16.02.2022

IN 9 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF ROMA WITH SECONDARY EDUCATION HAS DOUBLED

The process of Roma integration in recent years has yielded results, Deyan Kolev, chairman of the Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance, told BTA.

The chairman of Amalipe notices the most visible change in education. In recent years, there has been a very significant increase in the number of Roma with secondary and higher education, as well as a major change in the community's attitude towards education.

According to a study by the Social Alternative Trust last year, the percentage of Roma with secondary education has doubled in the last nine years, and the percentage of those with higher education has increased sixfold. This is a very clear indicator, Kolev believes.

When Amalipe was established in 2002, the leading idea was for all Roma children to complete at least primary education. At that time, two thirds of Roma children entering first grade dropped out before receiving a primary education diploma. Today, such a problem is almost non-existent, a large part of Roma girls and boys graduate from primary school and continue their secondary education, said Deyan Kolev.

Part of Roma culture is for the child to be at the center of the value system. The child is the most important thing in the family and it is no coincidence that the Romani language is one of the few in which a pregnant woman is not "difficult", associated with some burden, he explains. A pregnant woman in Romani is "khamni" and "kham" means sun, i.e. a pregnant woman is "sunny". In Roma families, the child is perceived as an adult very early, especially if he is a boy. Many times we have even argued with the elders that when the child says he does not want to go to school, they agree, says the chairman of "Amalipe". In fact, by working to raise the educational status of the community, we help the family realize that the best thing for a child is to have an education, says Deyan Kolev.

The organization works with nearly 300 schools, and part of the work is related to Roma parents. The establishment of parent clubs in these schools is encouraged, training is provided for their coordinators, and if 10-15 years ago parents mainly thought about their child and had very little knowledge of what is done in school, today they are thinking about everyone else. children, know much of the educational issues. There is a really serious growth, Kolev commented and noted that the role of non-governmental organizations on Roma issues in this regard is very important.

According to his observations, a very intensive process of community modernization is underway. Young Roma are familiar with the Internet, Facebook, looking for ways to live like everyone else, much more sensitive to issues such as discrimination and education, while older Roma are more patriarchal, more conservative. Teachers and schools are an extremely important factor, said the chairman of Amalipe. Data from a World Bank report show that about 22 percent of young people who need to enter the labor market in Bulgaria are Roma. If together we manage to educate these young people, this will be a huge impetus for the development of Bulgarian society and the Bulgarian economy, he said.

A large percentage of Roma girls and boys who study higher education choose pedagogy and pedagogical specialties, some prefer medical specialties. Years ago we had a program to support Roma young men and women who study medicine and medical specialties, says Deyan Kolev. It started in 2009 with the support of the Open Society Institute. In the beginning, 19 students took part in it, and only three or four years later 50-60 people a year joined. I am very glad that all of those who studied medicine are currently working, and that most of them are in Bulgaria and work in hospitals here, says Kolev.

The growth of anti-Roma discrimination and stereotypes towards Roma remain problematic. Even educated Roma are often driven into a prejudice against the community, making it harder to find work because of this, said the chairman of Amalipe. As another problem area, he cites the participation of Roma in political and public life. And at this moment we do not have ministers, deputy ministers, Roma, MPs, i.e. at the level of decision-making in the country the Roma community does not participate, said Deyan Kolev.

There are many stereotypes and prejudices about the Roma - that they are lazy, stealing, that they do not want to work and study, to integrate, that in school, if there are more Roma children, the quality of education will fall. Years ago, we surveyed this type of stereotype among three groups - teachers, social workers and health workers, said the chairman of Amalipe. Interestingly, health workers share less stereotypes about Roma health, but more stereotypes about education and social inclusion. On the contrary, teachers share fewer stereotypes about the education of Roma children, but very high stereotypes compared to the other two areas. This shows that these stereotypes do not function by feeding on the direct confrontation with reality, but are nurtured by the media, politicians, by what is said in society, Kolev said.

According to him, the data of the Open Society Institute are indicative, which since 2007 has been measuring social distances against several minority groups. Respondents were asked if they would like to live in a city or neighborhood with a minority, have their children go to school with them, or work in the same company. Surveys show that the Roma are the most undesirable minority, ie stereotypes about the Roma community are the strongest. Between 2007 and 2013 there was an improvement in the attitude towards the Roma, since 2013 there has been a serious deterioration. The results of 2019, when the last survey was conducted, are even more negative than those of 2007. In our analysis of what caused this deterioration, one of the things that can be seen is that since 2013, extremely nationalist rhetoric has entered politicians, commented the chairman of "Amalipe".

To the question "what are the gypsies in general" the answers show extremely strong negative stereotypes, and when asked "what are the gypsies in your village", many people say that they can be relied on and they live well. Definitely, when it comes to personal experience, the attitude towards Roma who know each other is more positive, says Kolev. At the same time, however, when you have known Roma with whom you are on friendly terms, this does not change the overall attitude towards the community, and they are perceived as an exception to the rule.

However, personal experience reduces antagonism and it is important to encourage all programs for desegregation in education, ie in the same classroom to study both Roma and Bulgarian children. When you have classmates and fellow Roma, stereotypes cannot be so strong, Kolev is convinced.

He says that Roma traditions, folklore and culture are extremely beautiful and unknown to the Roma. Amalipe works to promote them and promotes the study of ethnic folklore. Many of the customs and traditions that once existed among Bulgarians and have disappeared can now be seen in Roma neighborhoods, he said, noting that we have been connected in the Balkans for many generations.

An example is St. Basil's Day, known as the Roma New Year, which is celebrated on January 14. The celebration begins on the evening of January 13, with the St. Basil's Day table. The family gathers around a common table that used to be a low ritual blue. This is probably the only night when it is not considered good for a stranger to enter the house. A pie is placed, and there is a bread that the parents break. He kisses a hand, incenses and family members give forgiveness. Survakan begins at midnight and the children go to the neighboring houses to survakat for the beginning of the New Year. In many Roma groups, the fountain, i. e. the running water, is first used, then the neighbors are visited, and on January 14 they visit relatives. The celebration continues on January 15.

Another interesting holiday is February 2 - Rooster Day, which is celebrated by a certain group of Roma - drummers or Roma musicians. This custom also has an analogue in the old Bulgarian traditions. For each boy a rooster is slaughtered and his head is hung on the door, and for the girls "pans" are made - softies.

St. George's Day is a big holiday for the Roma, as well as Easter and the Great Mother of God, which is celebrated on August 28.

Folklore carries the spirit of a nation, notes Deyan Kolev and adds that for the Roma values ​​such as honesty and diligence are deeply intertwined with folklore and show that stereotypes are largely undeserved.

We have recorded many Roma tales and legends, in no tale has theft and fraud been valued, he commented. In the newer Roma songs the main theme is love, and the older ones have different messages. Some are associated with a particular holiday, such as Vasilitsa or St. George's Day - such as the popular "Ederlezi". There were songs about wedding and engagement, singing about poverty, a lot of work, love for family. They carry the same patriarchal values, which were not different between the different ethnic groups in the Balkans, summed up the chairman of Amalipe.