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Description
The aim of the project is to transfer knowledge and strengthen the competences of leaders of Roma communities in the field of self-advocacy. The project is aimed at Roma communities, but also at majority communities living with Roma and the wider public administration. Members of the Roma minority in Poland are excluded and stigmatised, which results in their alienation, lack of self-confidence and helplessness. The problem affects not only adult Roma, but also the youngest generation. The inclusion of Roma in social life requires action aimed at both excluded and majority groups. It is also important to change the attitudes presented by public administration officials and civil servants. Lack of knowledge and awareness of the existing problems, as well as ignorance of the legal mechanisms and available tools make the actions of Roma leaders ineffective. In this project, we are addressing real problems occurring in 6 different Roma communities, functioning alongside majority groups. The diagnosis of the problems and needs will allow us to choose the right tools to address them and to counteract these problems in the future. Using specific case examples, we provide Roma leaders with the necessary knowledge, including cultural and legal knowledge and tools to communicate effectively with the majority community and public administration. As part of the project we also provide knowledge on cultural differences and intercultural dialogue. We present Polish culture to the Roma community, and Roma culture and the principles of intercultural dialogue to majority communities and institutions of public administration. We deliver workshops for Roma leaders as well as skills training to solve an existing problem in the community with the help of mentors from the Central Roma Council. The project will benefit the whole local communities.
Summary of project results
Roma are one of the main marginalized groups in the education system and on the labor market, which leads to social and economic exclusion. A key element of inclusion in society and full participation in it is education. The project consisted of conducting a diagnosis of local needs and problems and supporting the Roma community, the majority community and broadly understood local authorities in developing common solutions for communication and cooperation. There is a need for mutual understanding of the Roma and majority communities based on reliable information and developing tools supporting systemic processes of including and integrating Roma into local societies. It is necessary to sensitize the majority society to the problems of minority groups and the problem of their exclusion, and at the same time mobilize the Roma themselves for social and civic activity. The Równi Razem project is to emphasize the importance of joint initiatives based on partnership dialogue. The first stage of the project is to determine the needs and problems of specific local groups, the next is to increase the competences of Roma leaders in the field of legal, social solutions, intercultural communication. The project also assumes the promotion of cooperation and building local alliances and coalitions as a mechanism increasing the effectiveness of solving problems. Promoting an active attitude of self-advocacy and cooperation at the local level will have a positive impact on reducing social exclusion and social integration.
The project was implemented in partnership with the Radom Club of Creative Communities and the Łaźnia Gallery. As part of the implementation of the task, the following was/were carried out:
- a focus group study (meetings with the Roma group, the majority group and local authorities in 6 locations, a total of 18 meetings),
- a report on the focus group studies was prepared,
- training was conducted to increase citizens'' awareness of diversity, counteracting exclusion and intercultural communication (training for Roma, the majority group and local authorities in 6 locations, a total of 18 training sessions)
- training was conducted for 14 people from the Roma community to improve leadership competences, cooperation skills and coalition building, in the field of conflict resolution and effective communication,
- an extended version of the Book of Good Practices prepared as part of "Roma Leaders Against Exclusion" was developed,
- mediations were organised and conducted in 6 locations, Roma leaders organised meetings with local authorities, during which they jointly tried to find solutions to the local problems of the Roma minority, to alleviate conflicts, to develop methods of cooperation.
- workshops were held for 14 people, during the workshops the leaders exchanged experiences from the actions taken, presented the practical application of the knowledge gained and developed methods of strengthening the self-advocacy coalition.
The project was aimed at 3 groups of recipients: 1) the Roma community - 20 people each from Krakow, Radom, Elbląg, Gorzów Wlk., Jasło, Białystok, people from the Roma community at risk of social, economic, educational, and digital exclusion, who took part in focus meetings and training sessions for the Roma community. People participating in the focus meetings could honestly talk about their problems, fears, and how they perceive the majority community. In the next stage, people participated in training sessions, thanks to which they improved their self-presentation and communication skills. The training sessions also contributed to reducing fears related to the majority community and the authorities; - a group of 14 people - members of the minority group, Roma leaders, who know the needs and problems of the group they represent, and who have their own experiences with exclusion in various areas. People participating in the training sessions improved their leadership skills, cooperation skills, coalition building skills, conflict resolution skills, and effective communication skills. The knowledge gained contributes to more effective action and achieving better results in solving the problems of Roma people in local communities. 2) the majority community - 20 people from each of the above locations, members of the local community, of which the Roma minority is a part, experiencing exclusion or exposed to stereotypes. People participated in trainings that increased citizens'' awareness of diversity, counteracting exclusion and intercultural communication. People received explanations regarding stereotypes, intercultural dialogue and reliable information about Roma people. 3) Representatives of local authorities from 6 of the above locations. Participation in the training allowed office workers to understand the cultural diversity of Roma people, which may translate into a more open attitude towards this community and better cooperation with Roma people.