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Roma Realities – Insight into the multifaceted existence of Roma
Within the scope of an itinerant photo exhibition, a number of portraits of Roma came into being, portraits that bring us closer to the realities of Roma life.
The stories challenge the reader’s preconceived notions and confront him with questions. How do we perceive Roma? Is our image of Roma a reflection of their differentiated reality, or rather a caricature based on half-truths and common clichés? |
Schools – The key to integration? For most Roma children enrolled in school, learning is an uphill battle: while Romany, their mother tongue, is the “only” language they learnt at home, classes in school are taught in the national language. Teachers, most of whom already have to contend with overly crowded classrooms, have too little time to help Roma children overcome the language barrier. Left to their own devices, a very large number of Roma children drop out of school. This negative trend is reinforced by an education system that barely takes the needs of Roma children into account and where racist undertones are common, even among teachers. Schools, which should normally facilitate integration, actually become a wedge widening the gap between Roma and non-Roma children. Experiences in schools with a strong minority or even a majority of Roma children show that outcomes can also be different. In environments that are more conducive to learning, many Roma children continue their education beyond secondary school. Since schools in Roma neighbourhoods often do not receive adequate state funding, other sources of income are needed. The SDC provides funding to kindergartens, schools and training programmes for the Roma in Albania and Serbia. In recent years, the number of Roma children enrolled in school in South Eastern Europe has risen steadily. This raises the hope that maybe one day there will be enough Roma teachers to finally wipe out the scourge of illiteracy. |
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 Photo Gallery  Photos by Yves Leresche, 2006/07 |
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Roma on the air ! Roma radio and television channels exist, covering what is visible, the Roma “apparatus”, making announcements regarding the extension of festivals and weddings and airing a large number of personal messages and dedications to “everybody in the family”. At TV BTR in Skopje, it is not unusual for a young man to come in from nearby Shutka to show a few photos of his wedding or a baptism and explain to Avdula, the host, or Eli, the reporter, that he would like to dedicate three songs to family members spread out between Macedonia and Kosovo. Avdula patiently types in the definitive wording of the young man’s dedication and takes the two photos, which are broadcasted while the songs are playing… the young man then leaves overjoyed! |
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Photo Gallery Photos by Yves Leresche, 2006/07 |
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Tutoring at school Tutoring at the very early stages of schooling is essential for Roma children. It is the only way for them to quickly catch up in the “national language”. With such support, the children fit in more quickly, gain greater self-confidence and are less “different” from their classmates. Tutoring is also needed to compensate for late enrolment of children who started working at an early age… Another interesting initiative for Roma communities is tutoring of adults and young people whose education was interrupted by “life’s upheavals” such as war, returns home after illegal migration, refugee status or previous schooling in another language. Tutoring is also a means of fostering employment in a population that was doubly affected by the transition from communism to a market economy that took away their jobs and plunged them into a vicious circle of survival that has kept their children out of school… |
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Photo Gallery Photos by Yves Leresche, 2006/07 |
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Darhia, the metamorphosis Wanting to do something different and feeling a passion for their culture, Latif and his wife, a Roma couple from Macedonia, decided to create an orchestra comprised of young Roma from their neighbourhood in the suburbs of Skopje. They asked Baysa, a young virtuoso of Roma origin to hold an audition and use simple rhythmic exercises to teach children with very few musical notions how to play music. After three years of practice, the children performed on several occasions in front of a large audience, sometimes accompanied by well-known artists in the region. Thanks to their contacts with other Roma abroad and the help of the Swedish embassy, Latif and his wife even managed to organise a mini concert tour in Serbia and Croatia. The metamorphosis could also be seen in the classroom where all of the young musicians steadily improved their academic performance as time went by. However, all good things must end sooner or later. For lack of adequate funding, Latif and his wife had to throw in the towel in the summer of 2006. They console themselves by thinking of Djelo, Edo, Dejvid or Emran who managed to get accepted to the most prestigious school of music in Skopje. |
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Photo Gallery Photos by Yves Leresche, 2006/07 |
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Recycling All over the Balkans, the Roma have created a veritable parallel economy of waste recovery and recycling:
They usually sell what they find by the weight to Roma or Gadje (non-Roma) wholesalers. An estimated 70% of Roma live exclusively from recycling for lack of any other means of sustenance. Although not a problem for the moment, what will the Roma do in the future when recycling activities are placed in the hands of more interested professionals? |
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Photo Gallery Photos by Yves Leresche, 2006/07 |
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Traditional Roma from Rumania In the Rumanian countryside, some Kalderash communities live practically the same way as they did in the old days… These “caldarari” live in the traditional manner, still making kettles, cauldrons and small furnaces, which they sell door-to-door. Unfortunately for them, making a living from their trade is becoming increasing difficult for several reasons: very low-cost Asian goods and plastic can now be found in marketplaces and their main customers, farmers in rural areas, are becoming increasingly poor. In recent years, the Roma have had to make do by taking on day work at construction sites or farms. |
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Photo Gallery Photos by Yves Leresche, 2006/07 |
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