Szeged, Hungary: Interntaional Roma Day

Date 24 April 2014 Author Emese Kovács Category Uncategorised

The International Roma Day was officially declared in 1990 by the UNO. Our initiative’s Hungarian group, called Youth is Tolerance HU (Youth is Tolerance is an international cooperation of DARTKE, Hungary, Amaplie, Bulgaria, Romani Criss, Romania and Antigone, Greece. The project is combating stereotypes against Roma) celebrated its anniversary in Szeged.
Our aim was give an other view of the Roma people, and show to the Roma and non Roma people how colourful their culture is. Our Roma and non Roma volunteers organised a street campaign at the center of the city, where we filled questionnaires about Roma habits, traditons. Fortunately, the most passerbys received us with enthusiasm and kindness, and they were surprised, how little they know about the Roma.
Everybody, who passed the quiz, got Tolerance Cocktail (lemonade), Tolerance Pretzel, Youth is Tolerance badges, stickers and leafets, so we could reach different kind of people.
After the 2-hour-long campaign we invited people to a popular coffe house in Szeged for a Roma Dancehall, where visitors could learn Roma dance steps. The atmosphere was excellent due to the live music and our great instructors.
All in all, we can say, that we obtained our purpose, and more than we previously expected! We are just a small initiative in Hungary, and the avarage age of the volunteers is under 20, but thanks to our youthful enthusiasm we were able to get so many people.