The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina

Transcription

1 Monthly Periodical of The Roma Inclusion Office The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina No. 53, September 2015

2 Photo of the month: Presenting the performance of the Russian choir Glinka in St. Petersburg

3 Founder and Publisher of the Periodical: The Roma Inclusion Office of the Government of AP Vojvodina Editor in Chief: Duško Jovanović Managing Editor: Aleksandra Mićić The team: Dragana Rajić Aleksandra Mićić Tijana Čubrilo Ljiljana Maričić Correspondents: Ferenc Koso Coordinators for Roma issues of the AP Vojvodina Ivana Koprivica Translation into Romani: Nota Bene, Centar za prevođenje i učenje stranih jezika Novi Sad Translation into English: Nota Bene Centar za prevođenje i učenje stranih jezika, Novi Sad Technical Preparation and Printing: Lola preduzetništvo, Beograd, Circulation: 1000 copies Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 25, Novi Sad Tel: 021/ inkluzija.roma@gmail.com CIP - Cataloging in Publication The Matica Srpska Library, Novi Sad (=214.58)(= ) The Decade of Roma in AP Vojvodina: Monthly Publication of the Roma Inclusion Office / Editor in Chief Duško Jovanović -2011, No. 1 - Novi Sad: The Roma Inclusion Office of the Government of AP Vojvodina, cm Monthly. In Serbian, English and Romani language - In Romani printed in reverse COBISS.SR - ID DEAR READER, In the August issue you can find two interviews that analyze the results of the Decade of Roma with Vitomir Mihajlović, president of the National Council of Roma and Nenad Ivanišević, president of the Council for Roma Integration. We found out about the biggest problems of Roma in the municipality of Ruma from talking to the Roma Coordinator. Agreements on financing elementary school students were signed at the Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality with municipalities, and we also present to you public works of the Secretariat s Call, implemented by an association of Roma in Mokrin, where nine Roma citizens were hired for the works. In this issue we bring you the story of the Petrović family from Beška, a single father of three sons who does everything in his power to provide a better life for his children. We remind you that, thanks to the Research and Education Center and to the Preschool Teacher Training College Mihailo Palov in Vršac, you can read our publication in its electronic form at Your editorial board

4 Provincial government PRESIDENT PAJTIĆ OPENED ROMA ECONOMIC CENTER OF VOJVODINA President of the Provincial Government Bojan Pajtić opened the Roma Economic Center of Vojvodina in Žabalj, which will deal with the collection of secondary raw materials and recycling plastics. The Center will employ five workers, and the plan is that by the end of the year about 30 people in total get hired. Roma Economic Center of Vojvodina is the result of the project Local Decision Making Initiative in Serbia, financed by the Open Society Foundation from Switzerland. The project was implemented by the municipality Žabalj, in cooperation with the Provincial Roma Inclusion Office. President Pajtić pointed out that the opening of the Roma Economic Center of Vojvodina is an example of social entrepreneurship, because this project will contribute to the economic empowerment of Roma through formalizing the legal status of collectors of secondary raw material and through active labor market measures. About a third of Roma in Vojvodina deal with collecting and processing recyclable materials. The center will allow the industry to be systematized and that Roma who are doing this be given the opportunity to earn and support their family, said Bojan Pajtić, PhD. President of the Provincial Government added that the country will benefit of this project, because it will enable to develop cooperation between local governments as well as from various businesses through processing of secondary raw materials, plastics and other waste, because the processed raw materials will then become energy or raw material for new production. In the world, collecting and processing secondary raw materials is one of the most profitable businesses, which is unfortunately not the case in our country. This project is building on the development of this sector, said President Pajtić and added that this project will also enable to increase the capacity of the landfill, and ensure they last longer. It is, as President Pajtić said, of great social economic, environmental and health significance for all citizens of the province of Vojvodina. Provincial Secretary for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmen- 2

5 Provincial government tal Protection, Dr. Slobodan Puzović stressed that resolving waste management issues is a burning issue not only in Serbia, but also in many European countries. It is time to finally translate the waste from the sphere of problems into the sphere with potential for development, through provision of new raw materials for production and provision of a potential energy source for the production of electricity or heat, said Dr. Slobodan Puzović and stated that the relevant provincial secretariat issued a permit for collection and transportation of hazardous waste from the territory of AP Vojvodina for the realization of this project. Provincial Secretary Slobodan Puzović stressed that resolving waste management issues burning issue not only in Serbia, but also in many European countries. It is time to finally waste from the sphere of problems translate into the sphere of the potential for development, through the provision of new raw materials for production through the provision of a potential energy source for the production of electricity or heat, said Dr. Slobodan Puzović and stated that the relevant provincial secretariat issued a permit for collection and transportation of hazardous waste from the territory of AP Vojvodina for the realization of this project. Opening of the Roma Economic Center 3

6 Employment Roma association "Romano Anglunipe" received funding for the execution of public works in the municipality of Pećinci. We spoke with Ivan Jovanović, president of the association. LIVE OFF YOUR OWN WORK THE BIGGEST SATISFACTION Ivan Jovanović, Citizen s association Romano anglunipe 4

