The Fourth National Women’s Meeting through the eyes of one of the girls with dreams

Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” held the Fourth National Roma Women’s Meeting “Girls with Dreams – Let There Be More Than Three” on November 14-15, 2024, at the Park Hotel Dryanovo in the town of Dryanovo. This time, we want to give you the opportunity to feel the emotion of the event through the story of one of its participants, so you can best understand what happened and what the “girls with dreams” experienced together…

“Hello, my name is Sabina, and I am a girl with dreams!”

This was the motto of our women’s meeting – Girls with Dreams: Let There Be More Than Three! The topics we discussed were related to motivating children to attend school and preventing early marriages in vulnerable communities across Bulgaria. This was the first event of its kind that I had the honor and pleasure of attending. It was so inspiring and motivating that I now feel like the world cannot hold me back! Here, I would like to thank the Amalipe Center on behalf of all participants for the excellent organization and care they put into making us feel good.

Let me tell you a bit more about the event. Our day began with checking into the hotel and the opening ceremony by the organizers from Amalipe Center. Every woman, young lady, and girl there was a role model for us. We learned from one another about what we must go through and fight for to claim our right to be part of society as Roma women. Our motto eventually evolved into – “Girls with Dreams, Let There Be More Than Thirty!”

I must admit that two days were not enough for me! The experience was magical,

filled with emotions, fun, and most importantly, women’s support! I am 18 years old and a first-year student at the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and Methodius,” majoring in Bulgarian Philology, and this meeting motivated me to believe in myself and my dreams even more! It proved to me that there are no small or unreachable dreams and that racial discrimination does not always play a defining role.

These united women’s conversations made me believe even more in the importance of being genuine, true to ourselves, and standing up for our dreams! The women there were heroes, each with her own story, which she chose to share with us to help us draw lessons for life. This is yet another example of the magic that can happen when thirty women come together for two days and become friends. I formed unforgettable friendships, and I already miss you, girls! The Amalipe Center performs miracles because the women there are just as motivated as we are! We want to set a good example for every future generation. In conclusion, I can only wish for myself, the Amalipe Center, and the girls who attended, that next year we will be – Girls with Dreams: Let There Be More Than Sixty! ❤️ Sabina Mateva

The meeting takes place within: