Restless Beings Project:

Roma Engage

Country of origin:	India
Countries of residence:	Eastern European countries, Spain, Italy, France, Czech Republic, UK
Total population:	approx. 2-5 million
Population in UK:	approx. 300,000
Language:	Romani
Religion:	Christianity; Islam; Hinduism

Who are the Roma?

Since their migration from India approximately 600 years ago, the Roma have suffered economic, political and cultural discrimination at the hands of communist and capitalist as well as democratic and totalitarian societies. Yet, the Roma gypsies, an ethnic group living mostly in Europe, are one of the oldest roaming communities in the world.

There are about 2 to 5 million Roma in the world. It is impossible to estimate the total population with accuracy since many governments do not record Roma in their census figures. Many Roma also conceal their ethnic origin out of fear of discrimination. They are heavily persecuted, particularly in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Why are the Roma in trouble?

According to Amnesty International, of the 10 million Roma living in Europe, almost 80% live in European Union states. The Roma population is the poorest and one of the fastest growing in the region, living predominantly on the margins of society. Roma are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Europe.

Romani's are commonly subject to ill treatment by law enforcement officers. Women and children are most vulnerable to traffickers as well as racial attacks, with little or no protection from the police. Additionally in most countries they are prevented from obtaining citizenship, healthcare or other benefits. In Eastern Europe, Roma often live in depressed squatter communities with very high unemployment, while only some are fully integrated in the society. Most Eastern European Romanies are Catholic, Orthodox or Muslim.

Around 300,000 Gypsies, Roma and Travellers live in the UK.

The right of education for Roma Gypsies

There has been a recent concern on Roma children in Britain on their level of education attainment. Ofsted has reported that Gypsy, Roma & Traveller pupils, have the lowest results of any ethnic minority group and are the groups most at risk in the education system. In addition to this, the Swann report identified Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils as being strongly affected by many factors influencing the education of children from other minority ethnic groups. Particular mention was made then, as now, of racism and discrimination, myths, stereotyping and the need for more positive links between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller parents and their children's schools.

The ideology of many schools, both in their practices and discourses, perpetuate myths and beliefs that foster the exclusion and marginalisation of the Gypsy children. As a result, the Gypsy/Roma children suffer processes of segregation in the educative systems, both in the classrooms and in particular school centres. In most of the contexts studied, the channels of communication between the families and the teachers are almost non-existent.

The Proposal

To raise awareness and hold workshops in school citizenship classes to combat prejudice and bullying at a youth level.

For 2012, our project aims are:

To research and raise awareness of the marginalisation of the Roma community through a week long physical during the summer and an online campaign.
To create and hold workshops in school citizenship classes to engage Primary & Secondary School Students so that greater awareness is raised amongst the youth.
To create and hold after school workshops to give Roma children extra educational support.

Thoughts on: ‘The Strangers Within: A Portrait of the Roma’

On 21^st November 2011 a documentary, ‘The Strangers Within: a portrait of the Roma’, was screened; a film that captured personal accounts and snapshots of events and struggles of the Roma Gypsy community within Europe.

Free Roma Day

On the 31st of May 2011, the Medway Ethnic Minority Forum organised a 'Free Roma Day' in Chatham, Kent. The event was attended by various organisations who delivered workshops including a health and lifestyle team and the waste collection service among several others. The intention of the event was to make the Roma community in Medway aware of the services and amenities available to them through council schemes and deaprtments. After my colleague Zakirah and I spoke to the chairman of the Ethnic Minority Forum, I understood that this was an initiative in its early stages, and one of significant importance as the chairman felt that the forum had done much work with and for other minority communities who were now established, and the Roma community had a long way to go until we could reach the same conclusion.

“Putting me into care didn't stop me being gypsy.”

What she didn’t know at the time was that this was part of an ‘ethnic cleansing’ programme initiated by the government carried out in the late 50s and early 60s. It is believed that hundreds of children were removed from their parents during that period, just like Liz, and put into care homes.

Despite being thrown into eight care homes over the course of ten years, where she was forced to forget her roots, constantly criticized and ridiculed by those around her, she still holds her heritage close and strong. After facing constant abuse from the care homes she eventually decided to run away and become a Traveller, doing cash-in-hand jobs to survive on the streets.

Through schooling, a few Gypsies join middle class

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/through-schooling-a-few-807188.html

Gypsy Roma Travellers:

What happens when you stand tall and don't give up.