A Monthly Periodical of The Roma Inclusion Office The Roma ... 19/engleski.pdf · The Roma Decade...

1The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina

The Roma Decade in

AP Vojvodina

A Monthly Periodical of The Roma Inclusion Office no

. 19,

Aug

ust 2

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The RomA LAnguAge in SchooLS

interview:Đorđe Radinović

interview: Slaviša Grujić

2 The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina

The Founder and the Published of the Periodical:The Roma Inclusion Office of the

Government of AP Vojvodina

The Editor:Duško Jovanović, dipl. ing. of agriculture

The editor of theme of the number:Duško Jovanović, dipl. ing. of agriculture

The Team:Dragana Rajić

Snežana Dimić, dipl. pedagogistZita Farkaš, pharmachologist

Correspondents:Roma Coordinators of APV

prof. dr Vladimir GecelovskyIvana Koprivica, dipl. psychologist

Translation in Roma language:Igor Dimić, preschool teacher

Translation in English language:Mirjana Serdar, BA in English Philology

Technical Preparation and Printing:MAXIMA GRAF, Petrovaradin

[email protected]

Circulation: 1000

Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 25,21000 Novi Sad

inTRoDucTionDear readers, Happy anniversary of our monthly magazine! We

wish it to be more interesting, more read and purpose-ful!

We would like to point out one exceptionally impor-tant fact about our monthly magazine: for several months we have been the only magazine on the territory of the entire Republic of Serbia which deals with the problems of Roma only – we inform our readers of the problems of Roma, their culture and history in Roma, Serbian and En-glish and we are trying to show and prove that the Roma are as equally valuable as any other nation and thus dese-rve the same opportunity to be educated, employed and given health care. However…

When we say – the only magazine…We cannot say that we are proud of it… We have a great responsibility for being the only

one. Our greatest wish is to help individuals, organiza-tions and institutions to solve certain Roma issues in their environment, according to the model we offer them, but also we wish to contribute to the elimination of preju-dices which non-Roma have against Roma population. We wish to motivate Roma, with the positive example of their countrymen, to try hard, make progress and start thinking – If he/she can do it, so can I.

The criticisms we received so far have been only oral and mainly positive. We want to believe that that was not done only out of politeness.

We believe that in the last year, in the period of our existence, we got to know each other and that we can already ask each other everything. Also, we are ready to hear you, the reason of our existence, and to adjust to your taste and to consider your opinion.

We wish to communicate with you, which is why we are introducing an innovation: all your comments for our monthly magazine, positive and negative criticism, recommendations related to the topics you would (not) like to see in our and your magazine, all of which you can send on our e-mail address: [email protected] and contribute to the quality of our magazine “De-cade of Roma in AP Vojvodina”.

We want to hear your opinion and to justify your trust...

The Team


This month’s topic: The Roma Language in Schools

colorful experience with the Roma

The Elementary School “Djura Jaksic” from Srpska Crn-

ja had about 320 students from the first to the eighth grade in the previous school year. Appro-ximately a quarter of these stu-

dents are members of the Roma population.

School principal Zoran Ko-vacevic said that the school’s experience of working with Roma children is various:

“We had cases of extremely talented individuals. The majo-rity of children still come from socially vulnerable families. They have really big problems. Those are primarily financial problems; parents are unem-ployed, they receive social we-lfare and that affects children’s success and their entire develop-ment. We manage to deal with those problems. Last year we hi-red a pedagogical assistant, who works with Roma children too. So, we achieve good results in that area too.”

As for the introduction of the elective the Roma language with elements of national cul-ture, Kovacevic said that that is the next step in improving inte-gration of Roma children into the educational system.

In answer to our question how we can solve problems of Roma students, Kovacevic said:

“We should pay more at-tention to working with parents, because the problem is usually the parents, not the children. Pa-rents should be obliged to send their children regularly to scho-ol. That is the first and the most important step.”

equal and successful Roma

In the next school year, 485 students studying in 19 classes

RomA in The eDucATionAL SySTem – Key To The SoLuTion of The PRobLem

New school year will open a new round of the introduction of the Roma language with elements of natio-nal culture. Director of the Roma Inclusion Office, Dusko Jovanovic and senior associate in the Provincial Se-cretariat of Education, Administration and National communities, Jelena Jovanovic, visited elementary scho-ols in Srpska Crnja, Stari Banovci, Dobrica and Ilandza during August, in order to promote this subject.

objectives and tasks of the Roma language teaching

The objective of the Roma language teaching is mastering ba-sic principles of Roma, students’ mother tongue, learning how to communicate in it, learning about the literature of their people, but also other nations and national minorities in our country, as well as world literature, film and theatre art.

Thus, they would create awareness of social-historical and cultural role of language and literature in connecting nations and national minorities and their cultures, but also their connected de-stinies and co-living. Moreover, they would learn about variant characteristics of the Roma language and development of language tolerance of other languages.

Firstly, they need to be able to independently read and write, develop a need for books and regularly and critically follow the press, radio and television.

The most important part of the school subject the Roma lan-guage is correlated with the subject the Serbian language, with the goal to revise the acquired knowledge of the Serbian language and expand it through this subject.

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Principal of Elementary School “Djura Jaksic” in Srpska Crnja, Zoran Kovacevic



are going to attend the Elemen-tary School “Slobodan Savko-vic” in Stari Banovci.

“In the last couple of years we have proudly emphasized that we are one of rare schools where the number of students is growing every year. That is good for us and we are slowly reaching the number of 500 stu-dents, which we had ten years ago”, school principal Branko Milojevic said.

33 students of Roma popu-lation will be attending school next year. Having monitored these data, we concluded that they have slightly changed, na-mely 7-8%.

According to Milojevic, co-operation with the Roma popu-lation is very good.

“We are one of rare scho-ols which has a pedagogical

assistant, who helps us, works with students of both Roma and non-Roma population. The as-

sistant provides biggest help in solving problems of communi-cation with parents, for which we haven’t had an adequate so-lution so far. The most frequent problems are related to poverty, but that is not a characteristic of Roma population only, but of all people. We solve and mitigate that by organizing humanitarian actions of donations of clothes

and books. The last humanita-rian action of donations of clo-thes had a very positive respon-

se and lots of new clothes were collected. We are trying to help the Roma children who are most vulnerable, by making an effort to provide them with snacks, if it is possible.”

As far as working with Roma is concerned, school prin-cipal Milojevic says that there are not any major difficulties:

“I am proud to say that many Roma were awarded Vu-k’s diploma for outstanding grades after finishing our scho-ol. One Roma girl was the best student of the generation. We do not have a different relationship with them. They are completely equal with others. ”

Sanja Stojkov is a candidate for the job of a teacher of this subject. According to a questionnaire she did, 33 students stated that they wanted to study this subject. Incidentally, Sanja has been working as a pedagogical assistant in this school for two years. She thinks that learning Roma will help Roma students socialize, primarily first-grade students. Thus, the language barrier, which has often been an obstacle in working with the Roma population, students and parents, will be overcome.

Danijela Jovanovic from Stari Banovci is a former student of the school “Slobodan Savkovic”. Based on a questionnaire she did, there is a great interest in this subject, which is a necessary ele-ment of the preservation of the Roma people’s identity, according to her.

“I will try to teach children about history, customs and tra-ditions of their people, in addition to the Roma language, and if necessary, help them master other subjects, because I am here for them.”

Principal of Elementary School “Slobodan Savkovic ” in Stari Banovci, Branko Milivojevic Elementary School “Slobodan Savkovic ”

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in anticipation of the solution of Roma students’ problems

This September 94 students will start schooling in the Ele-mentary School “Sava Veljko-vic” in Dobrica. Eighteen of them are first-grade students, which is a very good situation. There is a pre-school institution within this school, which will have nine pre-school students.

School principal Zlatka Drnadarski says that she truly loves performing this job, be-cause this is her hometown.

As far as Roma children are concerned, the school principal points out that they require extra

work. “Roma children do not at-

tend school regularly. They do not bring their school equipment and books, do not do their ho-mework and do not participate in classes. Parents do not take care f all that. The work with these children is not done in the adequate way, but I am sure that many of them can achieve really good results. They only require attention and work.”

As for the possible solutions of these problems, the principal suggests hiring a pedagogical assistant.

“Based on my knowledge,

pedagogical assistants do not only participate in classes, but they also visit children’s homes and parents. In my opinion, co-operation with parents is crucial but at the moment, that coopera-tion is nonexistent.”

Pedagogical assistant – exam-ple of good practice

Within DILS project Educa-tional Inclusion of Roma, “Mi-los Crnjanski” School from Ilan-dza hired a pedagogical assistant who works with Roma children especially. He is not a teaching assistant; he separates the Roma children and works with them

Novakov Zorica from Ilandza, a former student of “Milos Crn-janski” School, conducted the above mentioned questionnaire in Dobrica, Ilandza and Alibunar. 35 students opted for this subject in Dobrica, 30 in Ilandza and 30 in Alibunar. Even though the com-muting between those places will take a lot of her time, Zorica is very happy because of the given opportunity.

“I hope that I will maintain the trust I gained. I am aware that this job comes with great responsibility, but I will try to do as much as I can. I know that it is not going to be easy at the beginning, but every beginning is hard. I would like my students to use their edu-cation to become examples for their countrymen. That is the goal I will strive to achieve.”

Elementary School “Sava Veljkovic” Principal of Elementary School “Sava Veljkovic” in Dobrica Zlatka Drndarski

Novakov Zorica

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only for a certain number of classes.

School principal is very sa-tisfied with the work of the pe-dagogical assistant and results achieved:

“The children see him as their head teacher, their friend. We succeeded in teaching the-se children elementary know-ledge, so the grades they have

are now earned, unlike before. The children attend school more regularly. We solve problems outside of the school, together with parents. In my opinion, all elementary schools should have pedagogical assistants.”

The school principal also emphasizes the fact that Roma children are not alienated in this school. That is supported by the

presence of Roma children on all school dances.

“What makes me happy is that, one by one, they come to see me, sometimes just to talk with me. It is really nice to see them smiling. Even when they cause any problems, I let them find the solutions themselves.”

J. D.

Osnovna škola „Miloš Crnjanski” Principal of Elementary School “Milos Crnjanski” in Ilandza Bogdan Pavlovic

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Cabinet with modern equipment in Elementary School “Milos Crnjanski”



chiLDRen’S TeAcheR, fRienD AnD bRoTheR There are twenty children of different age in the classroom, most of them small, with tousled hair and a

glance that speaks about their intelligence, glance that convinces everyone that they could manage wherever they are. The clamor they make spreads along the halls and streets through open windows. Someone would say that they are pretty lively and cheerful. They were slightly pushing each other, shouting and making noise. Suddenly, everything stops… A tall figure appeared at the door and shut it abruptly. All children, as if orde-red, stood up and greeted the familiar and dear face: “Good morning, teacher!”

The face of the Roma language teacher Djordje Fan lightened up. There are faces which can reveal one’s person-ality even to a complete stranger. He had one of those faces.

He was glad to be with them

in the classroom. And glad that they were his. He showed with his posture that he would be in that classroom even as a volunteer.

Having approached his desk, he calmly and patiently started taking out from his modest bag

his glasses box, pen and papers with class preparations; then he took out a paper bag and care-fully, with his fingers, took out a Roma spelling book and a work-book, as if they were the greatest treasure. He knew how hard it was to get them and that it would not be easy to find them again, if they got shabby or, God forbid, lost.

He knows how other teachers start their classes. He would also like to say: “And now please open your spelling books, page thirty second. Today we are going to…” But his children, just like children of other Roma teachers, do not have books. All children who attend Roma classes have only their teachers as sources of information and whatever their teachers photocopy and bring to class.

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Elementary School “Dositej Obradovic”

Teacher Djordje Fan



He was sitting and writing down the class into the grade book, while the children were rustling and whispering without disturbing him. Then he slowly closed the grade book and looked ahead. Sweaty beginning was before his eyes. It became hard just then.

Teacher Fan did not finish any faculty, but he acquired his teaching competences for the work in school with children on seminars. It seems to him that he had to fulfill greater expectations than other teachers. He has always been a teacher, a friend, a home-room teacher; often even a parent or a brother to his students.

His countrymen expected a lot from him. School princi-pals directed to him all ques-tions related to students of Roma nationality.

They did not know that he had the highest expectations of himself.

He has taught the Roma language for ten years and worked parallel in several schools, teaching two classes per week in each of them. He was always coming to school worried. He knew that the majority of his little ones did not speak Roma, that it

was becoming harder to motivate new generations to study their mother tongue. He was afraid that the Roma language would be forgotten because of that. His worry grew every day. He felt that he was slowly losing control. The school he was currently teaching in had sixty five students who wanted to study Roma. Only one child did not have to start from the beginning. Everybody else did not even know how to introduce themselves in Roma. From one class to another he would teach them, even though they would forget everything by the next Roma class. It was necessary for them to revise the lessons at home,

which was impossible because of their parents who would often underestimate the importance of the preservation of the Roma language and their child’s need to learn it. They thought that it was only important for their children to learn how to read and write and that they will never need the Roma language in life. They did not know that there is no nation without a language.

Djordje was mostly worried about highly-educated Roma who did not know the Roma language. It would be natural for them to continue his work and refresh the Roma language classes with their education and new energy.

The only bright spot for him were the students from Vrsac, who are educated partially on Roma and who are majoring in Roma pre-school teachers. He was hoping that they might be interested in teaching. He was imagining some new school where Roma would be educated to become the Roma language teachers. He would often dream about it…

All these pictures and thoughts took only a minute or two – they were that clear and frequent.

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In Roma Language class

Hanging out on recess



“Children, let’s work! Let’s see, who can tell me what we did the last time?”, the Roma teacher broke the silence.

The children started making noise. “How many times do I have to say that we cannot talk all at once?! Raise your hands and I will call someone who I think knows best.” And he called the quietest girl. The teacher knew who needs to be encouraged, who needs to calm down and who needs to be taught patience.

On the last class they learned about great Trifun Dimic. Every year that lesson is repeated so

that the old students could revise and the new ones – first graders – could learn this name that is one of the most important names for the Roma language and literature. Today they are going to learn a poem by this famous romologist and at the end of the class the teacher will listen about the other school subjects, if everything is clear; also, after the school bell. he will detain M. because a teacher complained of his behavior on classes. He will try to draw M’s attention on his behavior and ask him to pass the message to his dad, whom he already knows

very well, to come to school. The teacher announces that

those who learn the poem best will have the opportunity to participate in a ceremony “Days of Poetry of Trifun Dimic”, which will be organized in the Roma library in Sangaj in October.

Children are looking forward to organized visits to other schools and institutions. The teacher knows that and it is never hard for him to please them, because his heart is like children’s – big and noble.

Dragana Dimitrov

Petar Nikolić, Matica romska

AbouT The PRoceDuRe of inTRoDucing The RomA LAnguAge *Which conditions must be fulfilled to introduce the Roma

language into schools?- First, we must conduct a questionnaire based on which stu-

dents will decide to attend the elective The Roma language with elements of national culture. The questionnaire will be submitted to the school management which will subsequently address au-thorized school administration with the initiative for the introduc-tion of this subject.

The minimal number of students for the formation of a group is 15. If the number reaches 30, two groups will be formed. The first group will consist of children from the first to the fourth gra-

de, while the second group will include children from the fifth to the eighth grade. The school administration will then give permission for the introduction of the elective and the num-

ber of groups. After the permission, the school signs a contract with a Roma language teacher.

*Who can become a Roma language teacher? Every person of Roma nationality whose lowest level of education is high school diploma can be-

come a teacher. Moreover, he or she must finish a training after which he or she will receive a Certificate issued by Matica romska. The training includes education about the process of teaching and administra-tive tasks of a teacher.

*How much are Roma language teachers’ monthly salaries and how are they financed? They are financed from the budget of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia. Teachers’

salaries depend on the number of groups. The subject The Roma language with elements of national cul-ture includes two classes per week for every group. Thus, for every group teachers would receive 10% of a teacher’s salary, i.e. four thousand dinars a month.

*Is there a possibility of a permanent employment? There is, if the conditions prescribed by the Law on Work and Fundamentals of Education are satis-

fied. Permanent employment largely depends on the number of Roma students who attend this subject, as well as the continuity of the Roma language classes.

Dragana Dimitrov

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interviewProvincial secretariat for culture and public informing Slavisa Grujic

RomA AnD inSTiTuTionS TogeTheR – Key To SucceSSProvincial secretariat for culture and public informing Slavisa Grujic in an interview for our magazine

presented the secretariat in his charge, focusing on its jurisdiction, activities and projects which are being conducted. He presented to us projects intended for the Roma population, emphasizing that the equality of Roma in Vojvodina on all levels is a common undertaking of Roma and institutions, with the promise that the Secretariat for Culture and Public Informing will do everything it can so that that undertaking succeeds.

*Give is a brief presentation of the Secretariat – its jurisdic-tion and activities.

-Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Informing is in charge of the conduction of cultural policy which is, abo-ve all, based on the principle of free speech in cultural and arti-stic creativity. It also makes sure that cultural values and national traditions are respected in order to be preserved, that cultural uniqueness is promoted and de-veloped, that our own national identity is preserved and that the political equality in the area of informing on mother tongue is implemented.

That’s what I can tell you in a completely formal way. I

could also tell you about legal framework, the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, Law on Definition of Jurisdiction and all problems that arise from it.

But first I would like to em-phasize one thing: Vojvodina re-presents a special and a specific example of multiculturalism is Serbia. Multinationalism, multi-lingualism and multiculturalism in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina have become through history a natural state, an every-day reality and a quality of the cultural and living space of Vo-jvodina.

And that’s what truly defi-nes the work of this Secretariat.

*Which project that you participated in would you single out as the most significant?

-In the area of culture and artistic creativity, in the last co-uple of years significant projects were started and realized: seven cultural institutions were foun-ded; five institutes for culture of national communities of Vojvo-dina Hungarians, Slovaks, Cro-atians, Romanians and Rysins were founded, as well as the pu-blishing institute “Forum” and a Vojvodina symphonic orchestra.

Then, in 2008 the construc-tion of the building of Regional Creative Studio “Jozef Nadj” in Kanjiza was finished, where multicultural and multimedia programs are realized and in 2011 the adaptation of the Ser-bian National Theater in Novi Sad was finished, in order to ce-lebrate 150th anniversary of the theater which is nationally im-portant for the Serbian culture.

Of course, Roma had their place and role in all that. So, in 2007 Roma theater Suno e Rromengo, headquartered in Novi Karlovci, acquired the sta-tus of a professional theater of the Roma national community, where Roma can perform plays on their mother tongue. Plays of this theater are co-financed by the Province. Previous practi-ce showed that the activities of this provincial institution are of great importance for the Roma

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national community, for the pre-servation, affirmation and fur-ther development of the cultural identity of Roma.

Via open competitions eve-ry year we co-financed the reali-zation of more than 2000 multi-cultural projects and projects in all areas of culture and artistic creativity in 18 languages and tongues of nations who live in Vojvodina, as well as projects in the area of public informing. The fact that the public informing in Vojvodina in electronic media is realized in nine languages (Ser-bian, Roma, Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian, Rysin and Ukrainian) is impressive.

*Were members of the Roma population included in any of the previous projects?

As you can see, I mentio-ned Roma when I was speaking of the most significant projects. Besides, I would emphasize that members of the Roma population are participants in project Affir-mation of Multiculturalism and Tolerance in Vojvodina, which is realized by the Government of AP Vojvodina and which in-cludes sports competitions Cup of Tolerance, youth camps, quiz

How good do we know each other and similar. The main goal of this project is the creation of conditions for mutual communi-cation, introduction and friend-ships of young people of diffe-rent ethnical and national affi-liation and hence overcoming of prejudices. What is encouraging is that teams from more than 130 elementary and high schools from all municipalities of Vo-jvodina participate in the Cup of Tolerance every year, with more than two thousand competitors while the two-day final competi-tion includes more than 30 teams with about 350 competitors.

Within the Institute of Cul-ture of Vojvodina there is a Co-ordinating Board of Societies for Languages, Literature and Culture. Association of Roma Teachers of Vojvodina and Roma Association for Unbiased Informing “Basno” are mem-bers of this Board. Also, the In-stitute for Culture of Vojvodina organizes a program to celebrate the International Roma Day and members of the Roma national community participate in other programs organized by this In-stitute, such as: competition in the knowledge of mother tongue,

professional meeting regarding the World Teacher’s Day, Chil-dren’s Festival of Multicultura-lism “Let’s Get to Know Each Other”, Multilingual translating workshop, program regarding The World Day of Poetry, creati-ve workshops regarding Interna-tional Day of Literacy, literary meetings and other.

I should mention one again the theater Suno e Rromengo from Novi Karlovci which had already been included twice in the program of Bitef Theater in Belgrade and once in the pro-gram of Sterijino pozorje in Novi Sad.

*Have you conducted so far any projects which were related to Roma exclusively?

-I have already mentioned some, but I can add: the Pro-vince helped the realization of a capital music project: compo-sing and the first performance of Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in Roma, composed by Zoran Mulic.

In the area of publishing, every year the Province co-fi-nances a magazine for culture and social issues of Roma “Ro-mologija” and it also helped the publishing of the following bo-oks: “Lexicon of Roma Women from Vojvodina” written by a group of authors, “Anthology of Roma Poems of Vojvodina” and “Roma Fairy Tales” by Ran-ko Rajko Jovanovic, “History of Roma Literature” by Rajko Djuric, “Roma Fairy Tales 1 and 2” by Alija Krasnici, “No-table Roma of Syrmia 1 and 2” written by a group of authors, “Selection of Poems” by Trifun Dimic (in Roma and Serbian), “Dear Children” by Dusan Ra-dovic (translated to Roma) and others.

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interviewPrograms of the preserva-

tion of non-material cultural heritage of Roma and organi-zation of cultural-artistic cere-monies are co-financed based on the annual open competition for the co-financing of traditio-nal national creativity of natio-nal communities of Vojvodina. We list some of the projects of the preservation of non-material cultural heritage of non-govern-mental Roma organizations: Le-t’s Preserve Cultural Tradition of Roma in Beocin, Preservation of National Customs and Old Crafts of Roma in Pancevo, Training of Roma Children for Roma Dance in Novi Becej, Preservation of Culture and Tradition of Roma in Multiethnic Environment and Preservation of Cultural Herita-ge of Roma in Subotica, Roma Autumn Customs in Curug, Primordial Fires in Mokrin and other.

The Province’s funds were also used to co-finance cultura-l-artistic ceremonies that were organized by Roma citizen as-sociations: artistic programs in several places in Vojvodina to celebrate the International Roma Day, then ceremonies Culture Days of Vrsac Roma, Review of Roma Folklore in Vojvodina in Vilovo and Beocin, Contempo-rary Culture of Roma from the Municipality of Sombor, Cultu-ral Meetings of Vojvodina Roma, Days of Poetry of Trifun Dimic, Helping Children with Pictu-res and Music, NS Romafest in Novi Sad, Days of Roma and Hungarian Writers in Senta, Vo-jvodina Roma Poets’ Meetings in Subotica, Festival of Roma Reciters of Vojvodina in Deron-je, Workshop of Young Roma Writers, Musicians and Painters in Zabalj, Let’s Paint with Heart in Kikinda, Days of Roma Cul-ture in Odžaci, Show Us What

You Can in Ilandza, Playing and Dancing for Friendship and To-lerance in Senta and others. Cul-tural-artistic gatherings of Roma associations in many places of Vojvodina celebrate the 10th an-niversary of continuous work.

I don’t know if I left out so-mething, it’s possible.

*Who were your partners in these projects?

-The list is long. Besides professional institutions, such as the Institute for Culture of Vojvodina, Literary Municipa-lity Vrsac, Roma theater Suno e Rromengo, our partners were mostly non-governmental orga-nizations: Citizen association (CA) “Young Roma” in Bogoje-vo, “Roma Youth” in Stari Ba-novci, “Roma Strength – Rro-mendji Zor” in Ilandza, asso-ciation “Roma for the Decade of Roma” in Novi Becej, citizen association “Rroma Music”,

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interviewWomen studies and research, CA “Roma Youth Today”, As-sociation of Roma Students, CA “Romano Baripe”, CA “Phra-lipe”, Roma association “San-gaj”, and association of single Roma mothers “Mother’s Crib” in Novi Sad, Roma association “Beocin”, Cultural-artistic so-ciety “Roma” in Srbobran, CA “Rroma Rota” and CA “Amaro Kham” in Kikinda, Roma as-sociation “Rromane jakha” in Vrsac, CA “Roma Women in Decade” in Curug, Roma Wo-men’s Center „Rromanjako Ilo” in Zrenjanin, Roma association “Danica” in Pancevo, CA „Kali Jakh” in Senta, Roma Teachers’ Association of Vojvodina in Deronje, Bahtale Rroma in Sombor, Roma Association for Unbiased Informing “Basno” in Sombor and others.

*Can you describe your cooperation with the Roma Inc-lusion Office in the area of inte-gration of Roma?

One of important aspects of our cultural policy, an aspect that receives great attention, is the measures of affirmative action which contribute to the creation of necessary educational-cultu-ral and socio-economic condi-tions for the fulfillment of basic human and minority rights of the Roma population, measures which enable gradual integration of Roma in social sphere. More-over, we do not see integration of Roma as a uniform process of assimilation, but as equal po-ssibilities followed by cultural diversity in the atmosphere of mutual tolerance.

The cooperation with the Roma Inclusion Office, insti-tutions and non-governmental sector of Roma should be essen-

tial, based on partnership, not formal. The task of the Provin-cial Secretariat for Culture and Public Informing is to give insti-tutional support and encourage development of institutions’ and civil society organizations’ ini-tiatives which have strength, vi-sion and idea, as well as to help the exchange of experience and connection of these institutions and non-governmental organi-zations with broader regional activities, their strengthening and networking.

*What do you think, what is the biggest problem of Roma in the process of their integration?

-According to all socio-eco-nomic, educational and health indicators, Roma are an extre-mely marginalized social group and belong to the most vulne-rable groups of population in Serbia: poverty, a large number of illiterate persons, unemploy-ment, inability to work and com-pete economically, bad housing conditions, social rejection with elements of ethnical prejudice, general exclusion from the main currents of social life are just some of the causes of their diffi-cult position in the society.

Inclusion of Roma in the community and their equal par-ticipation in social and citizen life, fight against discrimination and prejudices against the Roma national minority, participation of Roma representatives in me-chanisms of decision-making which are related to the Roma community, conduction and mo-nitoring of projects directed to-wards the improvement of living and working conditions of Roma on the territory of Vojvodina – these are the main objectives of the Government of AP Vo-

jvodina, the work of the Roma Inclusion Office, as well as the Secretariat for Culture and Pu-blic Informing, which here, due to nature of its activities, has a special role.

*In your opinion, do Roma or institutions have the main role in this process?

-Non-governmental sector and civil society organizations are unavoidable element of de-mocratic environment. As for the problems of Roma inclusion, partner cooperation of state in-stitutions and non-governmental sector has already proved to be extremely useful and necessary for the realization of projects for the improvement of the position of this national community and promotion of values of civil so-ciety.

In the last ten years the non-governmental sector realized different programs in the area of education, improvement of housing conditions, culture, pro-motion of tolerance and fight against discrimination of Roma.

*As a provincial secretary, what is your message to Roma people?

-Inclusion of Roma as equal citizens in the life of AP Vojvo-dina is our common undertaking. It is not simple and it cannot be fulfilled in a short period of time, but its significance is enormous for both Roma community and further progress and enrichment of life in AP Vojvodina. We must endure together in it.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Infor-ming and I as its secretary will do everything to see this com-mon undertaking succeed.

Dragana Dimitrov


interviewPresident of the municipality of Stara Pazova, Djordje Radinovic

fAVoRAbLe geogRAPhicAL PoSiTion – inVeSTemenT foR The fuTuRe

Djordje Radinovic, president of the municipality of Stara Pazova, discusses for our magazine the advan-tages of this municipality, emphasizing the favorable geographical position which attracts investors. In addi-tion, he presented to us the first steps of his municipal authority, including reopening of the Roma Inclusion Office.

*What makes the munici-pality of Stara Pazova different from other municipalities in Vo-jvodina?

-Above all, I think that it is the remarkably good geographi-cal position. The municipality of Stara Pazova incorporates 25 km of the bank of the Danube on its territory. It rests on two high-ways, highway Belgrade-Novi Sad and highway Belgrade-Za-greb. It is in the neighborhood of the capital and the largest city of our country, Belgrade, whi-le Novi Sad, the second largest city, is also near. All that makes our municipality attractive for the investors. According to my economic forecast, this geogra-phical position and investors will make our municipality one of the future most developed municipalities in the country.

The municipality has three centers. They are Nova Pazova,

Stara Pazova and Stari Bano-vci, which are now turning into big centers, towns attractive for both inhabitants and investors because of the proximity of the highway, Belgrade and the bank of the Danube.

The municipality has 80 000 inhabitants. In my opinion, the population is increasing to even 100 000, because a large number of inhabitants are registered on the territory of our neighboring city Belgrade.

*Considering that you have taken up the duties of a president of the municipality of Stara Pa-zova since June 30th of this year, what are your first steps when it comes to the strategy of munici-pality’s development?

-The first act of the new mu-nicipal authorities will be direc-ted towards the solution of the infrastructure problem, which

did not follow the increase of the population. However, we can’t blame anyone for that. Simply, it seems that it was impossible, considering the difficult times we live in.

The infrastructure problems are mostly connected to the out-skirts of the town, namely due to the constant expansion. The issue of infrastructure is particu-larly significant for Roma, who mostly live on the outskirts of the town.

The next thing we will be working on is the improvement of lives of socially vulnerable families. Unfortunately, the so-cial issue still plays a very im-portant role in our country. We will make an effort, as much as we can, to improve the living conditions of our citizens.

The next action that we are going to conduct is the distri-bution of fuel. The action sho-uld be carried out at the end of September and the beginning of October. It is the distribution of coal, which is the deal we made with a mine from Kostolac. This coal is the most affordable wood replacement. Every family, 600 of them, will receive 2 tons of coal.

The third action is attracting home and foreign investors, in order to provide job openings for our citizens, considering the high rate of unemployment which is one of the main cau-ses of poverty. We will give an

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President of the municipality of Stara Pazova Djordje Radinovic in his cabinet


interview

advantage and benefits to those investors who will hire a mini-mum of 50 employees. And we will try to make things easier for investors and help them in paperwork, which required a lot of time in the previous periods. That is the main reason why in-vestors have given up. It must not happen again.

*You mentioned that infra-structure is one of the problems of the Roma population. What about other areas?

When it comes to Roma population, the only thing I am proud of is the number of Roma, which is almost 2000. As far as their position is concerned, it is not satisfactory, because the unemployment is high. We hope that the investments will help change that situation.

The thing that poses a pro-blem for the Roma population is the bad communication between municipal organs and the Roma population. Thus, we are going to reactivate the Roma Inclusion Office in our municipality. It is necessary to hire a person that Roma citizens can trust for the position of a manager of the Of-fice. We hope that we will suc-

ceed in realizing that as soon as possible, because we must not waste time any longer.

*Apart from the reopening of the Office, what other plans are related to the Roma popula-tion?

It is hard to say immedia-tely what actual plans we have. The Roma Inclusion office and a Roma coordinator will help us assess the whole situation in the Roma population and esta-blish the right strategy for the solution of problems within the areas of the Decade of Roma. Besides, the cooperation with the provincial institutions will be improved, primarily with the Roma Inclusion Office of AP Vojvodina.

The first activity is, of cour-se, creating Local action plans for Roma.

Together with the Office we are going to work on the promo-tion and support for the educa-tion of Roma. Only when we acquire accurate data about the education of Roma, the types and degrees of education, we will be able to make a strategy intended for the employment of Roma. Other municipalities which have

been successfully dealing with Roma issues for years will cer-tainly be our role models.

When it comes to employ-ment, the first step is helping Roma entrepreneurs expand the-ir activities, in order to open up a possibility of hiring their fellow countrymen. And that is really a good way, because it enables Roma to participate in their in-tegration.

*Lastly, what are you going to do to retain the hearts of pe-ople on the bank of the Danube in your municipality?

-I have to admit that I my-self am very attached to the bank of the Danube. I love it with all my heart and I want to achieve what you asked in your question. So we started creating an Urban project for the reorganization of the entire bank of the Danube. Thus we will have a clear pic-ture what to build and where to build, which will greatly help us in cooperation with investors, because many of them are in-terested in the locations placed on this bank. The investments in question are mostly tourist objects. In addition to them, the proposals for the construction of mini harbors are also intere-sting, since water traffic is the cheapest.

I am sure that the hearts of many will stay on the bank of the Danube in Belegis. We are nego-tiating with one Israeli company which wishes to build a tourist complex with golf court on this location. We recently had a me-eting with the Israel ambassador Yossef Levi during which it was agreed that the representatives of that company will visit our municipality at the beginning of October.

Dragana Dimitrov

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education

RAiSing chiLDRen AnD STuDying wiTh Them inSTeAD of PARenTS

Elementary School “Dositej Obradovic” in Novi Sad differs from other schools by having a large number of young students who cannot fulfill their school obligations without additional support. This problem arises from the fact that parents are not interested enough in school success of their children and the children’s mood depends on the parents’.

This is the reason why one of the school employees is Milan Dimic, a pedagogical assistant. He belongs to the first generation of pedagogical assistants. He acquired his working competen-ce on seminars organized by the Ministry of Education, although he says that love for children is the basic prerequisite for this job.

Milan works in school eve-ry day from 8 am to 2 pm. He spends his working hours in the classrooms with children, in hal-lways with parents or in the as-sembly hall with teachers.

He is children’s friend, an address of impatient parents, te-achers’ colleague, often a carrier pigeon by whom teachers send messages to parents.

Teachers (not just in this school) often abuse the position of a pedagogical assistant. Some-times they do not even try to so-lve a problem with the children, but send them immediately to the assistant.

However, Milan is patient, does not want to cause an argu-ment and avoids conflicts with colleagues and parents.

We learned that no parent had ever come because he or she wished to help their chil-dren learn better or adapt better. Milan knows almost all parents and says that no mother has ever done homework with her child. It is justified if they are illiterate or uneducated, but even then mo-thers should make sure that their children take school seriously. They should at least show their children that they are interested in their grades and some impor-tant things happening at school. They should at least pretend that they are interested. They should ask their children how they spent their day at school and what they learned. Even that would mean a lot to them.

But parents do not even do that. “I can talk to them all day about how important is for chil-dren to go to school, but if the pa-rents do not show any interest in their children’s education when they come home or they do not wake them up for school, all my efforts are in vain.” We conclude that there are no results if parents are not included in their childre-n’s education.

Dimic listed the problems that the children he works with experience. The usual problems are undeveloped working habits, lack of discipline and impatien-ce, but it would not be hard to overcome all that if the children

attended school regularly. As soon as the rain comes, they are gone. They do not have shoes. When it is cold – they stay at home, because they do not have warm clothes. There are always so many excuses. Parents are not aware of how important regular attendance is. They send their children to school only to get the confirmation that their children attended school regularly. That is their entrance to the door of mercy. That is how they can get social welfare, one-time or any other welfare that will never get them out of poverty. The only permanent solution for children is to train them for work. That is not possible without school. “In school we teach them to be re-sponsible, honest, hard-working, disciplined. They need those qualities for every job, even for street sweepers”, he is being frank.

While he was talking to us, Milan was waylaid by a parent who came to school to complain that his child did not get books (the school year had just started): “All children got them, only mine didn’t.”

He almost convinced us that that was a fruit of discrimi-nation… Assistant Dimic inte-rvened at the right moment. He explained to us and the parent that the reason for that is that they did not bring their child to the recep-tion of first graders. They made a list of books then, so that is the reason why their first grader was not on the list. “Do not worry, he

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Milan Dimic


educationwill get them,” he said calmly.

“I am used to it”, he said lo-oking at the parent who was wal-king away.

The assistant Dimic has a lot of experience in working with parents. We finally got an answer to the question why parents come to school so often to seek justice. Those are the cases in which a child complains of “something” a teacher said, of not being fair, and tomorrow parents are co-ming to see the school principal and demand the punishment for the teacher.

Assistant Milan explains this phenomenon by the fact that this situation is an excellent op-portunity for bad parents to hide the fact that they are bad. “That is the easiest way for a father to confirm his parenting role and show his children and teachers that he is a good parent. The child wants attention and wants to be noticed, and the parent wants to show that he does notice him or her and that he is there to protect

him/her… from the teacher – it is the easiest.” Luckily, these pa-rents can be easily recognized, because they are loudmouths and in most cases promising them that it will not happen again is enough for them to calm down.

every step is a step forward

The assistant took us to the classroom where a class was be-ing taught. There were one Roma child and one non-Roma child sitting together at a school desk. Our attention was drawn to two girls sitting together next to each other. One girl’s back and shoul-ders white as snow were stained with mud that had already dried. Her blonde hair was all greasy and her clothes pale, already a bit old. Her friend with deep, dark eyes and of much larger build, tried to help her with writing let-ters. Full of patience, she did not give up until she managed to te-ach her that “A” is not spelt with parallel lines. The teacher was looking at them all the time, hap-

py that she succeeded in develo-ping generosity and humanity in their children.

During recess they hung out together, so only skin color could reveal their national identity, but no one cared about that. We are all happy because of that.

All children in school were smiling. The only difference be-tween them was that some were tidy and others were not. „”You can see on children what parents they have”, Milan said.

While talking to us, Mila-n’s eyes are restless – he is ce-aselessly watching the children, because he wants to make sure that everything is all right. “You know, the children are a bit na-ughty, anything can happen in a second. Although there are te-achers who monitor them, I still have to keep an eye open.”

Apart from school, the chil-dren are not taught discipline anywhere else. There is not a de-veloped system of rewarding and punishing in their homes, which

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Milan Dimic with students


education

is necessary for proper upbrin-ging. “Certain things are not al-lowed for them only when their parents are mad because of other things, so the children are afraid that they will be beaten, or if the parents are on the road at a bad time.” That is why it is necessary to devote yourself completely to them.

Gazing at something, he sud-denly said: “But you certainly do not know how and how much these children can love.” Trying to draw attention away from his eyes full of tears, he immediately and clumsily added: “Whenever and wherever they meet me, they would only like to talk to me and make jokes. They do not ask for social welfare, nor free school equipment, they do not compla-in and do not threat… The only thing they need is attention; so-meone to listen to them, to give them advice, to notice that they have fancy clothes today or to send them to wash their hands and face and show them that he or she is aware of the fact that they are only children, which is something their parents often forget. “

We were interrupted by a fourth-grade teacher, Milica T. who was passing by and having

seen Milan, immediately asked a question: “Milan, how are my children?” She continued with questions about whether students did their homework, whether they had gaps in knowledge, if they told their parents that they should…

He used this opportunity and learned from her how much it meant to her to have a pedagogi-cal assistant: “I can rely on him and be calm, because I know that my children are in safe hands.”

We asked him which child he achieved the most significant progress with.

“I am happiest because of little Milica who was an extre-mely shy child, too withdrawn, did not socialize with anyone, did not talk, did not dare to an-swer when a teacher would ask her something, even though she knew the correct answer and si-milar. I was seeing her almost on daily basis; I talked with her, studied with her, supported her, directed her towards classmates and now you will see how much I achieved.“

At that moment, a girl with her hair cut in a bob came to us running and with great confiden-ce apologized for interrupting us and, with a wide smile, informed

Milan that she got a highest gra-de in Math from the part they studied together.

Milan says that he does not succeed always, but that he is so happy if he manages to save se-veral children every school year.

“I had a girl from the fifth grade who got married. When I tried to find out what was happe-ning with her, the parents were hiding her and telling me that she was ill. When I found out, I was sad. Why does it take so long to change the destiny of Roma girls?”

We had to ask why parents from poor families have so many children – three or more, when they are incapable of setting their children on the right road.

“I wonder myself, but when I ask them, I get the following answers from fathers: ‘it wasn’t planned’, ‘it is because of social welfare’ or they simply shrug their shoulders and do not have an answer.” It is fine to blame the parents for not planning their fa-mily, but we must not allow our-selves to give negative or offen-sive comments on families with many children. It is not childre-n’s fault. They could not choose their family.

Chatting during recess was interrupted by the school bell and we said goodbye to children and our interviewee. We promised to him that we would come again to see if Milica was looking for-ward to school and if black and white hands were still holding each other.

Dragana Dimitrov

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Milan Dimic and Djordje Fan with our journalist


Selfemployment

congRATiLATionS, cooK!

gift and aptitude promoted by knowledge

According to teacher Olive-ra Avramovic, this is her lucky group. Namely, all participants regularly attended the training. In addition to regularity, they also showed great willingness to acquire the necessary knowled-ge.

“All cooks they cooperated with are really satisfied with the-ir work because they were a gre-at help. As for the final exam, the participants did their best, altho-ugh they were very nervous, gi-ven that for the majority of them this was their first experience of that kind. I pushed their limits, both during the course and on the exam, but they bravely endured that tempo. I tried to give them as much knowledge as possible during that short period of time. The question of how much I suc-ceeded in teaching them will be answered when they start wor-king. I would really like them to find jobs in this profession, be-cause I think they have a gift and aptitude for this profession.”

her humor encouraged them

The youngest participant in the training, Branka Sajn, is only 17 years old. As the youngest of them, she opened the examina-tion sitting. She admitted to us

that she truly became attached to her group and this training. She says that she would like to find a job soon so that the knowled-ge she acquired does not end up unused. The training helped her acquire work habits. Everything seemed difficult and exhausting for her at the beginning, but she soon managed to follow the rhy-thm. Other participants agreed that Branka made the training easier with her youth, smile and humor.

“I tried to make them laugh. I am aware that no one came to this training to have fun, but a smile is always welcome. All of us have our own problems, either bigger or smaller, but the point is not to lose hope and give up. I hope that my jokes and smile helped them forget at least for a moment everything that bothers and troubles them. It is nice to see them smiling. Anyway, a smile cannot hurt. “

Professionalism and routine

Cubrilovski Pava is the tra-ining’s oldest participant. Even though she was the oldest, she says that she easily became part of the group and training.

“I haven’t cooked so far, at least not professionally. Of cour-se, I cooked for my family. It is true that most of these things I did on daily basis, but I simply

did not do it with professiona-lism I acquired on this course. I have to admit that my family members noticed a positive dif-ference in my cooking, which is a good sign for the start. What makes me happy is the fact that now I am faster and more skilful in the kitchen. I hope that I will have the chance to utilize eve-rything I learned on my future working position too.”

chance that should not be missed

For Lukic Vesna this tra-ining offered a chance she has never had before.

“It was not easy. I had to take care of the housework, family and training. But I knew that I must not give up and that that was a chance that people rarely get nowadays. This is a privile-ge. And I really feel privileged, for the first time in my life. And I am happy because of that. I truly am. In the times we live in every missed opportunity is a luxury I cannot afford. Considering the situation my family is dealing with now, as most Roma, there is no room for luxury. “

Wish fulfilled

The profession of a cook has always been a great wish of Svetlana Muncan. However, life put other plans and paths before

150 members of the Roma population are being trained within a project “Improving Employment of Roma in AP Vojvodina” which is conducted by the Roma Inclusion Office in partnership with the Provincial Secretariat of Economy, Employment and Gender Equality. The project is financed by the European Union. Training for assistant cook in the municipality of Pancevo is successfully reaching its end. The participants passed the final exam and acquired a certificate of the finished course.

The training lasted from the 20th of June to the 31st of July. It was held daily in Geriatrics Center in Pancevo. It consisted of the theoretical and practical parts. The theoretical part included three-hour lectures, while the practical part included eight-hour practical work in the kitchen. The group consisted of five parti-cipants between 17 and 42 years of age.


Selfemploymentthat wish, but now she managed to fulfill it.

“My story is the proof that everything can best work out on its own. Just when I thought that there was no way to fulfill my old wish, this project showed up. I hope that this is only the first step and that I will succeed in improving the knowledge I acquired with experience. In that way I will justify the opportuni-ty I got. One day I would like to open a restaurant of mine where I would teach my countrymen.”

better chance for employment

This training will enable a better chance for employment for Danijela Mana. She says that she needs a job to provide her children with everything they need.

“I don’t want to be a bad example to my children. I wo-uldn’t like them to ever be in the situation I am dealing with now. I am trying to explain to them that education is something they ca-n’t live without. I know that it is not easy for them, but education is the only way to escape poverty and social margins. My employ-ment would be an investment in their education, which requires really great expenses and that must not be an obstacle. “

Five Roma women got a certificate on this training, which will enable them to be more com-petitive on the job market. Con-sidering that unemployment is one of the main causes of pover-ty of the Roma population, this training is an attempt to change this state to a better one.

Dragana Rajić

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fiRST RomA AgRicuLTuRAL cooPeRATiVe

Agriculture

Agricultural cooperative “Amari Grino Barr” was founded in 2006 with its headquarters in Curug, as the first Roma agricultural cooperative in Vojvodina. The cooperative was founded with the help of the orga-nization ADF. The present members of the cooperative are Novak Jovanovic from Popinci, Radivoj Dimitrov from Kovilj, Ivan Jovanovic from Obrez, Sadri and Alija Krasnic from Subotica, Srdjan and Zivan Miler and Dusan Radul from Curug.

About the formation of the idea, partners and rewards

Dusko Radul from Curug has worked in Novkabel Com-pany from Novi Sad since he was 19. After twenty years of employment he was made re-dundant and then fired. The life of a five-member family depen-ded on his monthly income. The idea about the creation of such a cooperative started exactly then in Radul household.

The Raduls deal with ve-getable farming on their farm, more precisely farming of toma-toes and peppers. They send the-ir products to markets, smaller and larger supermarkets in Cu-rug and the surrounding area.

Every year Dusko Radul and his colleagues from the co-operative receive nursery crops from the Directorate of Commo-dity Reserves. The cooperative also receives special assistance from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad for the solving of problems and resolving of doubts.

“my children are my strength”

The family of Srdjan Miler from Kovin grows tomato and

lettuce in their greenhouses and distributes the vegetables on the local market.

“I started working intensi-vely as a farmer when my wife

lost her job, when my family was left without any income. I did not have a lot of choice and I had the crop fields so I was able to start working immediately. That was certainly the crucial reason why I opted for agricul-ture.”

In addition to vegetable farming, the Milers also deal with crop farming and animal husbandry, which are closely related, because corn and clover are used as fodder for cows and pigs.

Srdjan gets help in his work from his wife and daughters. He says that without their help he is not sure if he can succeed.

Dragana Dimitrov

The agricultural coope-rative “Amari Grino Barr” won five gold medals and one silver medal for the quality of their peppers and tomatoes on the 44th Novi Sad Internatio-nal Agricultural Fair 2009.

“They are a great sup-port to me. They are the re-ason why I get up at dawn and spend all day working. And nothing is hard for me. My neighbors often ask me: “How come you have so much strength, man?” As an answer to that question, I just smile and say: “My children are my strength.”

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SeRVice heLP AT home (hAh) foR chiLDRen wiTh DeVeLoPmenTAL DiSAbiLiTieS AnD TheiR fAmiLieS

According to principles of competition and the public, mu-nicipal, i.e. city administration trusts a chosen provider that can be from the public, non-profita-ble and profitable sector, with the initiation, development and realization of HAH service.

HAH service is based on the following principles: support for the biological family – for chil-d’s stay in the family, support for the family taking care of the child, child’s safety and securi-ty in his/her family is primary, support for the family directed towards independence (“Less is more”), support for the family in the development of social ne-twork, as well as focus on and relying on family’s strengths.

