Korrik - Gusht April | 8
‘Equal in diversity
Promotion of Roma Values Week’ O ne week festivities to promote Roma values and urge their greater inclusion <<< continues from pages 6-7
Roma Values presented through the renowned drama “Les Miserables”
the Roma and Egyptian communities as well as preservation and development of their identity as an integral part of the national cultural heritage. An impressive part of the drama was the manner in which Roma culture and tradition were made present. The director had incorporated not only Roma music but also other elements such as traditional Roma costumes. The drama was conducted by Mr. Ram Hadroj, an Albanian Roma Student, who graduated from Andrews University Michigan with a Bachelor of Sciences in Behavioural Sciences (2010) and was directed by Mrs. Aneta Malaj a well-known professor at the University of Arts. In his opening remarks Mr. Hadroj highlighted the powerful message of the drama: “There is nothing like a dream to create the future”. Mr. Hadroj emphasized the fact that by putting on stage the drama in Albanian he realized one of his longstanding dreams.
One other event in the framework of the Roma Values Week was the production and performance, on 11 April 2013, of Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables” by a group of young Roma students who initiated the idea and carried it over to a successful performance at the University of Arts. The impressive performance of talented Roma and Egyptian youth and University of Arts students earned a standing ovation and was greatly applauded by over 300 attendees, who included representatives of the local organizations, donor community and Roma community. The performance served as a means for reducing prejudice and improves the image of Roma and Egyptians. The multidimensional composition of the crew brought forward the powerful message that besides diversities they were all equal in terms of skills and quality of performance. The performance served also as a tool of promoting the cultural values of
The drama was put on stage with the support of the EU Delegation to Albania, UNDP Albania, Swiss Cooperation and other local and international partners. The UNDP support fall in the framework of “Supporting Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptian Communities” project, funded by European Union and implemented by UNDP. While the ‘Help for Children’ Foundation, an Albanian NGO supported by Swiss Cooperation, coordinated the design and implementation of the play and provided logistical and financial support to the students’ group. It was the first time Roma values are promoted in an integrated and coordinated event such as this one. The same spirit accompanied the celebration of the diversity week in the districts of Korça, Elbasan and Berat.
EU supporting Roma Social Inclusion The European Union in Albania has placed Roma social inclusion high in the Union’s political agenda, and is backing it up with funds to address the many layers of the Roma plight. The EU demands inclusion and equal opportunity in very concrete terms – equal access to education, healthcare and all public services, equal citizenship and equal employment opportunities. In Albania, the EU has provided more than 3 million Euros to support Roma and Egyptian inclusion. In addition, the regional project implemented by ODIHR “Best practices for Roma integration”, funded by the EU with 3 million Euros, targets all countries in the Western Balkans. Furthermore, the EU has provided funding for two more regional minority rights projects currently implemented by the Council of Europe in the Western Balkans (including Albania) – by a total value of 8.7 million Euros. Through the funds under the EUfunded project implemented by ODIHR, the EU supports: (i)Training courses for Roma cultural and linguistic mediators, as well as for teachers; (ii) Access to social services and birth registration; (iii)Better roads, water and sanitation systems and healthcare for Roma and Egyptian communities; (iv)Job promotion for