In Ukraine, there are about 400,000 Roma people (a third of them in Zakarpattia). To a large extent, Ukrainians know little about their fellow citizens, as interactions with Roma mostly happen at train stations. However, Roma live in their own “parallel” world where, believe me, they are very uncomfortable: poverty, low literacy, life under the pressure of societal stereotypes. Discrimination and prejudice hinder the integration of Roma. The Roma Women’s Fund “Chirikli” strives to overcome these problems.
Head of the fund, Yulia Kondur, says:
“I want us to be perceived as equal citizens of Ukraine. We’ve made great progress in the last 6-7 years, thanks to programs by the Council of Europe, the Renaissance Foundation, and many other donors. These programs activated both Roma and the state. Our efforts have been recognized in Europe.
Now we’ll tell you about four projects supported within the “Partnership for All” project, implemented by the “Chirikli” Fund and MRG Europe with the support of the European Union.
In Uzhhorod, football tournaments for Roma teenagers have been taking place for five years. During this time, the children have progressed from playing in courtyards to international competitions.
The leader of the project “Support for the Development of Courtyard Football,” Yuri Mandych (Uzhhorod Roma Community Organization “Unite Efforts”), shared how sports help Roma integrate into society:
“There’s a district in Uzhhorod called Radvanetska, a large Roma settlement. For many years, we’ve been organizing courtyard football competitions here. Specialized sports schools are occupied and, usually, there’s no place for Roma children. We’re aware that our project gives a chance to teenagers from socially vulnerable families to find themselves in life. After the training, our children even started training at the local sports school.
The courtyard football tournament in Radvanetska started five years ago with only 4 teams. Now there are 56 teams from all over Zakarpattia. Seven boys made it to sports schools and might become professional football players,” Yuri Mandych explains.
“Children up to the age of seven live in their settlements, where they only speak the Romani language. So, effectively, we’re pulling them out into the world from these settlements. We have two coaches, one who knows the Romani language, but the sessions are conducted in Ukrainian. And within a year and a half, the kids get involved, start understanding and speaking Ukrainian. And, by the way, this enables them to prepare for school. They no longer feel separated, no longer stand out, for instance, among regular athletes,” says Mandych.
The team “Roma” (Radvanka) receives invitations to international competitions; the boys have visited Slovakia and Hungary, where the team secured second place.
The project leader talks about future plans: constant training sessions for young footballers in the summer with the aim of making the sports cycle year-round. And as the project covers the entire Zakarpattia, local sports activists from villages and towns approach us, telling us about talented young boys and trying to place them in sports schools in Uzhhorod.
The project “Support for the Development of Courtyard Football” was implemented within the framework of the “Partnership for All” project. The project’s implementation made it possible to provide 22 athletes with sports uniforms and footwear. The uniforms will be used for several seasons of competitions. The activities within the project helped strengthen cooperation with state institutions and drew attention to the problems of Roma children and their needs. Relevant departments saw sports as a tool for including Roma children in society and actively involving them in education. The project was implemented in collaboration with the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Uzhhorod City Council and the Football Federation of Zakarpattia.
The public organization “Svaliava Local District Cultural and Educational Society of Roma “Romani Yag”” conducted an educational program “Partnership for All.”
Goal: Create conditions for proper education of Roma children. For this, active Roma women worked with Roma families, convincing parents of the importance of school education.
“The thing is that it’s often difficult to convince parents that their children should attend school. Or they understand everything but don’t want to control the process. We held monthly parent meetings to discuss these sensitive issues,” says project coordinator Matviy Balint.
As a result, it was decided to hold a competition among young, active, and educated Roma women to work as education mediators in Roma families.
“We selected three women. The settlement was divided into three areas, and each woman working with Roma families has her own area. We have a school for Roma children, No. 5. Mediators initially went to the school and found out: who, for what reason, misses classes? Then they went to parents and assured them that children should receive an education, convincing them to ensure their attendance at lessons. Now these women get up early, gather problem children, and take them to school, and then pick them up,” says Matviy Balint.
The work yielded results: 90% of children began attending classes regularly, and Roma “migration” decreased by 30%. Roma families often used to leave during the school year, but now one-third of parents have realized that interrupting their children’s education is not acceptable.
“This project must be continued. It’s beneficial for the community, and I’ll also note that it’s very important for the women-mediators. Now they’re respected everywhere; they can enter any family. These are experienced, knowledgeable women. They should have ongoing paid work,” adds the project coordinator.
Matviy Balint also noted that during the project, cooperation was established with the education department of the Svaliava district administration. With the support of the mayor of Svaliava, Ivan Lanio, Roma children received meals at school.
One of the main problems regarding the education of Roma children is that they start falling behind in studies from a young age, and even talented ones are unable to catch up with their peers. The “Equalization Classes” project in Uzhhorod aims to address this issue: twenty Roma students were helped to catch up with the school program.
The project’s results are shared by the project leader Eleonora Kulchar (Zakarpattia Regional Charitable Foundation “BlaHo”).
Two schools in Uzhhorod participated in the project – No. 7 and No. 1. Students attended additional classes in various subjects three times a week for four months.
“We helped students with weak knowledge, particularly in subjects like math, history, and others,” says Mrs. Kulchar.
According to her, the children improved their learning, stopped being embarrassed when speaking in public.
“Then we held a competition – which of the schools succeeded in catching up in studies? It was crucial to address psychological issues as well: one Roma boy could solve tasks, but he couldn’t answer at the board – he was shy and had a complex. After our training, he started answering confidently and even said, ‘I don’t know why I couldn’t answer before?'” Eleonora Kulchar shared.
In addition to extra classes, school supplies were provided for the children, and a competition for the title of the best student was organized, with the winner receiving a reward.
A psychologist worked with the children within the project, helping them open up and boosting their confidence.
“We hope that this program for Roma children will continue – the school directors, the children, and the parents want this,” says the project leader.
Project partners: the education department of the Uzhhorod City Council and educational institutions in Uzhhorod: Secondary School No. 7 and the “Intellect” Educational and Methodological Complex.
The project being implemented in the Perechyn district of Zakarpattia region aims to foster mutual understanding between Roma and government representatives.
“We believe that it is the authorities who are slowing down and distorting the process of Roma integration into Ukrainian society,” says Ignat Tyrpak from the NGO “Perechyn District Organization of the Zakarpattia Roma Cultural and Enlightenment Society ‘Romani Yag’.
“Roma don’t have a voice in decision-making in the land where they live. We decided to conduct research among representatives of authorities, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and social workers – we needed to understand their attitude towards Roma. Then we organized a ’round table’ where we directly discussed the sensitive issues.
The project was partnered with the public organization ‘Roma of Ukraine “TERNIPE,” which provided a team of experts. In particular, a demographic map of Perechyn was created, revealing that the city simply didn’t know how many Roma were living there. So, there are 400 individuals of Roma ethnicity living in Perechyn out of the total population of 6337 (6%), including 120 individuals (30%) of school age, 38 (9.5%) disabled individuals in need of care, 52 individuals (13%) of retirement age. 284 (71%) are women, and 116 (29%) are men.
Firstly, the issue of education for children and discrimination against Roma needs to be addressed, according to Ignat Tyrpak.
“The main problems are those of Roma children: education, upbringing, nutrition, discrimination. Sometimes Ukrainians don’t want to sit next to Roma children, parents forbid them to communicate with Roma. This creates separate classes where 50-60 Roma children study, as in the village of Poroshkovo. There, children from the first to the tenth grade study in one room, meaning small kids and teenagers together. And one teacher for all subjects. Well, tell me, what kind of education can that be? We have been struggling with this problem for years, but we can’t establish a separate school – in Poroshkovo alone, there are 3900 Roma, which is almost half of the village. But there’s no funding for it,” the project leader explained.
As a result of the project, a working group was formed, consisting of 10% of the city’s residents of Roma ethnicity.
“We conducted surveys among medical professionals, educators, law enforcement officers, and local authorities of Perechyn. The analysis of the study helped us paint a kind of ‘Roma portrait’ in the eyes of the authorities. After that, it became easier for us to communicate. A working group was formed to develop and implement a local plan for the ‘Strategy for the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society up to 2020,’ with 10% of Roma in the group – I consider this progress,” Ignat Tyrpak says.
The Roma community is focused on holding the authorities accountable for their promises.
The results of the projects emphasize the need for supporting initiatives of Roma organizations and strengthening their capabilities.
The “Partnership for All” project, implemented by the “Chirikli” Foundation and MRG EUROPE, will continue to support similar initiatives and empower Roma communities.
