The workshop took place on 16-19 November 2021 and was carried out under the European Cooperation for Roma Inclusion | ECRI project, funded by Erasmus+ Programme. The training was attended by representatives of the French local authorities that work with migrant Roma communities from Southeast European countries, as well as representatives of local non-governmental organizations from Bulgaria. The workshop was held by Luiza Medeleanu, an expert of Roma Education Fund Romania.
The main objectives of the meeting were:
• To clarify the concept of Mentoring Programme
• To increase knowledge of Roma history and culture as an integral part of Roma inclusion, through mentoring programmes
“In the first part of the meeting, we got to know each other with the help of Dixit cards. Subsequently, we discussed the need for mediation for Roma communities, with the focus on the importance of mentoring programmes. In the second training session, we had as a guest the Roma actress and movie director Alina Serban, who presented her book of audio comic bands “Home” and the short film “Letter of Forgiveness “, whose main theme is Roma slavery in the Romanian Principalities. After the presentation of the two materials, a debate took place in the presence of Alina Serban, in which we discussed the need to know the history and also the social situation of the people we work with” – Luiza Medeleanu, researcher and trainer.
Another important component of the workshop was the session where we presented good mediation and mentoring practices for the Roma communities in the participating countries – Bulgaria, Romania and France.
“In the final part of the course, we discussed the socio-historical context of the Roma in every participating country, including the Roma from France, and not just of Roma immigrants. We learned things we did not know about our countries. For example, participants from Bulgaria and France learned about the Roma slavery in the Romanian Romanian Principalities and its consequences for the Roma community today. Participants from France learned about the situation of Roma in Bulgaria, about the segregation, marginalization, and discrimination they face” – Luiza Medeleanu.
The series of meetings continues with a new workshop in Bordeaux on 6-12 December 2021, organized by Le Laba and the administration of Bègles – France.
