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Description
It’s no secret that Bulgaria has vulnerable groups and communities that are a subject of hate speech. Perhaps the Roma community comes first among them, as there are certain negative stereotypes and prejudices against the members of the Roma community, which often result in discrimination and attempts at violating the human and civil rights of the Roma. Discrimination is general, in principle, and refers to collective traits and we believe that to counter discrimination it is necessary to tell the personal stories of the individual members of this community to change public perceptions. The latter idea will benefit both the discriminated Roma minority in Bulgaria and the majority comprising of all the other Bulgarian citizens. The project is directly related to priority 2) Support for Human Rights, as it envisages measures to empower the Roma and specific objective 5) Communication measures to overcome the negative stereotypes towards vulnerable groups of the public that are victims of hate speech because this is what the project attempts to do. The goal will be achieved in the short term by creating and airing on the Bulgarian National Television 10 10-minute-long documentary movies devoted to the little specific member of the large Roma community and by a public presentation and discussion of the best from the series. The project will have impact in the long term through the translation of the movie subtitles into English and the uploading of the movies online with a free access. The organization – applicant will carry out the project independently but will keep on its (unofficial) partnership with the Bulgarian National Television, which will broadcast the project outputs in its television programmes pursuant to the enclosed letter for TV programme engagement.
Summary of project results
Century Foundation created 10 short documentary films dedicated to Roma individuals in Bulgaria.
The project emphasizes fact-checking and authentic human experiences, uncovering the life perspectives and destinies of its protagonists. Through direct personal narratives, individuals share their life stories, struggles, and triumphs, fostering understanding and empathy among audiences. This approach serves as a counterpoint to the prevailing negative public image of the Roma community.
The films feature diverse characters, from ordinary people to prominent figures in Roma culture, such as:
- Sally Ibrahim – a celebrated Roma poet
- Angel Tikhaliev – the founder of the Karandila Orchestra
Each story delves into the intimate world of its protagonist(s) while simultaneously drawing broader social reflections and messages for the audience, promoting awareness, inclusivity, and a deeper societal dialogue.
The 10 unique "Songs for Mankind" came to life through a series of documentary films, which were broadcast and rebroadcast over the course of a year on Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Channel 1.
The films garnered significant public interest, achieving high ratings from their very first airing within the social documentary slot "Small Stories", attracting a total of 634,980 viewers. Their impact extended beyond television, generating substantial engagement on social media, reaching 55,274 YouTube users.
As part of the project, a new website for the Roma World – 21st Century Foundation was created, serving as a hub for the best artistic works produced by the foundation over the years. The project, described as developing "slowly, without malice, humanly", has been given a dedicated section on the site, where all 10 documentaries are translated and subtitled in English, allowing for international promotion and broader dissemination.
A targeted Facebook campaign was launched to support the site''s traffic and visibility, particularly in relation to public events organized within the project, reaching 49,065 Facebook users.
At the conclusion of the project, the team successfully extended the impact of the films beyond the digital and television spheres into real-life discussions. A public screening and discussion were organized, further amplified through media publications and online news portals.
Additionally, an agreement was reached with Bulgarian National Television to rebroadcast all 10 films until April 2023, ensuring an extended presence on national television and further multiplying the project''s messages, reaching new audiences across Bulgaria for an additional year.