7 Employment For what time period and how many people were hired through this competition? In the municipality of Pećinci public works are performed in three Roma settlements: Obrež, Kupinovo and Popinci. Although there are ten Roma settlements of a total of 15 local communities here today, we were not able to do all of that. The time frame is four months - from June to September. So far, we have done more than half and I hope that we will finish everything successfully by the end, as we planned. I must express my gratitude to the Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality, as well as the Roma Inclusion Office, because they approved hiring of seven people whom we hired for public works. What type of tasks do they have? They perform the tasks of mowing grass within Roma communities, picking up trash, taking garbage to landfill and cleaning. How significant is the opportunity for Roma to be able to work? It is very important; we took seven people from the NES. It is good for the country, and for people who are engaged in public work. They have their salary in the amount of 22, dinars as well as paid travel expenses. This is a very good way for people to live off their work, not off welfare and it would be good to have more of such calls. How important is cooperation between the institutions and you as representatives of the NGO sector? It is important, but unfortunately, people in the municipality Perica Jovanović, a worker in public works has expressed great satisfaction at being engaged and making a living off his work. "It is very important for me and my family to have the resources off which we can eat food, and at the same time, I am glad to help my compatriots so that we clean up our village." of Pećinci have no understanding of what we do. However, as far as the Province is concerned, we have very good cooperation with the Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality and the Roma Inclusion Office, who enabled all of this. What benefits do Roma have in the Municipality of Pećinci? Children in elementary and high schools had free textbooks, snacks, and transportation for high school students, free bread, timber, but this is no longer the case. I went to the municipality to suggest to them to reinstate benefits to Roma, or at least some of them. However, I encountered misunderstanding. I have been the president of the Roma association for ten years now, and six months ago I received a decision from the National Council, to be the coordinator for Roma issues in the municipality. Last activity designed toward the Roma. Via the Roma Inclusion Office and representative of the board, Ninoslav Jovanović, who was in contact with the NGO Praxis from Belgrade, we have helped make more than 60 identity cards. I will not stop at that for sure, there will be more. On this occasion, I want to tell the Roma who live in the municipality of Pećinci and have no identity cards to contact me to my phone number. How difficult was it to find people who would work on public works? In the foreground we had a plan to contract 12 people and I applied for a larger sum of money, but was unable to hire more than seven people. There was no difficulty, in contrary, there were much more inter- 5

8 Employment ested people. The Roma want to work with great pleasure. Unfortunately, the downside of public works is that the works last only for the summer, and when winter comes Roma do not have the resources to feed their families. What is a more permanent solution? There are plenty of companies in Pećinci that could employ a certain number of Roma people permanently. We do not have any Roma who was employed by the institutions in our community, which is sad. Ljiljana Maričić Cleaning the Roma settlement 6

9 Education CERTIFICATES AWARDED TO PARTICIPANTS OF WORK INTERNSHIP University of Novi Sad hosted a ceremony of awarding certificates to participants of the University program of work internship that took place within the Assembly and Government of AP Vojvodina, the provincial administration and funds, directorates and institutions founded by the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, with the expert assistance of the OSCE Mission in Serbia. President of the Assembly of Vojvodina, Ištvan Pastor, Rector of the University of Novi Sad, Radovan Pejanović PhD, Assistant Secretary for Education and Technological Development, Dr. Goran Stojanović, representative of the OSCE, Maja Mićić and coordinators and practitioners of work internship all attended the ceremony. So far, 474 students and graduates of the University of Novi Sad successfully completed a work internship, which marked its 12th year of. President of the Assembly of Vojvodina, Ištvan Pastor, said that he has been monitoring and supporting this idea since the beginning of the program and congratulated everyone on the successfully finished internship. Much has been said about the necessity of structural changes in Serbian society and it is a necessity. New times are full of new challenges and it is impossible to make a structural change and modernization of administration without young people who should be given a chance. University Rector Prof. Dr. Pejanović stressed that this is a program of social value and for the benefit of students, who get a chance to familiarize themselves with the administration and operations performed in public institutions. Education and research are the main objectives of the University, with now added cooperation with the surrounding environment - state and local governments, but also with companies. Assistant to the Provincial Secretary for Science and Technological Development, Professor Goran Stojanović said that everyone benefit from this program, because future will bear capacity of young and educated "I am very pleased with the experience that I gained during the internship at the Roma Inclusion Office. I worked on translation of texts from Serbian into English, although I was not alone in this process. Office employees were always there to help me clarify anything that was unclear or fix my mistakes. In this way, I learned a lot during the seven months of practice. My favorite thing is that I met a lot of good and hardworking people at this internship and experienced work in a friendly and organized atmosphere. I did not have a single negative experience and would recommended the other English Language students to come here and intern, to try out translation and thus help the Roma national minority in our country. " Aleksandra Vranić 7

