During the Summer Workshop Camp – social skills development camp for Roma youth from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland – there were many opportunities to have fun together, something that people of all ages dream of during the holiday season. However, a very important strand of the event was also serious conversations, which showed that our participants and attendees are very serious about not only their future, but also about activist work for their own communities.
The debate, which took place on 7 August at the Multicultural Centre in Warsaw, showed how much thought Roma youth from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine have on the situation of Roma communities in Europe. Although the situation is slightly different in all these countries, we know that in many places the problems of Roma communities are very similar. In Ukraine, the most important issue is security, and support for those fleeing the war. In the rest of the countries, discrimination against Roma and Roma women, unequal access to social services, i.e. education, health care and material problems, etc. are serious problems. The aim of the debate was to raise social issues, but also to hear the opinions of the participants, people who come from Roma communities, live and function among them on a daily basis, and often encounter the problems mentioned.
During the meeting, topics related to education in the Visegrad countries came up repeatedly. Mention was made of the unequal treatment of Roma children and young people in school facilities, segregation in schools, and bench ghettos. It was also sad to hear about other forms of discrimination experienced by people of Roma origin, from an early age. Belonging to the Roma minority means that in many parts of the world Roma people experience exclusion, which leads to a reluctance to integrate into majority societies. One way to cope with this issue is to seek support from the family, which most people identified as a core value in their lives. “The family gives security, makes us feel protected,” was one participant’s statement from the Czech Republic. “For me, the most important value is a family that supports me”, mentioned Roma girl from Ukraine, who lives in Poland on a daily basis.
Equally important for many participants was the education and qualifications they want to gain. “I want to study to get a good profession”, “I want to succeed professionally”, “I want to help the Roma community in the future so that they live better”. These are just some of the very important statements made by our participants.
And what did you enjoy most at this year’s Summer Workshop Camp? By far the majority of people emphasised how important it was for them to integrate and to be able to learn about Roma cultures from other countries, musical traditions, dialects of the Romani language, favourite foods. One participant said that for her it was also important that the Summer Workshop Camp gives the chance to show that Roma girls and women have a huge impact on the education and integration of Roma communities. Thanks to the financial support of the International Visegrad Fund in the organisation of this year’s camp, the belief in the empowerment of different individuals and groups will grow.
Agnieszka Caban
