Largo Association published three reports and a collection of personal Roma women's stories
01 September 2022
Largo Association translated to Bulgarian and issued two reports by KUN Center for Equality and Diversity, Norway (partner of I have a dream project) - Roma in the EU and Norway: Challenges and Best Practices for Empowerment by Helene Rød and Kiril Gurvich, Roma Women in Norway: Experiences of Antigypsyism, Gender Inequality and Empowerment and also in English Why do Dreams Migrate to South report by Venelin Stoychev (empowerment and research expert at Largo Association).
The report Why do Dreams Migrate to South? /access here – тук линк към Report survey_Dream_ENG/ is the output of organizing and conducting 24 in-depth interviews and 6 focus group discussions in Kyustendil, Dupnitsa, Sofia, Radomir, etc. Each of the discussions was attened by 8-12 youngsters, women and men over the age of 14. Part of the goals of the report was to make a current snapshot of the issues, dreams and hopes of Roma families, the crises of traditional communities, schools, personal and interpersonal relationships, community life in three Roma neighborhoods - in Kyustendil, Radomir and Dupnitsa as well as the dreams of personal fulfillment of young Roma. The main findings and outcomes of the report are about the lack of guaranteed access to quality health care, education, social care, security and mechanisms for vertical social mobility and the presence of blood and personal bonds that hinder development in traditional communities. In addition there is a lack of developed security and social support systems as well as the presence of educational institutions.
There is also a lack of freedom of economic activity, geographic and social mobility, access to different points of view, cultural practices and normative systems in the country. The most successful individuals of Roma community leave it while the most dependent remain - that is, there is a negative selection in the community: the most promising leave - the most vulnerable are here to stay…
Norwegian Roma are one of the smallest but also one of the least liked minority groups – they are subjected to the utmost stigmatization and discrimination in Norway. Historically Norwegian Roma have been severely discriminated by the Norwegian government and they are still discriminated by public institutions and by the society. Roma women there face gender discrimination and inequality withine Roma community describing discrimination by the state, society and other Roma; in public spaces, retail stores, education, health, housing and labor markets, public institutions and even in home.
Many Roma have lost trust in law enforcement due to bad experiences with stereotypes and false accusations and inaction in the investigation of crimes against Roma. Roma in Norway indicated international Roma networks, education, employment and knowledge of the law and employment as a potential source of empowerment. It was recommended that government officials and citizens should focus on initiatives that promote empowerment through education, employment and knowledge of law. It would be particularly useful to provide training and jobs in areas of interest to Roma women and in which they would be comfortable working.
The Norwegian partners recommendations are to improve the situation of Roma women in Norway threefold:
1/ the Norwegian government prepares a concrete and effective action plan against anti-gypsyism and descision making in cooperation with Roma community and Roma community different groups’ voices is important to be heard in this process and in particular the voices of Norwegian Roma women owing of their knowledge and experience;
2 / increasing public institutions and general public’s awareness about Roma issues for example by including more Romani history in the curriculum in primary and secondary schools;
3/ measures aimed at ensuring access to labor market for Roma women.
Read full text of the reports:
- Roma in the EU and Norway: Challenges and Best Practices for Empowerment:
- Roma Women in Norway: Experiences of Antigypsyism, Gender Inequality and Empowerment:
Also waiting for its premiere is Colorful Melancholia by Venelin Stoychev - a collection of personal Roma women's stories as well as the experience of Roma women in modern society with incredible stories told us by the respondents of the 6 focus groups and in-depth interviews held in the summer of 2022.
Distribution of the reports and collection to the project's target group as well as among stakeholders and general public is forthcoming.
The main goal of I Have a Dream project is to validate, implement and disseminate new innovative methods of empowering Roma women and girls through personal skills training and direct advocacy. The tasks of the project are: a) to contribute to the construction of a favorable environment that respects the Roma woman as a person and b) to develop the resources of Roma women to assert themselves as subjects who can fight for their rights, interests and dreams. The participants will go through a series of trainings on personal skills, which they will have the opportunity to apply in practice..
The project "I have a dream" is implemented with the financial support of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the Active Citizens Fund of Bulgaria within the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. All responsibility for the content of the document is borne by the Association Liberal alternative for Roma civil union - LARGO in partnership with KUN Center for Equality and Diversity - Norway and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this document reflects the official opinion of the Financial Mechanism of the European economic space and the Operator of Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria www.activecitizensfund.bg .
