My name is Maxim Djum, and I have been working as a Romani mediator for five years now. I have many clients under my care. Initially, when the pilot project was launched in Ukraine with Zemfira Kondur, each mediator was responsible for up to 500 people from the Romani community.
Afterward, these five hundred individuals are surveyed, and the most challenging focus group is identified. Mediators then engage in providing social support to these individuals. Over the years, trust in the mediators has grown, and people now reach out to us on their own. As you may know, there is a “Gypsy grapevine.” Nowadays, there’s just not enough time to address all the issues. However, there are more positive stories, and that’s heartening. I would like to add that when I started, every success, like helping someone obtain their first passport or secure their first job, was a significant event for me. Now, these are routine occurrences. Let me share some of these stories.
Over the last few months, there have been several uplifting events. One young woman was enrolled in courses through the employment center. She aspired to become a chef. She came to the center, registered herself, underwent a medical examination, and then went on to attend the courses. Her travel expenses were covered while she commuted to her studies. I believe she will do well. She is motivated to learn. She comes from a single-parent family, currently cared for by her grandmother.
The second story also involves a young woman. She is an orphan; both her parents have passed away. Although she was born in Ukraine, her passport wasn’t issued in time. We had to confirm her citizenship through a court process. She already has a child without a birth certificate. We had to obtain two court decisions because a passport office reorganization happened during the process in the State Migration Service. We managed to secure her a passport. What I particularly liked was that after her initial document difficulties, this young woman took charge. She obtained her child’s birth certificate even though the process for obtaining a late registration birth certificate is quite complex. It involves both a district pediatrician and a rural council. This young woman works, she’s put her child on the waiting list for a daycare facility, and she needed just a little assistance with her passport. This served as a stepping stone for her future endeavors. She now possesses the motivation to shape her life.
Currently, the workload for mediators has increased due to the worsening economic situation in Ukraine. The Roma population, as a less protected segment, is profoundly affected. Finding employment has become tougher for them. Even if they secure jobs, the wages are low, and food prices have tripled. Everyone is facing difficulties. However, we, as mediators, will continue to do everything in our power to support the Romani community.
