Sandi Horvath

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The second part of an interview with Sandi Horvath, a Rom, a journalist and thepresident of the Roma Academic Club. In the second part of the interview, he tells more about his difficult personal path to education and professional success. He also says that “many educated Roma went to work abroad because Slovenia did not recognize their potential.”

This is new in Slovenia where usually in the press, all Roma are poor, uneducated, and criminals.

Roma Literature

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On January 10th, at 7 p.m. in the Booksa literary club (Martićeva 14D, Zagreb), Barbara Vicković and Mirta Zečević, members of the acting ensemble of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, will read narrative-journalistic stories from the collection “Romanipe – From Shadow to Light”.

Czech Republic: New Book

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A new book intended for Roma pre-schoolers will be published by the Kher publishing house with the support of the Open Society Found Foundation and Albatros. According to its authors, the book contains information for Roma children of pre-school age so that they know what the basic education system will demand of them. The book is also for parents, introducing them to the requirements of schools and the Czech environment, which is partially or completely different from their home.

Poznan Roma Camp

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Roma settled in the area of former allotment gardens near Lechicka Street in Poznan in 2014. The area had previously had to be abandoned by the Polish Allotment Owners’ Association following its purchase by a private person. Now, a request for building several apartments in the are has been submitted, which could mean the end of this camp.

Slovenia and Roma

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For once, a totally different article in the Slovene press about Roma. An interview with Sandi Horvat, a Rom. According to the article, he is educated and successful and is the president of the Roma Academic Club. In the interview, without idealizing, he shows another side of the Roma that is not seen in the media, namely that many Roma live a completely normal life. They go to work, take care of their families and are completely average citizens.

Latvia and Roma Organisations

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According to the President of the Latvian Roma Federation Osvald Jezdovskis, the situation with Roma organizations in Latvia is reminiscent of the gangster times of the nineties of the last century. He called on President Edgars Rinkević and Prime Minister Evika Silina to take part in them in order to protect the Latvian Roma Federation from groups that “monopolized state funding”, which should have been used for the benefit of the Roma.

Few things to relativise: There are several well stablished Roma organisations who indeed get funding from the state. To say that they monopolize the funds in this particular case means most probably that the Latvian Roma Federation was left out … The source, in Russian, may also show some bias.

Slovenia and Roma Discrimination

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An incendiary article in the Slovene press basically saying that the Slovenian defender of the principle of equality Miha Lobnik slanders the majority population of Slovenia by saying that they discriminate against Roma. According to the article, he was not capable of naming a single case of real discrimination.

Needless to say, the article is also full of negative statements against Roma, especially the ones in the South of the country.

Hungary: Success Story

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Tímea Somogyi, a Romni from Kecskemet, Hungary completed he high school and university as an adult by the time she had 6 children. She now works as a social care worker.

Slovenia and Roma

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Another article about the Roma “problem” and, in this cas, the apparent incapacity of the local government to do anything. According to the article Golob’s government had to prepare legislative changes by the end of 2023, “which will adequately and effectively address the Roma issue, especially from the point of view of integrating Roma into society and strengthening the social responsibility of the individual.” They did nothing.

Serbia – A Success Story

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Eldina Nikolić received her university diploma from the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, and her thesis was declared the best in the entire class. She is a Romni whose family did not speak Romans, and she also learnt it.

Europe, Roma, and Education

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Most national governments in Europe, the European Commission and other international organizations agree that Roma are left out by the educational systems. The latest report of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights shows disastrous results in 10 countries, including EU member states Romania and Hungary, as well as North Macedonia and Serbia.

The proportion of Roma who felt discriminated against when addressing school authorities has increased over the past five years, the report said. Ethnic segregation in schools has increased among children aged six to 15. The share of young Roma between the ages of 20 and 24 with at least secondary school education remained mostly at the same low level as in previous years.

Jarovnice – Slovakia

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Michal Šľachta has been working in Jarovnice since the summer. He worked for ten years at the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Government for Roma communities in Bratislava. In the summer, he accepted an offer to work in Jarovnice. Almost 7,500 inhabitants live in the village, around 70 to 80 percent are from the Roma community.

He wants the village to apply for becoming a town, and wants to finally name streets and number houses. The current ghetto doesn’t have any street names.

Slovakia, Music, and Roma

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When a half-Romani and successful singer releases a traditional song in Romanes, and mangles a few words, this unleashes a flood of criticism from the Roma community. There are valid points in the critique, but on the other hand, it is good that well known artists endorse their origins.

Serbia and Roma Integration

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A forum was held in the city administration of the City of Pancevo on the revised strategy for the social inclusion of Roma men and women. The Roma Cultural Centre Pancevo organized the forum on the topic “Presentation of the strategy for the social inclusion of Roma men and women 2022-2030” with the support of the City.

Will it help?

Bulgaria: Fights

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A fight between two Roma families was allegedly prevented by the intervention of the police forces. The attack was supposed to take place in the “Kaltinets” district of Gorno-Oryahov, the press center of the Regional Directorate of the Police in Veliko Tarnovo announced.

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