About the project:
To strengthen the fight against misinformation and political manipulation of Roma communities in four EU countries, this project will map the production and dissemination of misinformation, fake news and manipulative political messages in segregated Roma communities, conduct empowerment activities and develop communication recommendations to help Roma reflect on the information they consume and critique political messages. The aim is to make Roma more active in democratic decision-making, voting and speaking out in democratic debates. Society as a whole is an indirect target group. The communication part of the project will expose the manipulative actions taking place and show how misinformed people are discouraged from exercising their democratic rights. Roma women are a key target group as the exercise of their democratic rights is even more vulnerable to manipulation.

Direct target groups
– Roma communities in the four countries;
– NGOs working in/with Roma communities Civil society associations or local NGOs working in the field of social services, humanitarian and social activities that can support different forms of community cohesion and civic and democratic participation;
– Media;
– Schools (young people aged 14-18).

Indirect target groups
– Unengaged Roma groups and related non-Roma communities;
– NGOs not directly involved in the project will be reached through the networks in which our partner organisations participate;
– Research institutions in the field of culture and education in relation to the development of cultural learning and capacity building of civil society;
– Teachers, educational institutions, youth organisations, students.
Results
The most important change will be a better awareness of democratic politics among Roma communities and the strengthening of their public action. A prerequisite for this is that they are better informed about the issues that affect their lives, not subject to misinformation and manipulation. They will learn how to receive information from different sources, how to make sense of it and how to become part of the public discourse. Women will be addressed because of the pressures of specific topics (e.g., maternity care) and social roles. The long-term goal is to change the passive role of Roma women. This is achieved by presenting active female roles (and actors) and including women and girls as stakeholders.

Partners:

AUTONOMIA ALAPITVANY – Hungary
ROMEA – Czech Republic
FAGiC – (Catalonia) Spain
Centre Amalipe, Bulgaria

The project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV).