April 8 has been established as “International Romani Day“ in commemoration of the First World Congress held in London on April 8, 1971, which laid the foundation for the international community to claim rights. There, delegates from 14 countries chose the term “Roma” as the international name for the community, replacing other names used – and still used – by themselves and by third parties. It is a day dedicated to the history, culture and culture of each community and a good opportunity to reflect, to recall all the suffering that the Roma have suffered for centuries on European soil, culminating in the Holocaust and the attempt to exterminate them in concentration camps.
Social exclusion, poverty, inequalities, inequality and marginalisation – as a result of stereotypes and prejudices – did not allow social integration, nor did they give the Roma the opportunity to enjoy the opportunities that Europe offered after the end of the great wars.
In recent years, the problems have increased due to the economic and energy crisis, rising unemployment and climate change, which are exacerbating social exclusion, poverty and difficulties in accessing health, work and education, increasing marginalisation and racism. In many cases, there are settlements that lack basic goods such as running water and electricity.
SolidarityNow through its Solidarity Centres in Athens and Thessaloniki has provided free services to hundreds of Roma in need and continues to do so. Since 2021, the organization has been cooperating with Municipalities and Roma Branches all over Greece (Thessaloniki, Katerini, Xanthi, Amfissa, Karditsa etc.) as well as with schools, associations and Roma associations, implementing over the years empowerment activities, educational seminars, skill development workshops and mentoring workshops focusing on women, children and adolescents.
At the same time, these programmes ensure that Roma communities are linked to schools and support structures, while promoting outreach to the general public. In addition, SolidarityNow participates in the National Partnership of the Roma Civil Monitor 2021-2025 to monitor the National Strategy for Roma and is a member of the two largest European networks of organisations working with Roma communities.
*SolidarityNow’s most recent Roma project, completed in August 2024, was “Jaf Anglal! Empowering school participation of Roma children“, which was jointly implemented with AMKE REVMA in the framework of the BUILD (Building a robust and democratic civic space) project. The project aimed to promote the fundamental right to education. See more: https://www.solidaritynow.org/jaf-anglal/