leading by example Sense of empowerment Overcoming Building bridges Breaking down barriers Inspiring aspiration Setting an example Voice for change Leading by example Sense of empowerment Overcoming Building bridges Breaking dow barriers Inspiring aspiration Setting an example Voice for change Leading by example Sense of empowerment OvercomingStories aboutBuilding bridges Breaking downRoma barriers Inspiring people aspiration Setting an example Voice for change Leading by Stopping discrimination example Sense of empowermentagainst Roma Overcoming dif Building bridges Voice for change Leading by example Sense of empowerment Overcoming Building bridges Breaking down barriers Inspiring aspiration Setting an example Voice for change Leading by example Sense of empower ment Overcoming Building bridges Brea king down barriers Inspiring aspiration Setting an example Voice for change Leading by example Sense of empowerment Overcoming Building bridges Breaking down barriers Inspiring aspiration Setting an example Voice for change Leading by example Sense of empowerment Justice Overcoming and ConsumersBuilding bridges Overcoming Building bridges Breaking down barriers Inspi INTRODUCTION ‘Stories about Roma people’ is a collection of testimonials about people from Roma communities across Europe. By capturing the stories of Roma people who succeeded in becoming influential leaders in their local communities, the European Commission aims to break prejudice and stereotypes that are often directed towards Roma in the EU. These stories represent the inspiring potential of Roma people and firmly overturn the prevailing image of unsuccessful and disempowered Roma. The people presented in the following pages are setting an example for others as they are bringing positive change to their local communities despite having to overcome many obstacles.. Social exclusion and discrimination is still a common part of every-day reality for many Roma across the EU. The violations of fundamental rights, especially in access to education, employment, housing and healthcare, are diminishing the possibilities for the personal and professional growth of the biggest minority in Europe – the Roma people. 'Stories about Roma people’ is one part of the communication activities that were designed by the European Commission under the title ‘for Roma, with Roma’. Through the support and public presentation of various educational, cultural and media events the European Commission aimed to bring some voices of Roma people closer to all citizens of the EU and to tackle discrimination and social exclusion of Roma populations across the EU. Since the adoption of the «EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020» in 2011, the European Institutions and the Member States are making progress in their joint responsibility to implement actions for better integration of Roma through National Roma Contact Points, more efficient EU funding opportunities for Roma inclusion, and legal preventions against anti-gypsyism. Stories about Roma People 2 Breaking down barriers Ana Duminica, 23, lives in Bucharest where she has spent the last four years working for the Impreuna Agency for Community Development as a Project Assistant. Her role is to help children, young people and women develop the confidence and skills needed to change their lives, and the lives of those around them. “I bring people together to find common ground so we can identify problems and solve them,” said Ana, who is in her final year of studying Advanced Re- search in Sociology and is due to get her Masters Degree later this year. “I give people the information and tools they need to break down barriers with other communities and achieve their goals.” Recently youths from a small local Roma community felt disadvantaged because there was no play park for children to play although neighbouring Romanian and Bulgarian non-Roma communities each had one. They decided what was needed was somewhere for children from all backgrounds to play together. So, youths from the Roma, Bulgarian and Romanian non-Roma communities joined forces to campaign for a new park. “At first it was difficult convincing people in positions of power who dismissed the views of the youngsters,” said Ana. “But we helped them to organise and find a voice so that within a year the group was able to start building that park.” “It was a good example of how we don’t have to change the whole world at once, just the world that we live in,” said Ana whose ambition since 7th grade was always to work with children from disadvantaged communities and make a difference” Ana, who has been recording many of the personal experiences of the people she has been working with, believes sharing such success stories can be a powerful tool for change. “When one boy read a story I had written about him it changed his life. He shared it with his friends and family. He got more passionate and found new confidence talking to other children in his village. He would show them the story and tell them that if he could better his life so could they.” Stories about Roma People 3 Leading by example András Farkas, 24, from Ajka, Hungary is head of a student association which helps poor Roma people. Born into a family with six brothers and one sister he and his siblings were ins- tilled with a desire to succeed by their hardworking parents. They encouraged their children to find a skill or trade with which to improve their opportunities in life. “My father was a mineworker for 30 years and my mother had a job in a factory. Now, all my brothers are skilled craftsmen working as a welder, metal worker, turner or carpenter,” said András, who studies singing at Franz Liszt Music Aca- demy in Budapest as a tenor. While three of his brothers work in Germany and three have jobs at home in Ajka, András has his sights set on an international career as an opera singer. “I would like to become a famous opera singer at the Opera House in Hungary,” said András, who wants to use his talent to give a voice to the Roma people and set an example, on how they can break away from the stereotyped images which are so often negative. Since last year András has been at the forefront of an initiative among his fellow students to help disadvantaged children. “I lead the Student Union at university where I study. I work with 13 other students as a group to help young people. Our most important activity is that we organise a summer camp every year in Budapest for disadvantaged children,” said András, who hopes that within 10 years he will a father of three children himself. “It’s important to me that our association continues to work well and succeeds in helping as many people as possible. “I enjoy learning from the wide variety of people I meet and I like being able to help them. My hope is that by being successful, and showing a good example with my volunteering, I can inspire more people to get involved and to assist in improving the situation of Roma in Hungary.” Stories about Roma People 4 Inspiring aspiration Catalina Olteanu, 28, from Rasuceni village, Giurgiu County, Romania is a Project Coordinator with the Impreuna Agency for Community Development Her job is to visit schools, encourage Roma children to understand the value of a good education and inspire them to follow the examples of positive role models from the Roma community. So far Catalina has visited more than 100 schools throughout Romania and is convinced things are changing. “I can see it in the eyes of the children, something is happening,” said Catalina. “I show a film featuring interviews with about 10 people who have been successful as actors, musicians, singers, social workers, teachers and in other professions. All of them are Roma and they share stories about their life and experiences, how they found success and how the children can follow their example. It is the first time many of the children have seen a Roma priest or Roma doctor. They are not used to seeing such role models. There are a lot of negative ideas about Roma people in Romania and we want to show young people it doesn’t have to be that way.” Catalina, who was born into a poor Roma family and lived with her grandparents in a community without running water and other amenities many non-Roma communities take for granted, can identify with the children she mentors. “I understand their problems. I walked 3km to school and I faced the same kinds of discrimination they do. But, although my family was poor they realised the importance of education and encouraged me to work hard.” Initially, Catalina wanted to be a lawyer but being a Roma girl from a poor family she couldn’t afford it so she became a teacher of Romani and Spanish, graduating from the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Bucharest University “The Roma situation is changing in a positive way. A lot of Roma people go to other countries, see wonderful things happening there, and come back to Romania with a desire for change. “My work in schools, promoting positive Roma role-models, is part of that movement for change.” Stories about Roma People 5 Overcoming difficulties Attila Varga, 26, from Ózd, Hungary is a student and budding journalist with a desire to make a difference. “It was not easy growing up in Hungary as a Roma man,” said Attila. “My parents were born in a poor blue-collar worker family in Ózd and my mother died of a serious disease when she was 29.” “When I was very young all the factories were closed in Ózd, during the first half of the 1990’s, so most of the Roma people were forced to move.
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