The purpose of the help and care at home for children with developmental disabilities and their families is the support in fulfillment of everyday life ne-eds in their homes, in order to improve and sustain quality of life and prevent or postpone accommodation in institutions. All activities which are being realized should contribute to the strengthening of family and child’s development of indepen-dence.

Help and care at home are provided in cases when the fa-mily needs support and in accor-dance with identified individual needs of a child with reduced abilities caused by disabilities or disease and his/her family’s needs. Help at home is always provided with the participation of users and families.

Help at home service is available for children who have

limited physical and psycholo-gical abilities which make them incapable of independent life in their homes without regular help in daily life activities, without care and monitoring, whereas family support is insufficient or unavailable. Those are the children with moderate, more severe or severe form of mental insufficient development, with physical, sensory, multiple or pervasive disabilities, as well as children with more severe chronic conditions who live in biological, guardian or foster families.

If we are wondering: Why should a municipality start this service?, some of the arguments are the following:

- The service does not invo-lve larger investment

- It is easily organized and managed

- It can be added to already developed service for the elderly/common use of available resources

- Support for the families in marginal areas, which are unable to use other servi-ces due to distance

- Support for the families who take care of a child who is partially or com-pletely immobile

- Employment of cadres from the job market with minimally high school di-ploma

- Prevention of family members’ overtiredness – preservation of families.

A draft of minimal standards was created for service Help at Home for the Elderly and

Adults with Disabilities within the first group of priority servi-ces, but it is necessary to specify this service for the target group children with developmental di-sabilities (a Set of Rules about standards which include HAH for adults and children as one of daily services is being drafted.

Considering the specific ne-eds of this target group and how important the support for fami-lies is (for biological, guardian and foster families), childre-n’s stay in families and natural environment, as well as social inclusion of children and their families’ members in the com-munity in which they live, it is

absolutely necessary to support the development of these servi-ces in local communities.

Ivana Koprivica

This service was star-ted in the following 28 municipalities in Serbia through program Social In-clusion IPA 2008:

Aleksinac, Babusnica,

Bela Palanka, Boljevac, Dimitrovgrad, Gadzin Han, Gornji Milanovac, Irig, Ki-kinda, Knjazevacm Nego-tin, Nis, Nova Crnja, Para-cin, Pirot, Pozega, Proku-plje, Razanj, Rekovac, Se-canj, Stara Pazova, Svrljig, Topola, Uzice, Vlasotince, Vrnjacka Banja, Zagubica, Zitiste

Social care


effoRTS To ADDReSS The RomAny „PRobLem” in czechoSLoVAKiA AfTeR The woRLD wAR ii

1. introduction

For the majority of Roma-nies after World War II. there were narrow horizons of the state borders, which were just on. In a larger scale their transfers were limited by the national policy as well as a clear border betwe-en East and West Europe, whe-re most Roma remained in the eastern countries. The status of Roma has always been influen-

ced significantly by the govern-ment policy, either in terms of positive solutions, or in terms of creating the new barriers. Altho-ugh all approaches have declared efforts to improve the situation, were not always meant to be sin-cere and did not always bring the success. The low socio-economic level of the Romanies created for the state and the civil service not only an economic problem, but mainly ideological. Proclaimed social equality of citizens (e.g. the Constitution of 1948 – note of V.G.), and their planned real

living standard was in the sharp contrast with the actual achieved level of the Romany population.

2. Theoretical definition of the issue

Throughout the duration of post-war period and in its in-dividual periods, the change in approach of the State in relation to the Romanies, although ma-nifested, but it did not create the priority of the actual result of

the reflection of these policies. It became an ideological consequ-ence of changes in the viewing on the State functions and on its citizens. The real living standard achieved by the majority of Roma was contrary to the stated objec-tives and did not prove the setting intentions and, thus, the „Roma issue” becames the means of po-litical manipulation. The who-le post-war development of the bulk of the Romany population in this respect can be described as a process of losing the cultu-re, social and moral retardation.

Political regime in this period tried to rearrange the society and change its natural stratification. Thus, it began to deny the Roma-ny ethnic identity and the policy of cultural assimilation has been adopted. The issue connected with the identification of Roma-nies, which arose just in relation to refusal of ethnic acceptance, resulted in the formulation of „person of Gypsy origin”. In that period, public authorities survey-ed the inclusion of Romanies into the workforce in each region and the survey confirmed the limited opportunities and close range of occupations, in which Romanies were finding the practise of its low-skilled labor.

In the period immediately after World War II, the area of Bohemia and Moravia was prac-tically without Romanies. A few people, who survived the concen-tration of violent and inhuman conditions in the camps, merged with the rest of the population. In Slovakia, the situation was different due to different histori-cal development. In the postwar period there lived approximately 100 000 Romanies. The post-war situation and condition of the Ro-many population, sub-ethnic and demographic characteristics of Romany immigrants in the Czech lands were completely different from pre-war situation. The civil service permitted to institutiona-lize the normal daily segregation, isolation, discrimination and per-secution of the hated minority. This legal instrument has served not only in Bohemia and Moravia to persecution, which led to direct genocide of Roma in the Protec-torate, but was also transferred

Roma from europe


into a post-war period and so-cal-led People’s regime has applied it in its practice until 1950. As a result of several centuries of de-velopment and different attitudes and the regulation of the Romany population in the western parts of the Habsburg Empire, there were formed the quality, sub-ethnic, the rate of integration and the degree of cultural sophistication, level of relations with different majority „group” Romanies, who have found themselves in a com-mon state. In pre-war period the Czech public was meeting with the nomadic Romanies, whose permanent continuous spatial movement was connected with the implementation of craft bo-und for vagrancy, and even those, who had the permanent residen-ce. There were moving the tin-kers, grinders, umbrella-makers, various traffickers – horse-de-alers, peddling with straps, with old iron, musical instruments etc. Vagrancy was connected with the operation of musical activi-ty, buffoonery, with professional begging and vagrancy. This con-stantly moving and threatening other residents reportedly „whisk of rural areas” stir up hateful at-titudes at all levels of the Czech

public as well as the increasing pressure to its elimination outsi-de of the society. The World War II was a suitable environment for implementing the hating proce-dures against towards Romanies and settling once and for all with the hated part of the society. Thus, the „Gypsy question” during the six years of war disappeared from the attention of Czech public. It seemed to be residue-free „reso-lved” and none of it counted until the building of a „new society”. The year 1945 and World War II was built by the Czech authorities and the population face to face the new reality – the arrival of Slovak, Hungarian and Valachian (Olachian) Romanies from Slo-vakia, who were „qualitatively” different, culturally and socially backward, coming mainly from eastern rural areas, sub-ethnically and linguistically different. Their arrival into the Czech regions has caused the cultural shock and in culturally, economically and so-cially more developed area of the Czech part of State, Romanies themselves caused the shocks and according to the contemporary, scandalous the press reports „of-fended the aesthetic sensibilities of Czech citizenship.” Romanies in Slovakia, however, survived the World War II as a group. They were saved by the so-functioning economic ties with the pre-war rural society, high frequency and the fact that the preparation of the „final solution” – genocide of Romanies followed up after the liquidation of the Jewish community. The harassment and persecution of Romanies in the camps, various prohibitions and sanctions have led to the so-cal-led peace building in the newly created Czechoslovakia were entering the impoverished popu-lation as a whole, ravenous, ver-

minous people dying of typhus in bulk, concealed in the woods, when they were fired settlements or they were crouching in shacks and chalets, from which were afraid to come out, completely demoralized without livelihoods without work. As mentioned by the witnesses, Bohemia became for them the promised land. For many of them the departure from Slovakia marked a great hope for a better life. Unorganized and spontaneous migration of Slo-vak, Hungarian and Valachian (Olachian) Romanies to Bohemia very soon turned into the serious problems, which had to respond to the Czech public. In efforts to „national” cleansing of the Czech lands in the ongoing withdrawal of Germans and other persecu-tion is reflected in the so-called Gypsy issues as well as the ele-ments of nationalist intolerance, with a tinge of period contingent accent „asociality” attributed to the entire race, which „flooded” the land of the alleged influx of non-resident travelers, vagrants, plundering the border, in the past accused of espionage and in the new historical conditions did not accepting or „value” of the ma-jority society . From November

Roma from europe


Roma from europe

15, Act № 195 / 1945 Coll. on the applicability of provisions of times Oppression, i.e. the period from 30 September 1938 until 4 May the 1945. This Act repealed, inter alia, the Decree-Law № 223/1938 Coll. and n. the work units and government regulation № 72/1939 Coll. and n. of disci-plinary work camps. In winter, at the turn of 1946 and 1947 was generally expected that radical measures towards the Romanies will be brought to practice on the basis of completion of a draft go-vernment resolution on the con-centration in camps and carried out an inventory of such persons within the meaning of the Act № 117/1927 Coll. The relevant departments were agreed with the procedure against the Roma, demanding only the legislative „treatment” and „cover” by the applicable law, or amendment of the Act № 117/1927 Coll. so as to cover all the Romany population. Although part of the Romanies in the winter months were retur-ning back to their home villages in Slovakia and the number of Romanies in different cities were decreased, did not cease the ac-cumulation of complaints on Ro-

manies, who allegedly harassed and worried residents in the bor-der towns and spas or in Prague itself. The upcoming practices against Romanies in the summer of 1947 was realized only a state-ment, which results were finally reduced to the closest ingredients of safety. According to the census from August 1947 which was the first after the war showed, that out of all 101 190 registered Ro-manies in Czechoslovakia, in the Czech Lands was registered 16 752 Romanies, of which more than 16 000 people were immi-grants from Slovakia. From 1908 municipalities, in which was the Romany diaspora scattered in Czechoslovakia among other po-pulation, there were in Slovakia 1709 of these municipalities, i. e. 89.5%.

The immediate postwar pe-riod in Slovakia in relation to the Romany ethnic group is a conti-nuation of previous policy period as well as a very contradictory and conflicting transition to new solution. The label „asocial per-sons” masked the ethnic and ra-cial discrimination of Romanies still in the wartime Slovak state, but also applied in the immediate

post-war period, as in assigning these people to labor camps. The situation in Slovakia, especially in its eastern region, was deter-minant for continuing manifesta-tions of deep social conflicts, eth-nic and racial hostility. It was re-fleted into the strongly existential social and economic problems of the Romanies in the „original” addresses, which pressure could by only partially mitigated with the beginning of elemental mi-gration in Bohemia. In Slovakia, and especially Eastern, the Ro-many issue unfolded throughout the state. The different condi-tions, experience and results of daily practice resulted in natural processes of civil service, grop-ping and searching how to cope with the new socio-economic conditions with this undesirable phenomenon of different cultural and social group. The denial of ethnicity, non-acceptance of the Romany community as a distinct ethnic minority in the dimensions of the political and legal status of nationality, not only in the imme-diate postwar years resulted in the solution of so-called Gypsy issu-es as a social issue and cultural upliftment of socially backward, while de jure non-existent pe-ople. While the Czech authorities perceived the Romany migrants as „foreign” and „non-resident”, the Slovak administration at all levels had to deal with the issue how to proceed in the new cir-cumstances in dealing with „their Gypsies”. The policy was formu-lated against them substantially in the very atmosphere of natio-nalism and efforts to „national”, „class” and „social” cleansing if the Czech and Slovak society and fitted into the context of „na-tional” policy against non-Slavic nationalities, traitors, collabo-rators. Slovak public and local


Roma from europeservice should, as it emerged from the previous development, a number of legal and admini-strative instruments to regulate the movement of the „integrated” Romanies into society and into the work. The Romanies were perceived by the society as an-tisocials, parasites, and the sco-urge of rural areas, hostility and hatred that increasingly margina-lized ethnic minorities located in the expression of acceptance and application of other statutory and subordinate standards against Romanies, often hidden under the anti-migratory and antisocial individuals. The absence and pre-paredness of public service and seize the new conditions and new approaches to comprehensively resolve accumulating a sharply protruding problems with Roma-ny ethnic group resulted in a re-newed anti-Romany policy of the interwar and wartime persecution and significant activity against Roma. There was the continu-ation in the process of further displacement of the socio-econo-mic system sites, particularly the rural areas in Eastern Slovakia, where there was a widening of ethnic and social conflicts. Migra-tion, even if only temporary and repeated, was for the first period of post-war development really only viable option to alleviate the appalling social and existential problems of the Roma population in Slovakia. Although partially the migration itself addressed to existential pressure in the origi-nal settlements, in the target sites almost provoked the new social and cultural conflicts, which has clearly turned against Romanies, particularly in response to action by the Slovak authorities that just encourage many Roma families to leave.

conclusion

Since the war in relation to the Romany ethnic group has gradually been outlined two lines of approach of the public autho-rities and individual citizens. On the one hand, with their procla-imed civil equality, the abolition of discriminatory adjustments arising from the racial theories of fascism, the components of va-rious government levels demon-strated against the Romanies an excessive tolerance, benevolence and compassion in order to help them, the circumvention of the various offenses, criminal offen-ses, justifying violations of laws of their backwardness and low cultural level, fear of accusations of racism and unwarranted con-cessions from their requirements. On the other hand, there was also an quite apparent lax approach of some authorities against them, aversion and rejection, the direct

expulsion from the villages to prevent any return and the es-tablishment in the village, cre-ating obstacles at the obtaining building land in the villages and the like. In March 1952 Com-mission of the Interior issued a directive to adjust the ratio of people of Gypsy origin, in which it was required and assumed the assimilation of the Roma popu-lation not through sanctions, but by the solution to their employ-ment, education, housing secu-rity, re-education through action to change their traditional way of life. The responsibility for an im-plementation of these guidelines would be in the hands of national committees, the implementation of large-scale tasks under these guidelines, however, in regions with high share of Roma popula-tion was not possible for the ob-jective reasons.

prof. dr Vladimír GecelovskýSource: authors archive


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They assist old and weary generations in walking, prepa-ration of meals, going to docto-r’s appointments, cleaning their apartments, listening to them, talking to them and making their old age more pleasant.

At the beginning, the users of such services are distrustful,

insecure and unwilling to accept them. However, when caretakers Miradija, Saha, Enisa, Celebija and others came into families and performed numerous jobs with great attention and responsibili-ty, the users got to know them, loved them and in time began to trust them.

Several strong friendships were born in that way. Caretakers visit their wards over weekends too, to have coffee together and exchange a few words or to bring them all necessary groceries from the market, which works only on Saturday in Beocin.

We visited one user, an el-derly woman from the outskirts of Beocin. We asked her if she was satisfied and this was her reply: “Those women are so har-d-working! I needed this help a long time ago! Thanks to those who remembered us, old people, because there is no one to knock on our doors. My children, she is the only one who opens my door and asks how I am doing.”

The results of the project “Help at Home” are multiple –

heLP foR The foRgoTTen When we are young, we seldom think of transience, old age and illness. But when old age catches up with

us and finds us lonely, we cry for a warm hand that can give us sometimes a glass of water and a kind word or smile. Luckily, there are active associations which know what more vulnerable categories of population, the elderly and weary, need. Citizen association from Beocin “Roma Association Beocin” has provided one hundred persons who needed help with eight geriatric caregivers, who were mostly Roma displaced from Kosovo and Metohija. They finished training and applied to the open competition because they are noble and humane.

“Roma Association Beocin” from Beocin was founded in 2000 with the primary goal to educate and emancipate the Roma population which is high in the municipality of Beocin (the largest national minority which makes approximately 7% of the total population). Its founders were Roma who, together in one organization, wished to solve problems they had and problems they will be having when addressing institutions, on both local and national level.

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Project “Help at Home”


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the project provided a hundred persons with life worthy of a man, but it also brought together local residents and the people who migrated to this territory.

other activities of the association

In addition to helping old and weary persons, “Roma As-sociation Beocin” also helps the education of Roma children and grown-ups, by supporting em-ployment of Roma, providing hygienic care and healthcare and protection, improving housing conditions and preserving lan-guage, culture and tradition of Roma.

We talked with the Associa-tion’s president, Selimi Ramiz, who said: “We can boast about the fact that even though our as-sociation is one of the first NGOs registered on the territory of Vo-jvodina, it is still extremely acti-ve and ready to invest all availa-ble resources in the improvement of the image of Roma in Beocin, Vojvodina and Serbia, in order to contribute to the socialization of our friends, neighbors and fel-low citizens within the “Decade of Roma”. Moreover, in the last

couple of years we paid great attention to introducing Roma to possibilities of employment, training, education, professional training, as well as the necessary education about health.”

The Association’s previous work is characterized by a suc-cessful cooperation with other

associations, as well as an excel-lent cooperation with the local self-government, provincial and republican organs.

In the last twelve years, the Association supported the edu-cation of Roma children in va-rious ways. The results achieved suggest that a progress has been made: all Roma children attend pre-school institutions and ele-mentary school, while a smaller number of Roma students enroll on and finish high school.

Association members are immensely proud that a member of theirs recently graduated from

a faculty and that two university students from Beocin attend last year of studies at the Pre-scho-ol Teacher Training College in Vrsac. They send a clear mes-sage to their nation about the importance of higher education. They also prove to their nation and the majority population that it is possible to acquire faculty diploma.

They do not neglect culture and tradition. Members of this Association successfully organi-ze traditional dance and drama clubs, which include many mem-bers.

They pay great attention to healthcare and education. They organized numerous workshops focused on AIDS, pregnancy, contraception. They realized projects “Let’s Be Healthy” and “My Right – My Health”, as well as seminars: “Roma University Students to Roma High School

Students”, “My Right – My He-alth”, “Roma Women Can Do It”.

Association is also charac-terized by humanitarian work, which is manifested through di-stribution of children’s presents, second hand clothes and food.

Members of the Association have many wishes and goals, but they invest most in the education of children and youth, whose suc-cess makes them the proudest.

Dragana Dimitrov

Project is called “Help at Home”; it is conducted on the terri-tory of the municipality of Beocin and financed by the European Union. Besides “Roma Association Beocin”, the project partners are Novi Sad Humanitarian Center and Center for Social Work from Beocin.

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Self-employment Training


Jovan Nikolic, sportsman

SPoRT – PLAying wiTh heART Jovan Nikolic from Futog, known by the nickname Dudija, which he inherited from his father, finished his

sports career after more than twenty years. In this interview he talks about his beginnings, combat sports he dealt with and problems he encountered. He talks about his retiring with sadness in his eyes. In the end, he gives advice to parents whose children are starting to play this sport, saying that sport is a game, not money and glory.

*When did you start to play sport and how did you decide which sport to play?

In my sport life, I actually dealt with six different combat sports. In 1982, when I was twelve, I started doing judo in “Slavija” Club in Novi Sad. I did judo until 1989 when I joined the army. Besides judo, I did two more martial arts – aikido and jujutsu. But judo was my main sport.

*When did you start playing contact combat sports?

Considering that I was in the army when the war started, I was forced to return home. After I returned home, I did not train for another year. That is when the problems concerning

weight started and that encour-aged me to start training again. I went back to judo; however, my ’87 knee injury prevented me from successfully continuing this sport. The injury required an operation. However, at that time a few of my friends had similar problems and since the situation in medicine was not great then, they had to quit their sports careers after operations. That is why I didn’t want to get surgery. It was right then when kung-fu full contact club “Mladost” opened in Futog. I was curious, so I visited them at the beginning and observed their trainings. They seemed interesting. My attention was primarily drawn to a good training process before the tech-nical part of the training. Prepa-ration for trainings was very complex, so I decided to play this sport primarily to regulate my weight.

I have to admit that I have never been attracted to contact, striking sports. In judo, aikido and jujutsu there is no contact, i.e. hitting. However, as the time passed, my friends from the club tried to persuade me to put on my boxing gloves, but I was constantly rejecting them. My first coach Milovan Drob-njak and Dragan Vukicevic, karate master, also insisted on that and managed to convince

me. Since I was doing judo, I was very movable and flex-ible, because judo is another name for gymnastics, as I like to say it. That mobility and flexibility proved to be my major advantages in contact sports. After four months of training, I had my first match. It was the state championship in class B in Kikinda. The coach and my friends from the club persuaded me to go again. I was a bit afraid. First I was afraid of hurting anyone too much, but I was also scared for myself. However, I somehow managed to overcome that double fear and I got into the match. I won, but, to be honest, I have no idea how I managed to do that. When I got home with the golden medal, my family was in shock, because they knew that I always avoided aggression and fighting.

After that, I immediately went to class A, together with all well-known names of our national team. At the state championship in Leskovac, I wasn’t successful in the first two rounds, but I won in the third by knockout.

*When did you get to like this sport?

After those two victories, I got really interested in that

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Jovan Nikolic with the award “Sportsman of the Year 2004”

Successfull Roma


sport. I realized that I was able to win, that I got the potential and I decided to continue, to see how good I was in all that.

When I left the army due to the situation our region was going through, which was considered an absolute disgrace, especially in my village, I joined the army again. I was sent to Svilajnac. I asked for deployment to any place near Belgrade, so that I could train. First, I was trans-ferred to Jakovo and then to the General Staff in Belgrade. I first started training in Crvena Zvezda’s club Delija. However, I did not like the atmosphere on those trainings and in the club generally, so I went to kick box club Zemun from Zemun, because that was the best club in the country, besides Zvezda. It was not easy there, but it was far better than in Zvezda and I stayed in that club.

The club’s management accepted me wholeheartedly. Everybody knew me as Lala (a nickname for a person from Vojvodina) who performed a complete miracle in the last two matches and won in knockouts.

I immediately became part of our national team. My third match was on the champion-ship of Balkans and I won a gold medal for the national team. During the match, I broke an arm, hand, but I did not want to give in. I fought until the end and won. I am naturally stubborn, but patriotic feeling also won in me, because I was fighting against an oppo-nent from Turkey. How could I go before my fellow Futog citizens, if I gave up? No, I couldn’t to do that and I didn’t want it. Luckily, I won. Right after the winner was declared, I was taken to the hospital, where they put me in plaster.

I went to Serbia as the cham-pion of Balkan and everybody knew it. My friends and parents were still amazed considering that they knew that I was never aggressive in any way, not even as a child.

*Although you were very successful, your friends from the club in Zemun did not really accept you?

It is true; I wasn’t really accepted in Zemun. In the first six months, they harassed me and disparaged me, because I was a new guy on their court and that bothered them. It was unpleasant, because I had a goal and they did not stop me in reaching it. Training condi-tions were great. I was lucky to work with coach Mica Mark-ovic, who unfortunately died in 1999.

When I got there, he couldn’t believe that I, looking all “clumsy, bulky and dispro-portional” and at the same time a Lala, managed to knock out an old successful champion from Leskovac. New guys in combat clubs never had an easy time, but it is well-known thing. “New meat, it needs to be tested”. I knew all that, and I didn’t give up; still, it all went for too long, and I decided to rebel and fight back. The club’s management was by my side, because they recog-nized that potential in me that could replace Zoran Sijan, who is even now the synonym for Zemun, but also the synonym for Serbian boxing. Maybe that was one of the reasons why they felt such aversion to me.

Coach Mica Markovic once asked me: “Son, do you want to be the world champion?” I gave him a rather bold reply: “Is that some sort of a joke?”, considering everything that was happening to me. Markovic just laughed and said that he was asking me that with a reason, because he saw what others were doing to me and I was still regularly attending my train-ings. Not everyone can do that. I remember, he told me that I

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Medals and awards of Jovan Nikolic

Successfull Roma


radiate “champion energy and spirit”. After that, we started training more seriously. Then some real matches and chal-lenges came.

I won two state champion-ships and two European cham-pionships together with my club colleague Milomir Jocovic who was heavy category, while I was super heavy. We are the only ones who managed to win two gold medals in two catego-

ries – full contact and kick box, in one year.

*Shortly after that, the public was shocked by the fact that you were retiring. What really happened?

As a four-time state cham-pion and two-time European champion in amateur sport I was able to fight for the title of a Euro-Asia champion. I wasn’t ready then. I had family prob-lems who significantly affected me. However, since that kind of opportunity had not been offered in Serbia before, after only a month of training I fought in a match for purely patriotic reasons. And that almost killed me. I had a skull fracture and a jaw fracture. An entire chaos started. I did not eat for forty three days. It was a real hell.

While I was lying in the hospital, the public in Serbia already wrote me off as a sportsman. Still, the stubborn-ness in me won again. Even though my muscles atrophied, my body was in terrible shape and I was barely walking, I did not give up. I slowly started eating and gaining strength. After I left the hospital, I started training alone and nobody knew that. I ran across my Futog forest for so many times. I can still remember the number of trees on my path – ten thousand and eight hundred and fifty.

After three months I started going back into shape. I founded my own kick boxing club “Faraon Futog”. When my application for the world championship arrived, people from the world of boxing were surprised. They thought that someone was making a joke.

However, I went through all necessary checks with Dr. Srdjan Soldatovic in Sports Clinic and got a confirmation that I was ready to continue my sport career.

That year, in 1995, I lost in the finals from Vladimir Klicko, one of the biggest names in world boxing, on the World Championship in Ukraine. That, honestly, demoralized me.

*In addition to three disci-plines you mentioned, you also dealt with classic boxing. What results did you achieve in that discipline?

In 1996 I started training classic boxing in which I was also successful. That was the time of my biggest successes. I was practically unstoppable. I have been the state champion for thirteen times, two-time Balkan champion, two-time European champion, one time third and one time second in the world. I won world’s title in 2001 in Belgrade and I became the professional champion of Europe in 1999. I fought in front of my Novi Sad fellow citizens to become professional cham-pion of the world, but, unfortu-nately, I lost. I was chosen to be the sportsman of the year 2004 together with Jasna Sekaric. I was voted the best technician of super weight boxers in Europe and the fastest super weight boxer in the world.

After the bombing in 1999, I spent some time at my sister’s on Cyprus. I was also training there just to get rid of all the negative energy. However, when they saw me boxing there, they wished me to box for their country. I spent three years

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Successfull Romaboxing for Cypriot national team. I’ve been the champion of Cyprus twice. I’ve done full contact for Serbia and I’ve been the champion of Serbia, Europe and the world in that category. I played for Republika Srpska in the discipline of kick boxing and I’ve been world’s champion in that category too.

*Why did you decide to finish your sports career?

The way sportsmen were treated in Serbia at that time was not very good. It hurt me. I did not become a sportsman to earn money. It was an honor for me to play for my country. The only thing me and my colleagues asked for was respect. However, we did not have it.

In my ten-year old club I helped stray children return to the right way. It was my honor, and my pleasure to say it, that I helped five guys overcome their heroin addiction. When it was hard for me, I would ask my colleagues and institutions for help, but I only got promises.

One night young men, members of my club, had a fight in a disco. My fellow citi-zens condemned me for it. I was really hurt by that, consid-ering that I didn’t teach them to do that. I taught them to be sportsmen, honorable and fair. And if they had any problem, they should not solve it on their own with fight, but that they should come to me because I would help them to solve it. I told them: “You should be pride of your town, club and family, my pride. Because I am respon-sible for you.”

The next day, after that

fight, I was visibly annoyed at the training. I criticized them. I remember that they told me that it did not matter to be a fair sportsman, when I had been so successful for years and yet no one respected me, not even in my own town. I was so saddened by that that even now I would cry when I remember it. I came home. With tears I told my wife that I could not do it any longer, that she should pack and put away my sports stuff and I said goodbye to my career. That was in 2005. This has been my third interview since.

They called me a few times to reopen the club. I did not want to, because it didn’t have any meaning. When I think about it, it really hurts, because I did everything with my heart, and no one respected it.

*What is your message to the children who are starting to play sport and to their parents?

Nowadays, when people meet me, acquaintances and friends whose children are playing sport, I always tell them they should direct their children toward sport but not toward kick boxing. They are confused because I promote the sport I played in a negative way, but after I explain them what things that sport brings, the confusion is gone.

For the earliest age, I suggest swimming, water polo, and athletics. When it comes to combat sports, aikido is the best. Aikido is a martial art which develops children’s motor skills, coordination and psycho-logical power. So, it is what a child needs the most. When he

grows up and becomes aware of himself and his possibilities, he will decide whether he will stay in that sport or opt for another type of combat disciplines.

Nowadays parents often make mistakes, because they are trying to find a sport to “make money” from their child, more precisely a sport that is the most profitable. I witnessed that countless times and it is really wrong. You see, I have six chil-dren. My eldest son, who is 16, does not train any sport and is not attracted to any sport and I support that. Unlike my father, who forced me to become a football player, because he was very good at football. That forcing killed all interest in me for all kinds of team sports. So I chose individual sports. And that is a real example of how forcing brings no results.

We should let children play, because sport is a game in which a child develops physically and mentally. Unfortunately, I no longer have time to play. I wish the situation was different and that the country had a different relationship with sportsmen. Now the time has come for me to focus on my family, which I often had to put on the second place, because of the sport. Now I am trying to fix that.

Dragana Dimitrov

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