10 Education I am grateful that I had the opportunity to gain practical knowledge that I could not gain otherwise in university. Given the fact that I hold BA in literature, my task was to write newspaper articles. No day was ever the same because we were constantly going to field in search of new stories in order to reduce discrimination against Roma and promote examples of good practice. For everything that was unclear to me, the employees would help me, and I want to take this opportunity to thank for their trust and patience. As I got to meet many Roma through the internship, all my prejudices about them went missing. I am sorry that the internship ended and I would definitely reenlist. Ljiljana Maričić Office s interns people who have undergone the internship and thereby gained the necessary experience. OSCE representative, Maja Mićić, said that the work internship project became self-sustaining after two-year period, but that the OSCE remains here to provide expert support and assistance in training, as well as 8

11 Education to participate in selecting the best candidate. Roma Inclusion Office has taken part in the program of work internship again this year, and engaged four interns: Ljiljana Maričić and Aleksandra Vranić from the Faculty of Philosophy, Tatjana Bošković from the Faculty of Technical Sciences and Peter Atlagić from the Faculty of Economics. We will deliver their impressions on the work in the Roma Inclusion Office. Tijana Čubrilo 9

12 International cooperation SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH ROMA INTEGRATION - BOTH IN SERBIA AND IN SWEDEN Representatives of the Swedish municipality of Linköping came to a study visit to the Municipality of Vračar, and were interested to hear examples of good practices of Roma inclusion into society in Serbia during the Decade, since this Swedish municipality has a large number of Roma from the Western Balkans. The conference was organized by the Municipality of Vračar and Roma Integration Association and Population Policy (RUZIP). Participants of the round table 10

13 International cooperation Welcome Zoran Alimpić, Deputy Mayor and Ljubinka Krkuš, President of RUZIP addressed the audience. Alimpić stressed that the municipality has made progress in the rights of national minorities thanks to the cooperation with RUZIP, and was especially pleased with the fact that the meeting was attended by representatives of other municipalities, so that the guests from Sweden could gain a fuller picture of Roma Inclusion. The Decade and examples of good practice Duško Jovanović, director of the Roma Inclusion Office of Vojvodina, spoke of the Decade of the Roma Inclusion in Serbia. He stressed that he is not fully satisfied with the results of the Decade, but is encouraged by the fact that the state stood behind this project and by so demonstrated willingness and desire to include Roma into the society, and the issue of Roma is put to focus of the domestic public. Decade, in his opinion, was well designed but the implementation was poor. Guests from Sweden were able to hear that most has been done in the field of education, and that not much has been done in the remaining three segments of the Decade, (health, housing, human rights). The Roma community in Serbia is very large, but also poor, socially disadvantaged and excluded, and communities toward which there is great ethnical distance and prejudice. Jovanović said that they needed greater participation of state and nongovernmental organizations, as well as active participation of Roma in solving their own problems, and that the basis of everything is education of Roma children. In the second part of address, Director of the Office presented the work of the institution he led and showed how scholarships and providing information to students, employing and self-emploing of their parents, improving housing conditions, can lead to significant progress and improve the status of Roma. We as a community are ready to be equal members of society. 11

14 International cooperation Director of the Health Centre in Loznica, Zoran Nikolić, praised the fact that their Health Center employs a large number of Roma, as well as in the Roma settlement near Loznica in a a health clinic where doctors provide free medical service every day. Dr Šćepan Miljanic, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Chemistry, said that there are free spots every year at the faculty for enrolling Roma students through affirmative measures, but so far at the undergraduate level, there were no Roma students. However, at the specialist professional studies of Forensics, there was one student who completed his studies successfully and is now working in Austria, which is a confirmation of good work and the faculty and students. Zlatica Fuštić Msci presented the work of the Center for Social Work. The biggest problems of are Roma unemployment, poverty, personal documentation, access to health and education system. Participants of the round table The center helps them not only through social assistance but also through provision of documentation, filling and writing requests. According to her, in working with the Roma population, the most important thing is to gain Sweden is a country that we perceive as an example of a developed country from which we can learn and where are no problems which we face in Serbia. However, this was an opportunity to realize that, despite the fact that they do not have problems with funding programs for the Roma, have the same problems to motivate the Roma to get educated and fully integrate into society. The biggest results of this conference are exchanges of ideas and concrete steps, as well as learning from each other. 12

15 International cooperation trust and motivate parents to send their children to school, and all this is achieved with long conversations and time spent in the field. Ivana Mitrović Đorđević, MSci in Special Education, works in a primary school for children with mental disabilities Dušan Dugalić and explained the system and functioning of this school. Trained professionals work with children, individually or collectively, and the evaluation of their own achievements is an integral part of schoolwork. Nadica Dimitrijević was talking about the work of RU- ZIP, which consists of four areas: education, training, culture and tradition and human rights. Conclusion All present emphasized the importance of self-assertion and motivation of individuals in institutions, as well as inter-sectorial cooperation as the key moment that contributes to more efficient and faster work. It is necessary for all organs of the state, NGOs and citizens to work together and work to improve the position of national minorities in Serbia, in this case the Roma. New Decade is a chance for the errors from previous documents to correct and to achieve much better results. Guests from Sweden had a lot of questions and were carefully listening to everything said, and thanked the hosts and the end and said they heard many positive and useful things that they will be able to apply in their municipality. Tijana Čubrilo 13

16 Social protection Interview with Vesna Civrić, President of the citizen s association "Duga" and the Head of the Office (the Board) for poverty reduction in Ada WELL ON THE WAY TOWARD RESTORING HUMAN DIGNITY How did the citizen s association Duga come about? This association was founded back in I returned from Israel to my own land thinking that the situation here became much better than it was. However, what I saw was not as good as I expected. The first drawback I saw is there were many children who were out of the education system. These children did not even know how to read or write. For this reason, we decided to establish a citizen s association that would deal only with the education of children. We worked as a residence for poor children for two years. Children were not separated by nationality, but were merged on the basis of their common trait - poverty. At the beginning we had about 70 children, many of whom had no identity. After a year of working with them, we had results, but we felt that this is casting false hope to children because they were carefree only during day care. The first indication of this was the one Christmas when I met two children who were sitting on the doorstep of the school satchel while it was snowing and they told me that they are starving and are waiting for the day care to open. Then we started to think about whether it is enough to work only with children. There was a Call for the second chance, adult education. We applied and we got a second chance. That was the beginning of strengthening families. Now we think that we can only help children if we help the family. When have you started with adult education and how did it work? We have started in 2005 with adult education, and each year we have more than 50 participants. What was our indicator is that the municipality of Ada has about inhabitants, and 1192 are functionally illiterate and 53% are young people to be trained. We are proud of the fact that we do not only train young people, but also grandparents who learned to read and write and have completed elementary school. What was, after education, your next step? After education, which was not enough, we searched for a way to provide jobs for them. The first public works came out in 2007, we applied and received hundreds of jobs. It was a sign that not only NGO sector should fight against poverty, but also we have to open something in the local community. For this reason, we opened the Office for Poverty Reduction so we could apply as the government sector. We are engaged in education, housing, employment, working with people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, health and ecology. Through activities that we do, we try to restore the dignity of the common man. What were the problems you have encountered? Not only poor people are those who are registered with the social services. Many people do not answer and we do not know what is happening with them. Analysis of our social map showed that the poorest are elderly households, reported as agricultural producers, then old people with low pensions, the third are the people receive social assistance and the fourth are single parents. What we ve got there is very surprising. There is a large number of people of working age and nine 14

17 Social protection Vesna Civrić. Citizen s association Duga The most important projects involving NGO Duga Mapping of socially vulnerable people and promoting labor activation of socially vulnerable population at the local level» The project lasted from March 2014 to February 2015 and presented an opportunity for the municipalities of Nova Crnja, Pećinci, Plandište and Novi Bečej at the local level to adopt the model of social policy which was successfully implemented by NGO Duga in the previous period in the municipalities of Ada, Mali Iđoš, Bačka Topola and Senta. The donor was the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade. Project costs were about euros, while the share of NGO Rainbow around 3500 euros. Improving the partnership of civil society and local governments in order to promote good practice community service is a project that promoted good practices of community service in exchange for social assistance in 13 municipalities and hinted at a better integration of vulnerable groups in local community activities through community service work. The project lasted from January to April 2015 and was co-financed by the Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Government. Project costs were dinars, and the participation of NGO Rainbow dinars. Support to the innovative mechanism of engagement of socially vulnerable population, which is co-financed by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Affairs and which runs from June 2015 to February The project represents an opportunity to five municipalities in Serbia as formal partners (Vlasotince, Bojnik, Crna Trava, Preševo and Medveđa) and six municipalities as informal partners (Knjaževac, Ljubovija, Žitiste, Zrenjanin, Sečanj and Kovačica) at the local level to adopt the model of social policy, implemented by NGO Duga. Project costs were million dinars, and the participation of NGO Duga is dinars. 15

18 Social protection months of receiving social assistance, although there is no need because they live in decent conditions, in nice homes. Most of these people have nothing on their names, and by all criteria fall into welfare cases. In these situations, most often their grandparents, grandfather and father were social cases. It is a model of the family, because little is invested in education. Also, the Centers for Social Work (CSW) provide the so called shortterm help, but again it s only for people who are registered with social centers and this possibility does not exist for single parents or people who work and do not receive salaries. How dis you solve this problem? Thinking about it, we started to think about how to help single parents and other people who are not registered at the CSW, which are in an unenviable economic situation. Then we came to the conclusion that in addition to the non-governmental sector that constantly applies for funding and helps people, to open a municipal body called the Office for Poverty Reduction and later the Board for Poverty Reduction. Office initially lived exclusively of projects. The largest part of it came from the Kingdom of Norway and these offices continue to operate thanks to local communities that took on the financing of offices. However, this has not yet entered into the law, and we hope for the new social policy. Help from the Office refers to quick help or assistance that can be from the Mayor or Center for Social Work. This aid has to be done in the form of community service from people who are capable of working within families. We are often accused of humiliating people, but I have to say that these people are proud of what they do. The Office does not do this by itself, but together with the local community and all the institutions belonging to the municipality of Ada. We have signed a cooperation agreement with them; so you can meet our workers of community service at the police, kindergarten, health center, and school... they will receive an adequate assistance for the help they sought. This is not a salary, but an in-kind assistance. What is necessary in order to open an Office for Poverty Reduction? Before municipality opens an office for poverty reduction, social policies must change and they must make rules by which this assistance and money will be awarded. Relevant people who will make the decision on the amount of money that people get for volunteer work should be in the Commission. They will get minimum wage, and people would choose the job accordingly. It can be for wood, electricity, food, bus fares, medical services... Why not give the money?! Because we feel that it s not personal income, than community work, and Work atmosphere in CA Duga 16

19 Social protection because it often happens that social assistance recipients get their money, and that money is often not spent on its original purpose. Also, you cannot get help until the job gets done. I think it s very good because if you refuse to work, you would not be able to file a claim. Both Mayor and we abide by that rule. Are people satisfied with the opportunity to earn? People are really satisfied and very happy to do their job. Every man has the right to work and to earn his money with dignity. It is said very often that people who are registered at the CSW don t want to work, which is ugly and false. We never gave them a chance. Social assistance should be temporary and not constant. We have six Roma who found employment in a nursing home in Mol and four at PUC in Ada that are exceptional. Those people can leave their children at day care, which is an option. Children get a snack through soup kitchens. We have inclusive education in three languages, in Serbian, Hungarian and Romani and what we re proud of is that non-roma children learn Romani and Hungarian children learn Serbian. What we still need to work on is human trafficking, in particular of girls, which is very difficult to control because different people than us are behind it. Ljiljana Maričić 17

20 Provincial government PRESENTING THE PERFORMANCE OF RUSSIAN CHOIR "GLINKA" HELD IN ST. PETERSBURG At the presentation of the part of the act of the famous Russian choir Glinka, which appeared in June at the Serbian music festival in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation), Vice-President of the Provincial Government and the Provincial Secretary for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality Miroslav Vasin stressed that it is important to familiarize the public of Novi Sad, as well as the public throughout Vojvodina about this important cultural event. This prominent ensemble conducted by Vladislav Černjušenko, within the Serbian music festival held in St. Petersburg on June 17, 2015, performed Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, in the Romany language, by Zoran Mulić, professor of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. The Provincial Government supported the Liturgy performance at the cultural capital of the Russian Federation. Prof. Zoran Mulić has the honor to present his important piece at the music festival in St. Petersburg, the center of culture, especially because that is the act that was composed in June was presented in the Romani language. Today s program is a tribute to his work, and a reminder of the fact that such an important person is living and working among us, but is also an incentive to the artist and to the public to continue to appreciate great works of art and attend similar events. The very composition represents the cultural heritage of the Roma community and throughout the province, where they intersect many cultures, traditions and customs, said Miroslav Vasin. Ceremony at the Provincial Government Hall Provincial Secretary for Culture and Public Information, Slaviša Grujić also attended the presentation. On behalf of the Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information and on behalf 18

21 Provincial government of himself, the Secretary Slaviša Grujić said that it is an honor and great pleasure to greet the participants of the festival. The fact is that music, as an art form, is perhaps most of all the others the one that brings people together, especially when it comes to spiritual music, said Secretary Grujić. sad sometimes. Presenting at the Festival in St Petersburg in Russia, a country that strongly nurtures spiritual music, is a great success; especially under the baton of Vladislav Černjušenko and by prof. Zoran Mulić and as they presented this city, Province of Vojvodina and the Republic of Serbia in the right way. Due to the impression This gathering began by singing the Romani anthem Gyelem Gyelem and thus we got the message more powerful and stronger than all others, and that is precisely the essence of existence, and also to cheer us up or makes us that was left there and the praise we received, from this place, I want to wish you success in your work and thus provide support to further activities, said Secretary Grujić at the end. 19

22 Culture Interview with Zoran Mulić, professor at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad DUHOVNA VERTIKALA TEMELJ POSTOJANJA I OPSTANKA Proff. Zoran Mulić, at the Glinka Chapel You have recently visited Russia. Can you tell us on which occasion? At the initiative of maestro Vladislav Černjušenko, and organized by the Glinka Chapel, there was a festival of Serbian music culture in the period from 17 to 21 June Complete program was taking place in the magnificent hall of the Glinka Chapel in the center of the old Petrograd where Serbian musical heritage of recent times was presented. During the three nights of the festival, the following acts were presented: the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Romany language by Zoran Mulić, conductor Bojan Suđić conducted the Symphony Orchestra of the Glinka Chapel, author evening of the composer Svetislav Božić. In other words, the Glinka Chapel provided full artistic resources, adding to both organization and musical performances a true artistic value. Who was in your delegation, and who helped in the realization of your trip? A team of people from Novi Sad traveled to Petrograd, and those were: fathers Stanimir Popović and Goran Dimić, a small choir of the Orthodox church from Novi Sad which accounted Milica Grubišić, Jelena Žutić, Ivana Mulić, Stevan Nikolić, Aleksandar Alić and Nemanja Miličević. All of them had an active role during the chanting of the Liturgy at the concert platform of the Glinka Chapel. A team of people who were material and technical support, as well as moral support included gentlemen Svetislav Nićetin, Ivan Karačić, Zorica Mulić, Margarita Vujović, Romeo Mihajlović, Duško Jovanović, director of the Roma Inclusion Office and myself. I sincerely regret that due to objective circumstances the following gentlemen were not with us, although they gave invaluable contribution to the whole en- 20

