Educational mediators and schools from the network “Every student will be a winner” celebrated the International Roma Day – April 8
For another year, the educational mediators of the Amalipe CIDT Network will celebrate the International Roma Day – April 8.
On April 8, Roma around the world pay tribute to their victims of World War II. It was declared Roma Day in 1990, during the 4th World Roma Congress of the International Organization “Romano Union”, in honor of the first significant international meeting of representatives of the Roma ethnic group – the First Roma Congress, held on April 8, 1971 in London. In 1992, the United Nations and the Council of Europe, at the suggestion of the International Organization Romano Union, declared April 8 International Roma Day. A Roma anthem and a flag were adopted at the congress. The anthem is the popular in Bulgaria song “Djelem, jelem”. The flag of the organization is a red wheel with 16 spokes on the fields in blue and green. The fields symbolize the sky and the grass, as well as the free nomadic life of the Roma in the past.
Here is how the International Roma Day was celebrated in some places:
Veliko Tarnovo
Amalipe volunteers celebrated International Roma Day on April 8 in the old capital by dropping thirty carnations from the Yantra Stambolov Bridge in honor of the 500,000 Roma killed in the Holocaust during World War II.
Strazhitsa
Educational mediator at the Amalipe Center Irena Mihailova celebrated April 8 – International Roma Day with volunteers from Strazhitsa, discussing the Roma anthem and flag, as well as the biggest Roma holidays for innocent victims who died in the concentration camps during World War II, of which hundreds of thousands were Roma. The main goal of the campaign on the occasion of the holiday is to increase tolerance and trust between people of different ethnicities, awareness of the benefits for all of educational integration and overcoming Roma stereotypes.
Pavlikeni
The educational mediator at the Amalipe Center Stefan Stefanov celebrated the International Roma Day in the village of Varbovka, municipality of Pavlikeni. Together with the mediator Nikola Georgiev distributed information materials related to the holiday, as well as presented a presentation to the volunteers at the center why this day is celebrated.
Balvan village
The students and the parents from the primary school “St. Ivan Rilski” Balvan celebrated the International Roma Day.
Pleven District
Asenovtsi village
In 1992 The United Nations and the Council of Europe, at the suggestion of the International Organization Romano Union, declare April 8 International Roma Day. The Roma anthem and flag were adopted at the congress. On April 8, the world bows to the memory of the Roma executed during the Nazi genocide!
Shumen district
Shumen
The educational mediator Angel Angelov celebrated April 8 with students from PGSSHT Shumen by holding a talk with students on “What is April 8”. The students had the opportunity to tell the story of the International Roma Day – the concentration camps, the genocide, when the First World Congress was held, the adoption of the Roma flag and anthem.
On April 8, Roma around the world say NO to racism, NO to discrimination, NO to war. This is a day of remembrance and empathy, on which an ancient people reminds of their heroism and immortality.
Novi Pazar
In connection with the International Roma Day on April 8, the educational mediator Aldin Stefanov organized a meeting in the town of Novi Pazar with students, to whom he presented a presentation on the upcoming holiday. In this way, students gained knowledge about the history of this date and the traditions that we should not forget.
Varbitsa village
April 8 – International Day of the Roma Community was also celebrated in the village of Varbitsa. An appeal was made for respect, peace and tolerance, because the SUN SHINES EQUALLY FOR EVERYONE. We are all lucky to live in the era of the Roma awakening and to contribute to its happening.
Yambol district
Kukorevo village, municipality Tundzha
Tashka Mutafova once again celebrated the International Roma Day by presenting a presentation on April 8 to children of different ages.
Plovdiv district
Karadjovo village
The residents of the village of Karadjovo, who took part in the celebration of the International Roma Day, made the following appeal through the educational mediator Boycho Kochev: Today is the International Roma Day. A day when our language, anthem and flag are officially recognized. Let’s be proud that we are Roma! Let us be proud of the language we speak – it is so rich and colorful! Let’s be proud of the strong connection and cohesion we have with each other! Let’s be proud of the skin color that sets us apart from others and makes us so exotic. The music we have that has given so much to the world. Let us be proud of our friends, let us be proud of ourselves and let us not forget where we came from and where we are going!
Rozino village
Rumen Karadjov, who is an educational mediator, presented a recital of poems by Roma poets such as Usin Kerim and others, together with children of different ages and volunteers. The event took place on April 8th in the Roma neighborhood of the village of Rozino. The next day there was a drawing competition “How I see myself in the future”. On the same day, a meeting was held with people from different ethnic groups, discussing the topic of “Your identity as a Roma.”
Vratsa District
Byala Slatina
On the occasion of the International Roma Day – April 8, the Center for Community Development in Byala Slatina celebrated the holiday together with volunteers at the Center “Amalipe”. Facts from the Second World War were presented at the event and a wreath with a message was made in memory of the victims. A conversation was held in the form of an interview about their achievements and goals, how the center helped them achieve their dreams. The campaign was titled: “Let’s show that we are Roma”. “What makes us Roma is our empathy for the problems and successes of the community, and what makes us people is showing respect and tolerance for the culture of other nations,” said Larisa Antonova.
Borovan
Alina Arsova, an educational mediator at PGT “Kosta Petrov” in the village of Borovan together with students from different classes celebrated the International Roma Day by making boards on which hung the diplomas for higher education of Roma graduates who graduated from this school. Thus, they motivated the children to continue their development and to strive to prove themselves to society.
Kravoder
The educational mediator Tihomir Georgiev from the village of Kravoder and the United School “St. St. Cyril and St. Methodius ”celebrated the International Roma Day. Together with the students and with the assistance of the municipality of Krivodol they received a wreath and in honor of the dead Roma performed a ritual on the river.
Dobrich District
Krasen village
Selime Alieva – educational mediator at the Yordan Yovkov Primary School in the village of Krasen celebrated the 8th of April, International Roma Day, with volunteers and children paying tribute to the memory of more than 500,000 Roma who died in the Holocaust during World War II. Alieva wished: “Let us make efforts and be together with tolerance and respect for each other, regardless of our ethnic faith!”
Village of Preselentsi
The week of April 8 was opened at the Vasil Levski Primary School in the village of Preselentsi. Educational mediator Incegül read several poems by Roma writers and playwrights with teachers and parents.
Dobrich Youth Center
On the International Roma Day – April 8, the strong messages of the poet Usin Kerim come to life with the exciting words of young people, volunteers to the Youth Center – Dobrich.
Staro Oryahovo
The students from “St. St. Cyril and Methodius ”in the village of Staro Oryahovo celebrated the International Roma Day on April 8.
Rousse district
Municipality of Slivo Pole
In the municipality of Slivo Pole, Rousse district, the International Roma Day was also celebrated – April 8. A board with materials and information about Roma culture was prepared. With a minute of silence for the victims of the Holocaust of Roma origin and the laying of flowers in the Danube River near Ryahovo, the municipality of Slivo Pole celebrated the International Roma Day. The first official celebration in Bulgaria of the International Roma Day was in 1991.
Byala
Twelfth-graders from the Vocational High School – Byala, district Ruse celebrated April 8 – International Roma Day, with the preparation of a board and a talk related to the history of the Roma.
Sofia district
Dupnitsa
The celebration of the International Roma Day was also made by the children of Neofit Rilski Primary School in Dupnitsa. The children read poems to Roma poets and waved the Roma flag in front of the school.