Monthly Periodical of The Roma Inclusion Offi ce The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina No. 56, december 2015 Photo of the month: Marking the 5000th Rhomano Them radio show Founder and Publisher of the Periodical: The Roma Inclusion Office of the Govern- ment of AP Vojvodina Editor in Chief: Duško Jovanović Managing Editor: Aleksandra Mićić The team: Dragana Rajić Aleksandra Mićić DEAR Tijana Čubrilo Ljiljana Maričić READER, Graphic design Associate: Tatjana Bošković Correspondents: Ferenc Koso Coordinators for Roma issues of the AP Vojvodina Ivana Koprivica n front of you is the last issue of our magazine for this year. We hope that we met your expectations Translation into Romani: and justified your confidence. Nota Bene, Centar za prevođenje i učenje I stranih jezika Novi Sad The Education section brings articles of supporting Roma students within Romaversitas Translation into English: project, as well as of the scholarship contracts Aleksandra Vranić signed between Preschool Teacher Training students in Vršac and the Roma Inclusion Office. Technical Preparation and Printing: Lola preduzetništvo, Beograd, The Provincial institutions section provides the www.lolapreduzetnistvo.co.rs second part of the Provincial Ombudsman’s report on the analysis of the status of Coordinators for Circulation: Roma issues in Vojvodina. 1000 copies In a Local government section, there is an Address: interview with Stevan Nikolić, Roma Coordinator Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 25, 21000 Novi Sad in Subotica. Tel: 021/488-17-23 We wrote about the Center for Regionalism [email protected] under NGOs section. www.inkluzijaroma.vojvodina.gov.rs What is current in this issue is that “Trifun CIP - Cataloging in Publication Dimić Poetry Days”, took place in Šangaj’s library The Matica Srpska Library, Novi Sad that bears his name, as well as marking the 5000th 323.1 (=214.58)(=497.113) radio show “Romano Them”, broadcast on Radio The Decade of Roma in AP Vojvodina: Belgrade. Monthly Publication of the Roma Inclusion In our History section, you can read interesting Office / Editor in Chief Duško Jovanović articles about how other nations call the Roma, -2011, No. 1 - Novi Sad: The Roma Inclusion and that the origin of the word Roma. Office of the Government of AP Vojvodina, We remind you that, thanks to the Research 2011-.30 cm and Education Center and the Preschool Teacher Monthly. In Serbian, English and Romani Training College “Mihailo Palov” from Vršac, you language - In Romani printed in reverse can read our publication online at www.rec.org/ COBISS.SR - ID 261834759 bilten/. Your editorial staff EDUcatION Promoting the Romaversitas Project SUPPORTING ROMA STUDENTS he Roma Inclusion Office, in cooperation Representatives of the Roma Education with the Vojvodina Roma Center for De- Fund, Student Union of Serbia, Infopolis - Tmocracy, organized a promotion of a Ro- Youth Info Centre and students of high schools maversitas project, which will last two years. and colleges, attended the promotion of the Romaversitas Serbia is trying to make contact project. Students found out information about with and to support Roma students in continu- the project and what their formal and informal ity during their studies. This means that Serbia partners offer when it comes to the educa- Romaversitas help Roma students in the pro- tion of young Roma. “Our goal is to familiarize cess leading up to their graduation and tries to yourself with all the institutions that deal with empower them to find jobs after study. education and with what help they offer,” said 2 Aleksandar Jovanović, Project Manager, to the ies, but provides support for freshman stu- students. dents and prospective students, as well as Veselin Dickov, director of the Student primary and secondary school students. He Health Center, expressed his satisfaction that participates in this program as a lecturer. they have repeatedly had a very successful Student at the Teacher Training College in cooperation with the Vojvodina Roma Center Vršac, Biljana Ređepović said that she came for Democracy and all the organizations that to the promotion to meet other students and support education and health of the Roma. He to hear the information they need for further pointed out that the Roma have the support of education. the Institute and promised to maximally meet Jelica Nikolić from Roma Education Fund the needs through lecturers, space and logistic explained that this program included many support to the entire project. students from Novi Sad and emphasized that it Mirko Kaldaraš is a student of Master stud- means a lot to them. She added that in addi- EDUcatION 3 Speakers at the panel tion to Romaversitas program, the REF imple- education you gain a certain status in society ments a scholarship program as well. and a chance to live better and better,” said Director of the Roma Inclusion Office said Jovanović. He analyzed the exemplary affirm- that the Office has participated since its open- ative action today compared to the previous ing in the