23 Culture terprise: Miroslav Vasin, Deputy Prime Minister of Vojvodina and Slaviša Grujić, Secretary for Culture and Public Information of the AP Vojovodine. How was conceived the time you spent in St. Petersburg and did it include some other activities than performing the Liturgy? Despite the short stay in beautiful St. Petersburg, intensive contacts with Roma organizations were made, which will certainly evolve during time into excellent cooperation at all levels. A delegation of Roma organizations attended the chanting of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at the Hall of Glinka Chapel on June 17, 2015, to host us so warmly and provide homey feeling in their temple dedicated to St. Andrew, talking and contemplating cooperation for the future. It should be noted that, in the words of the Roma from St. Petersburg, around 400,000 mostly Orthodox Roma live in St. Petersburg area. What were the reactions to the performance of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Romany language? Long-term cooperation with the Glinka choir and their spiritual leader, maestro Vladislav Černjušenko have always been a warranty, both before and now and in the future, that a true, timeless and artistic experience will be performed. That happened on 17 June 2015 in the magnificent concert hall of the Glinka chapel, filled to capacity, which is about 1200 spectators, who awarded all the performers of this extremely important event for the Roma people with more than a warm applause and a standing ovation. There was a great media interest, both for the whole festival and for the chanting of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Roma language. Finally, what are your impressions? Since more than 15 years ago, with the blessing of Bishop Irinej of Bačka Mr. Irinej Bulović, Romani language has become equal and full member of Orthodox worship. Thanks to Mr. Trufun Dimić, who translated a number of liturgical books into the Romani language, and from the blessing of Bishop of Bačka Irinej Bulović, the basis for a liturgy that will be served in the Temple of Lord God on earth was created. That is exactly what happened more than 15 years. Quote The second time - the first time on the day of St. Cyriac Otšelnik, on 12 October 2010 in the Almas Temple in Novi Sad, with the blessing of Bishop of Bačka Irinej Bulović, the Holy Liturgy of John Chrysostom was served in the Romani language in its integral version that is, all parts of the Liturgy, both speech as well as music were in the Romani language. The initiator of writing music of the Liturgy in the Romani language is father Rade Jovanović of Šabac, also of Roma origin. Apart from fathers Stanimir Popović, Branko Đurčin and Goran Dimić, the choir behind the choir, led by Ms. Milica Grubišić, the world-renowned choir Glinka from St. Petersburg and a true devotee of musical art, Maestro Vladislav Černjušenko all gave immense artistic charisma to this historically important event for the Roma people. From 12 October 2010 to the presents, music of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom certainly has its place in the worship of the Orthodox provenance. 17 June, 2015 serves as evidence of this. People with big hearts also made invaluable contribution for the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Romani language to come to life. These are above all, the following gentlemen: Vladimir Mulić, Milovan Miškov, Veselin Matejin - Remin, Imre Lakatoš, Dusan Petrovački, Ljubica Kiselički and Petar Nikolić. In addition to the above mentioned, great appreciacion without whom nothing would have happened goes to the gentlemen from the Government of the AP Vojvodina: Bojan Pajtić, Miroslav Vasin, Slaviša Grujić, Milorad Đurić, Svetozar Čiplić. Thank you all on behalf of the Roma people, because the Roma people stood in line of people whose spiritual vertical to the Lord God is the basis of existence and survival, and the music itself is his sincerity and emotion will find a way into the hearts and souls of true believers, especially in Glory of the Lord, pushing the limits of metaphysical orthodoxy na Mnogaya leta. Tijana Čubrilo 21

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26 Culture "CIGANSKE VATRE " FOR THE 19 th TIME IN SRBOBRAN The Citizens association "Rom" from Srbobran organized a cultural event, "Ciganske vatre" for the 19th time at the Republic Square. The program of the event was covered by folklore, musical, literary and artistic creativity of Roma from various parts of Vojvodina. As prior, patrons for this year, were Srbobran Municipality, House of Culture and the Provincial Secretariat for Education, Administration and National Minorities - national community. 24

27 Culture Music, dance, painting, literature Romani cultural societies from Tornjoš, Horgoš, Martonoš, Senta, Bavanište, Kovin, Apatin and Deronja, as well as tamburitza orchestra Blizanci from Novi Sad with vocal soloist Boško Jovanović participated in the music and dance part of the program. Poetic reading took place as well, with were Maja Ranko and Ranko Jovanović from Deronje as guests. All attendees had the opportunity to enjoy the exhibition of paintings of artists from the Art Association, who presented the paintings with motifs of Romani life. Participants of the Ciganske vatre 25

