Phiren Amenca

Call for participants: Training on Roma history, language and culture (fighting against internalized antigypsyism) – Youth Against Antigypsyism Project

Roma history, language and culture (fighting against internalized antigypsyism)

Phiren Amenca International Network, RGDTS, and Center Amalipe are organizing the third training under the YAG project (Youth Against Antigypsyism). The training will take place in Sofia (Bulgaria) between 31 March and 4 April, 2023 (including travel dates). We are inviting Roma and non-Roma young people to learn and share experience about internalized racism and the importance of Romani language, culture and history. 

Date: between 31 March and 4 April, 2023

Venue: Sofia, Bulgaria

Participants: EU citizens or people with EU residence permit between the age of 18 and 30

Deadline for application: 20 February, 2023

All costs are covered by the organizers.

Concept: A recent study by Phiren Amenca found that 95% of the young Roma see as their biggest challenge the widespread antigypsyism in society. Anti-Roma behaviours, gestures, words, or actions are often seen in schools and universities while waiting to be served by representatives of institutions, by far-right politicians, or in news and social media. Inevitably, this leads to the internalization of antigypsyism and the acceptance of this form of discrimination as the norm rather than an aberration. Sufferers of internalized oppression copy these hurtful behaviours against individuals of their own ethnic group. In extreme cases, they become ashamed of their Roma identity and develop low levels of self-esteem. In many cases, this is due to the lack of structured information and knowledge about the rich Roma history, language and culture. Who are the Roma? Where do they come from? Why should we be proud to be Roma? We will look into these and other questions in the training for young people in Sofia at the traning “Roma history, language and culture (fighting against internalized antigypsyism)”

The objectives of the training are:

– to explain the phenomenon of internalized antigypsyism
– to provide in-depth about the Roma history, culture, language and famous people as an instrument of building Roma pride and healthy self-esteem
– to connect young Roma and non-Roma from different parts of Europe, allowing them to share with each other more about the good practices they know with regards to Roma inclusion and work with young Roma.

The YAG project (project nr. 101049207) is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) of the DG Justice, European Commission and coordinated by the Phiren Amenca International Network, Belgium in partnership with RGDTS, Hungary and Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance Amalipe, Bulgaria. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Please, submit your application here via this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dVG-Rg6qnqN3i_EfEW3p7psy2r0Yoils7jy6-MYJuI8/edit