Roma Routes
editHistory
edit
The project of Roma Routes was established in 2007 and ended in 2013. The project of Roma Routes is a cultural project established by the European Union. The route will connect scattered Gypsies or Roma communities across Europe.[1] European Union wants to celebrate Roma heritage and culture; develop Roma cultural heritage to the world; resonate and create dialogue between Roma culture and external culture; improve their image and break the cultural barrier between Romans and non-Romans. Before launching this cultural project, Roman and non-Roman cultures have produced Knowledge fault. They may not know each other's culture.[2]
Principal
editProject manager: Lalage Grundy[3]
Roma representative: Ann Wilson[3]
Roma culture
edit
Roma
editThe Roma (also called Gypsies) are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Europe who have migrated in Europe for over 1,000 years. [4]According to UNICEF, nearly 12 million to 15 million (70% of the Romans) still live in Eastern Europe. According to the data of the time, there are 1 million Romans living in the United States. The Roman community has a different population, including the Romans of England, the Beases of Croatia, the kale of Wales and Finland, the Romans of Turkey, the Dolma of Palestine and Egypt.[5]
Belief
editRoma does not have a unified belief, they think they are "many stars scattered in the sight of God". Because the Romans are scattered throughout the world, their religious beliefs depend mainly on the religious beliefs of their country. But Roma has his own rules of life, which is called "Rromamo." Roma believes that "Rromamo" represents their worldview.[6]
Prejudice about Romans
editThe Roma have their own unique language and culture, and "Roma" is a word created by the Roma themselves.[7] "Gypsies" is another name for Europeans, because "Gypsies" is the "Egyptian" sound. But the Romans believed that "Gypsies" had the meaning of discrimination and they did not recognize the word. But because of the unique culture of the Roma, they are subject to discrimination and persecution by other cultures. Many Europeans believe that the crime rate of the Roma is too high, they do not like the Roma. The Roma also believe that Europeans discriminate against them and they are not willing to make friends with Europeans.[8]
Roman Organization
editRoma Support Group (RSG)
editThe Roma Support Group was founded in 1998, which is a nonprofit organization that helps Roma. In the past, the Roma were always discriminated against by people from other regions, resulting in the life of the Roma has always been in a very dark state. In order to help Roma get a normal life, some Roma decided to set up the Roma Support Group.[9]
Development history
editProspect
editMs. Lívia Járóka was appointed by Hungary as the second Roma (but the first Roma woman) of the European Parliament in June 2004.[10]
In 2005, nine countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia) launched the “Decade of Roma Inclusion” to eliminating the prejudice against the Roma and improving the lives of the Roma. Both events are the prospects for the formation of Roma Routes.[11]
Early-stage preparations
editThe best leader in spreading Roma culture is the Roma. But before the launch of this cultural project, Roma did not intend to share their own culture with the outside world. Because they believe that people of other races have always discriminated against them. First, the EU persuaded the Roma to participate in this cultural project through a number of activities.
First, the Byzantine Museum hosted a series of events that attracted members of the Roma communities to the museum. The art form of this cultural project is mainly film screenings, cultural conferences, educational exhibitions and training young Roma as informal “mediators” between communities and museums. In the end, the Roma were willing to share their culture with others.[12]
Partners
editAs of the end of this project, EU has jointly developed a project to develop Roman culture with five countries. The initiator is the European Union and the assisting party is the Roman communities. The cultural project partners are mainly German, Greek, Slovenia, Romania and the UK.[13]
German and Roma Routes
edit
Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma were established in Germany in the 1980s and officially opened to the public in 1997. Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma record stories about the Roma and the persecution crimes of Roman by Nazi.[14] Germany is committed to focusing on the propaganda of Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma in order to support Roma Routes, allowing more Germans to understand and learn about the Roman culture.[3]
Slovenia and Roma Routes
editSlovenia considers Roma culture to be an important part of the diverse composition of European culture. However, this fact is rarely recognized. Slovenia believes that they have a responsibility to contribute to the project of Roma Routes. In order to realize the project of Roma Routes, the Republic of Slovenia decided to strengthen the human rights education of the Roma. Slovenia hosted two meetings for the Roma Routes. The first meeting was Round Table on the Situation of Minorities in Slovenia and Slovenians Living Abroad. The second meeting was the Launch and Partnership Meeting of the “European Route of Roma Culture and Heritage” Project.[15]
Achievement
editThe final conference
editOn March 15th 2012, Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma (Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma: Romani Rose) held the last meeting of this cultural project.
At the meeting, cooperating countries and European Union published the benefits of this project and celebrated the success of the development of the culture and heritage of Rome. For example: a successful youth summer camp helps Roma and non-Roma to break the cultural barrier.
They believe that this cultural event has been very successful with the Roman community and they have successfully developed the culture beyond Athens and Attica. Leaders of the cultural project of Roma Routes and the EU hope to continue to pass the cultural coverage to other parts of Greece through subsequent projects.[16]
- ^ "Roma Cultural Route" (PDF).
- ^ "Greece - Roma Routes". www.ne-mo.org. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ a b c "RomaRoutes" (PDF).
- ^ "Romani People: Culture & History". Study.com. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ Bradford, Alina; January 16, Live Science Contributor |; ET, 2017 05:33pm. "Roma Culture: Customs, Traditions & Beliefs". Live Science. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
{{cite web}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Bradford, Alina; January 16, Live Science Contributor |; ET, 2017 05:33pm. "Roma Culture: Customs, Traditions & Beliefs". Live Science. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
{{cite web}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Freeman, Roxy (2010-04-22). "Roma culture beyond the stereotypes | Roxy Freeman". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ Bradford, Alina; January 16, Live Science Contributor |; ET, 2017 05:33pm. "Roma Culture: Customs, Traditions & Beliefs". Live Science. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
{{cite web}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "History". ROMA SUPPORT GROUP. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "Livia Jaroka". Martens Centre. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "Roma Integration 2020 | Roma Decade and the EU". www.rcc.int. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "Greece - Roma Routes". www.ne-mo.org. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "Greece - Roma Routes". www.ne-mo.org. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "Event: "European Route of Roma Culture and Heritage" | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". www.mzz.gov.si. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ "Roma Routes Final Conference". Exploring Surrey's Past. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