28 Culture Diversity abundance Mayor Zoran Mladenović opened the event, and said that all ethnic communities in the municipality have their own holidays and events, which best reflect multiculturalism of the area. This cultural event takes place for the 19th time with the efforts of Roma and it should be noted that our Roma are not just culturally present at this event, but take part in other celebrations. This is the only way for us together to move forward. Slavko Dimić, President of the Citizens Association Rom expressed satisfaction that Ciganske vatre was attended by members of other communities, not just the Roma. Through socializing we need to show diversity abundance and our event shows that here, we live in harmony with other groups. Janica Golub Dimić boasted with the fact that the NGO Roma is traditionally organizing for the 19th time Ciganske vatre. It is a great success because we have managed for years to maintain an important event where the Roma can demonstrate through this type of gathering the essence of nurturing traditions, customs, culture and language. This is also an opportunity for the Roma from various parts of Vojvodina to listen to each other, share experiences, successes and problems. Janica Dimić expressed special gratitude to the Provincial Secretariat and the Municipality, who decided to support Ciganske vatre one more time and have thus shown to have understanding of Roma traditions and culture. This event has shown how important it is that the Roma do not forget their traditions, culture and creativity, and "Ciganske vatre " is a place where Roma culture has been nurtured for years. It was an opportunity for the Roma cultural associations to show what they have done and learned in the past year. On the other hand, this was an opportunity for the non-roma to become acquainted with the tradition of this nation and thus come closer to each other, and that is the essence of human relationships in a multicultural environment. Our municipality is small (about 16,500 inhabitants) and falls into the category of underdeveloped municipalities (3,200 unemployed). Generally speaking, we have a difficult social situation and do everything possible to facilitate this situation to all citizens, including Roma citizens. Srbobran municipality allocates significant funds in the budget and has a serious plan intended to help the Roma to integrate into society and overcome the problems they face. This path begins at preschool age, and then through primary and secondary school, which is reflected through free snacks, hygiene kits and educational material. Help extends through the health system and social benefits. One girl graduated from law school and works in local government, just in the sector where attention is given to social sectors and social assistance. All this together leads to the fact that we have more and more educated Roma. When the Roma get the opportunity to experience education, it is logical to raise the standard of living. Zoran Mladenović, president of the Srbobran Municipality Zoran Mladenović, predsednik Opštine Srbobran Tijana Čubrilo 26

29 Culture Painting exhibition 27

30 DANUBE CONNECTS THE CLOTHES OF SELF-ASSERTION Romani Design, a Budapest-based studio, expresses the Roma s new confidence, far from total assimilation and external images without words, in the language of fashion. Expressing identity and freedom is a recurrent theme in the fashion industry and its market, a sector that hardly ever has socio-political relevance. One of these rare cases occurred in 2014, when Romani Design presented its collection My identity My Freedom in the Museum of Fine Arts on the Budapest Heroes Square. The collection is inspired by traditional Roma clothing. At this historical and touristic center of attraction, cultural traces of the Roma who represent six percent of the city s population are usually not to be found. Contemporary Roma culture is simply not a part of everyday life in Budapest. Under these circumstances, Romani Design s catwalk becomes a place of self-assertion for a minority that is calling for new visibility. Tradition beyond costumes Long, multi-layered pleated skirts, bright colors, floral motives, lace and trimming decoration these are the insignia of traditional Roma clothing. Less and less communities wear these costumes on an everyday basis. At the same time, today s Roma, who come from traditional families but often have a modern, urban lifestyle, and not adequately represented in fashion or elsewhere just as if they didn t exist. Old stereotypes about Roma, however, are tenacious: Each and every year during carnival, many gadjés (the Romani word for non-roma) pull tambourines, gold chains, veils and flowered skirts out of their wardrobes. Yet, this is a mere costume that is not accepted as everyday clothing and not reinterpreted. Here begins the work of the only haute couture design studio to date whose creative impulse stems from classic Roma clothing. Romani Design combines traditional patterns and silhouettes with mundane black silk and clear, straight shapes. The label from Budapest, founded by Erika Varga, builds on the contrast between traditional and contemporary elements. I would like to show that the traditional has a place in our contemporary life as well, and that it is not outdated, Varga states. She comes from the Szabolcs region, although her family s history spans to Romanian Transylvania. Her designs pick up elements of traditional Roma costumes from Romania and Hungary and reinterpret them. For instance, the source of inspiration for the current collection is the kretinca, a traditional apron passed on from mother to daughter, the heiress adding to the decorations and embroidery. Varga s contemporary reinterpretation leads to elegant silk dresses with trimmings that subtly trace the outline of a kretinca. The collection proudly claims Roma cultural heritage and the presence of an ethnic group whose stigmatization and stereotyping have little parallel in modern times. Tailoring self-confidence For many years, trained jewelry designer Erika Varga taught Roma culture in Hungarian Roma communities. She also founded a youth magazine made by and for Roma. Her social commitment and creativity united in the idea of founding a label for fashion inspired by Roma clothing. As the head of Romani Design, she has been designing clothing, jewelry and bags 28