implementation of affirmative ac- three or four years, and unfortunately, con- tion measures. The Office is actively involved cluded that not only did these measures suf- in the promotion of education in general, with fer today, but also very difficult to implement. special emphasis on continuing education. “All “An example of this is that last year we had 14 those who think they do not need it today to Roma students at the law school who passed go to school and receive education are greatly the entrance exam and enrolled through af- mistaken because the time in which we live firmative action, and this year only two,” said increases requirement, and that only through Jovanović. EDUcatION 4 EDUcatION In 2009/2010, the project Romaversitas began formally to implement in Novi Sad and was financially supported by the Roma Education Fund. One of the main objectives was to create equal opportunities for Roma students studying at the University of Novi Sad. Before that, they conducted various studies to see what are the real needs of Roma students. Romaversitas Serbia program offers to student: • fully equipped space for learning and research, • additional classes with professors mentors, • assistance in school needs, • psychological support, • to cover the cost of books and minor costs, Note: • learning English and Romani language, Students must apply while the compe- • support in learning, tition is in progress. Subsequent ap- • student Initiative plication will not be possible. • access to seminar programs. Tijana Čubrilo 5 EDUcatION SCHOLARSHIP CONTRACTS FOR STUDENTS OF ROMA NatIONALITY he provincial govern- supported this initiative, and diversity. Vojvodina model, ment and the Roma In- six years ago the first genera- which has been presented Tclusion Office organized tion of students enrolled. at the European institutions, ceremonial signing of schol- The Vice President of the is to solve the issues of edu- arship contracts for Roma Provincial Government, Mi- cation and employment of students for the school year roslav Vasin, said that the Roma, as well as a model for 2015/2016. Scholarships are Provincial Government has solving the housing problem intended for 20 students of strived to provide adequate of the Roma. Vojvodina is the Roma nationality, study pro- assistance and support to only region in Europe that has gram for teacher training in members of the Roma com- a higher education institution Romani language at the Col- munity, through a variety of where it is possible to edu- lege of Professional Stud- measures, programs and pro- cate the Roma to cater the ies in Education of Teach- jects, and that the current sit- needs of the Roma communi- ers “Mihailo Palov” in Vršac. uation, despite the fact that ty and of the entire society, in Students were addressed has not reached its desired their own language. There is by the Vice President of the level, wakes up and provides a large number of small busi- Provincial Government and hope for a better tomorrow. “ nesses in Vojvodina today, the Provincial Secretary for This year as well, the Provin- whose owners and founders Economy, Employment and cial Government continued to are of Romani origin”, said Gender Equality, Mr. Miroslav implement quality projects Vasin, adding that efforts are Vasin, in the presence of Di- in the field of improving the made by the provincial gov- rector of the Office, Duško position of Roma, albeit with ernment and the Secretariat Jovanović, Assistant Secre- more modest means. These to improve the situation of tary for the area of improving projects were rated high the Roma in the province. the position of Roma Slavica marks from international Eu- Due to the fact that the Denić and staff from the Sec- ropean institutions and the importance of creating a retariat. United Nations. We live in Vo- highly educated cadre for In order to continue the jvodina and the basic duty of the Romani language, in the process of preserving, nur- the Provincial Government is sense of preserving the iden- turing and development of to maintain what is most pre- tity of the Roma community the Romani language in the cious – Vojvodina values. They in the region, the Roma Inclu- institutions and agencies, represent the co-existence of sion Office has implemented the Roma Inclusion Office 26 national communities that financial support to students and Roma Centre launched live here with each other, not of this track as part of its an initiative to open a study next to each other. Vojvodina plan and program. program for teachers in the values are tolerance, under- Duško Jovanović pointed Roma language in 2009. The standing, respecting each out that the aim of gather- provincial government has other’s traditions, beauty of ing scholars in the Provincial 6 EDUcatION Government and the discus- problems have started. Con- sion and exchange of infor- ditions for undisturbed edu- mation is relevant for under- cation of Roma children are standing the current situation in some way disturbed, and in Serbia regarding the status the measures introduced had of the Roma.