Description
The project addresses the need for the Roma to have a voice in the media and present to the public their perspective. The project aims at presenting the Roma perspective through the TV series Stories from the Roma World. First, data will be collected and analyzed to develop the creative concept of the TV series. Second, the concept will be developed and discussed with experts and Roma opinion leaders. Third, 20 episodes 10 minutes long will be shot, cut, sound processed and subtitled in English. Finally, the TV series will be promoted in the printed, online and social media and it will be aired on the Bulgarian National Television. The project will benefit the Roma community across the country and the society in general. The project partner will help with its expertise to develop the creative concept of the project.
Summary of project results
The project addresses major shortage in the Bulgarian society, the lack of space for media coverage of the Roma, the minority facing the most problems in Europe. The Roma lack an important tool for two-way communication and interaction with the public. The TV show Small Stories from the Roma world in Brief (aired on BNT) is the only TV show presenting the daily life of the members of the ethnic group. The project managed to shape a multi-faceted public image of the Roma with 20 new TV stories and a website on topics related to democratic values. Promoting multicultural dialogue via stories showing its potential creates conditions to reduce racism and xenophobia in the society. The stories intertwine the Roma issues and use images of Roma foreigners who are not members of the Bulgarian Roma minority and thus they teach tolerance towards both ethnic differences and social and economic inequalities. Thus these images strengthen the culture of equality in the Bulgarian public and provide alternatives to hate speech and intolerance. The new series enriched the positive public image of the Roma in Bulgaria and counteracted anti-Roma attitudes and Roma discrimination in the country. For more information, see:
http://romaworld21.net and
https://www.facebook.com/romaworld21
Summary of bilateral results
The implementation of the project led to improved knowledge and mutual understanding between the two organisations. The transfer of knowledge and experience was in both directions – from the CBNRM Networking-Norway to the team of Roma World 21st century and vice versa.CBNRM Networking elaborated written recommendations with suggested good practices for promoting democratic values – from Norway and consulted the creative and filming team. Thus contributed to the development of the creative concepts and filming of the videos. The organisation has also contributed to the publicity of project’s products by sending information to NGOs with relevant to the project activities from Norway and other countries. So the TV program “Small stories from the Roma World” was promoted outside of Bulgaria and helped for the positive change of attitudes towards Roma people and and their life style.