Author Archives: Roma Foundation

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Industry in Slovakia

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Industry in Slovakia

A new industrial park is being prepared in the Stará Ľubovňa district. The project aims to improve the future of the Roma in the district.

“Together with partners, we are preparing the establishment of an industrial park near the village of Šarišské Jastrabie, which will be focused on social entrepreneurship and the employment of long-term unemployed residents from marginalized communities,” the office informed. One of the first projects will be the ecological production of briquettes, which has the ambition to significantly reduce the problem of illegal logging and the burning of unsuitable materials in households. This step will not only have a positive impact on the environment, but will also bring concrete work to people who need it most.

Let’s see …

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

In Nantes, in Western France, a new “insertion village” for Roma who previously lived in some of the camps around the city is being created. Its neighbours are not happy. In Toulose, a  camp that has existed for 15 years will be closed soon.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria and Roma

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Bulgaria and Roma

Bulgaria’s Roma community continues to face widespread discrimination and is seeking to leave the country en masse. However, Roma could fill the dramatic labour gap created by the exodus, provided they have access to quality education. An interview with the founder of the Amalipe Center in Veliko Tarnovo.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

More on Appleby Horse Fair

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More on Appleby Horse Fair

Several articles about the traditional yearly horse fair in Appleby, UK where Roma and Travellers meet. Lots of pictures.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Novo Mesto – Attack

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Novo Mesto – Attack

A witness in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, said that a man the Roma settlement of Žabjak attacked a citizen with a knife, while he was performing community service at the Novo mesto Komunala.

Whatever the reason, this is bad.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Anti-Discrimination Law

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Anti-Discrimination Law

An analysis published by the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities (ÚSVRK) of the Slovak Republic shaw that Roma, while having been facing discrimination in Slovakia in education, healthcare, work and housing for a long time make little use of the existing anti-discrimination laws. Miriam Žiaková, Director of the Media Department of the ÚSVRK said that: “Despite the fact that the existing anti-discrimination law provides them with formal protection, a large part of Roma do not exercise their rights, even in cases where they are directly exposed to discriminatory treatment.”

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: A Billion for Roma

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Slovakia: A Billion for Roma

The Government of the Slovak Republic has received approximately one billion euros from the European Union to support Roma communities. However, as reported by ta3, the distribution of these funds has caused a serious disagreement between the former and current government plenipotentiary for Roma communities.

Peter Pollák, a former plenipotentiary, claims that the entire billion euros is available, which can be used to solve social problems and improve the living conditions of Roma. On the contrary, the current plenipotentiary Alexander Daško opposes, saying that this money is distributed among various ministries and only a part of it is intended directly for Roma. According to Daško, this is misleading and deceiving the public.

Well, Daško also supports some projects of dubious nature… Planting trees is not  going to integrate Romani communities.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Countryside

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Slovak Countryside

Improving housing for the marginalized Roma community (MRK), the rehabilitation of illegal landfills and the education of children are topics that the mayor of Pečovská Nová Ves, Jaroslav Dujava, wants to open during Wednesday’s field meeting of the Slovak government in their municipality.

That would be a good start…

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia and Settlements

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Slovakia and Settlements

A pilot project for the construction of modular houses in a Roma settlement in the town of Veľký Šariš will implement many years of experience with similar construction in the Netherlands. Well, difficult to fathom what similar constructions occurred in the Netherlands, as segregated settlements are not common there…

Alexander Daško, the Slovak plenipotentiary for Roma communities also emphasized the merit and motivational factor. “Future tenants will not get anything for free,” he declared. He explained that the condition for obtaining rental housing is participation in the construction. “The contribution will be at least 20 percent of the costs in the form of participation in the construction work.” He also pointed out that tenants will not be able to create debt on energy and water supplies, and they will also be able to reduce the set rent based on compliance with the rules. “Zero debt, compliance with compulsory school attendance of children, maintaining order, regular employment, all of this will be able to reduce the amount of rent.”

This is a total alibi exercise that builds up on stereotypes that Roma abuse the social system. The real issue are land rights, connection to municipal services (water, electricity), and of course, work.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Appleby Horse fair

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Appleby Horse fair

The largest horse fair and gathering of travellers and Roma in the UK is almost there. A guide to it. But alos a tabloid article about communities barricading, the usual stereotypical rants.

Bad.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Atlas of Roma Communities

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Atlas of Roma Communities

Data collection as part of the sociographic mapping of Roma communities will continue until the end of June. This was announced at a press conference on Tuesday by the Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Government for Roma Communities Alexander Daško and the staff of his office. The reason is the effort to integrate data from the maximum number of municipalities with a relevant presence of Roma communities into the census.

What is remarkable, is that this atlas doesn’t really coincide with the official census …

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Transcarpathian Ukraine: Shootout

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Transcarpathian Ukraine: Shootout

In a Roma settlement in Velykyi Berezne, in Transcarpathian Ukraine, right on the Slovak border, a confrontation between Ukrainian border guards and local Roma escalated. Background is not clear, but Roma threw stones at the border guards, and they fired live rounds. There are wounded, apparently on bth sides, although between stones and rifles, this can’t really be equitable.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Romani Children Festival

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Romani Children Festival

The Bulgarian children’s Roma Festival “Open Heart” gathers over 1,500 children from all over Bulgaria. The program includes exhibitions, music, theatre, crafts, and traditions. The main emphasis this year is the desire to give a voice not only to children, but also to Romnja, cultural figures and community leaders.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Child Poverty

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Bulgaria: Child Poverty

Almost every third child in Bulgaria lives in material deprivation, according to data from the National Statistical Institute for last year. The most affected by the phenomenon are Roma children – over 2/3 of them, while for Bulgarians the indicator is below 1/5, and for children of Turkish origin – nearly 1/3.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Sofia: Brawl

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Sofia: Brawl

Another news we do not really need. Romnja fought each other in the centre of Sofia, the Bulgarian capital. The action took place near St. Peter’s Park, around Konstantin Velichkov Blvd. in Sofia.

According to a wtiness, Romnja literally grabbed each other by the hair in a mass melee. However, he was unable to count how many women participated in the fight. “They were like wild animals. Imagine animals in a zoo fighting for prey. The sight was just like that. They just made my eyes water,” he says on Facebook.

According to him, police arrived at the scene in a flash, and some of the brawlers quickly spat on their heels. The police are currently searching for the attackers.

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