31 DANUBE CONNECTS since 2010, aided amongst other by her sister Helena Varga. The label also pursues social objectives: in 2014, it organized a one-year educational project that taught basic tailoring skills to young, disadvantaged Roma from Hungary and Slovakia. Our aim was not only to teach them a profession, says Erika Varga, but also to help them gain back their selfconfidence and be more successful in looking for a job. For many of them, this was a lifechanging opportunity, I believe. examples of the lascivious Romani with her erotic exoticism. Victor Hugo s description of Esmeralda in the Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a standard example of this phenomenon: in fact, when she danced thus, to the humming of the Basque tambourine, which her two pure, rounded arms raised above her head, [ ] with her corsage of gold without a fold, her variegated gown puffing out, her bare shoulders, her delicate limbs, which her petticoat revealed at times, her black hair, her eyes of flame, she Apart from negative stereotypes, young Roma frequently lack positive role models. Yet, they are often enough confronted with the ways others perceive them. These perceptions are often related to the outer appearance of Roma and their clothes. For instance, the narratives of Western culture include manifold was a supernatural creature. The author overlooked the fact that covering one s shoulders is essential in most Roma communities. Clothing A Political Issue Roma culture is still molded by reductive and defamatory representations of this type. 29

32 DANUBE CONNECTS In a powerful comment, US author Jesica Reidy, herself Romani, criticized a photo series published in VOGUE in autumn 2013 under the title Summer in Love. The series eroticized representation of female gypsies hardly differed from the one already described by Hugo. The series didn t present any Romany Design clothes, although it is so far the only label redefining Roma style from within the Roma community. Do you know one of the ways that people can tell that I m Romany? Reidy asks the VOGUE editors. Clothing. Traditional clothing is a political issue. Many Romani living outside of traditional communities have completely abandoned their traditional costumes and have adopted their aspect to the majority. This is not always a free choice many are afraid of being recognized as Roma because of the widespread hostility towards them. The visibility of Roma has to be fought for, particularly in Hungary, where 15 percent of voters chose the antiziganist, right-wing extremist party Jobbik. Therefore, it is neither only pop nor obvious for Roma to act assertively in public and wear clothing that expresses this ethnic self-confidence. Nevertheless, Erika Varga abstains from loud political slogans and lets her collections speak for themselves. These provide Roma with an expression of their identity that neither drowns itself in nostalgic traditionalism nor denies its origins. I also feel that my career path is giving motivation to young Roma women, showing that they can be successful while proudly expressing their origin. Her costumers, though, are mainly non-roma from Hungary and other countries that, thanks to Romani Design, discover a part of Roma culture unaffected by stereotypes. Roma, on the other hand, still struggle not only for a way of expressing themselves between tradition, their external image and modernity. Karolin Kral, Danube connects The Central European Initiative (CEI), the regional intergovernmental forum gathering eighteen Countries from Central and Eastern Europe has decided to financially support the Serbian NGO Radovi U Toku in the implementation of the VET4Mediation with Roma project, co-funded by the Lifelong Learning Program of the European Union. The CEI s involvement in regional cooperation - as well as its bridging function - contributes to remove existing barriers and divisions hindering the European integration process. To meet the strategic objectives outlined in its Plan of Action aligned with the EU Multi annual Financial Framework which accompanies the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy CEI defined the areas of cooperation and the project LLP VET4 Mediation with Roma is in line with the CEI s priorities. CEI is supporting the VET4 Mediation with Roma project also contributing in the dissemination of projects results to CEI member states and by providing an inter-governmental framework for its sustainability after its end. The project, characterized by a consortium formed by EU and non EU countries, also promotes education, e-learning and training as key tools to facilitates the entering in the labor market of Roma people. It promotes diversity, plurality, tolerance, including gender equality and social cohesion. The protection and the promotion of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities is also among the priorities of CEI as indicated in the CEI instrument for the Protection of Minority Rights that promotes Roma Inclu- 30

33 NGO THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN INITIATIVE SUPPORTS RADOVI U TOKU IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VET4 Mediation with Roma project sion/integration, in line with the objectives of the Decade of Roma Inclusion The actors involved in the project are bringing, and sharing, different approaches, best practices and possible policies to favor the inclusion, and the integration, of Roma people in society. CEI is committed to supporting European integration through cooperation between and among its Member States, with the European Union, as well as other interested public/private institutions, NGOs, international and regional organizations. Since its foundation, 25 years ago, the CEI has been able to constantly adapt to the quickly-evolving European political environment, while acting as a platform for political dialogue, helping in maintaining cooperative relations and in building confidence among the participating countries. To offer a solid contribution to European integration the CEI combines multilateral diplomacy and project management and bridges European macro-regions. The CEI s political cooperation intends to supply the countries and their institutions with a pragmatic platform for regional cooperation, focusing on their preparation to a future accession to the European Union. A special attention is given to capacity building of non-eu Member States, pursued through know-how transfer/updating and through the exchange of experiences/best practices among EU and non EU countries. Marzia Clucher, Radovi u toku 31

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