Romani activist Zola Kondur shared her experience in advocating for the rights of the Romani community, particularly women, and spoke about integrating Roma into society. Her main focus is education, combating discrimination, and preserving cultural identity.
Why is education important?
Zola emphasizes that education is the key to the future of the Romani community. It helps overcome social isolation, enables young people to integrate into society, and remain true to their culture. However, the lack of trained teachers and discrimination in schools often hinder progress.
Culture and integration
Despite challenges, Romani culture remains strong. Zola highlights that integrating Roma into society is possible without losing their identity. For instance, education helps children learn the Ukrainian language while preserving their Romani language and traditions.
Gender aspects
Romani women often face double discrimination due to their ethnicity and gender. However, Zola believes that stereotypes can be changed through examples of successful female leaders. Her foundation focuses on developing professional education for women, opening up new opportunities for them.
Three key changes for Roma
At the end of the interview, Zola Kondur outlined three main aspects that, in her opinion, need to be changed to improve the lives of the Romani community:
- Ensuring all Roma have proper documentation.
- Eliminating isolated settlements.
- Providing access to quality education.
“By giving Romani children education, we give them a future.”
— Zola Kondur