While the newer generations of Roma are dedicated to their education, the older ones are mostly illiterate. At least that is the situation in Kakanj. However, this is slowly changing. With the opening of the evening school, there is an increasing number of those who, for starters, want to learn to read, write and count. There are also those who return to school after 50 years to at least finish elementary school. This initiative came from the Roma Association Center for Mothers ‘Nada’. And this initiative was successful.
Author: Asim Beslija
Zemina Vehabovic, the president of the Association Center for Mothers “Nada”, together with Kakanj police officer Tamara Delibasic, came up with the idea of starting an initiative for the education of all Roma who did not finish elementary school. There are many of them in Kakanj. The older generations mostly dealt with existential issues and did not have money to pay for their education, because they were on the social margins in the past decades. Now it is time for them to make up for lost time and at least learn to read, write, and count.
We presented this initiative in order to encourage women and men to enroll in school in as large a number as possible, those who until now have not even completed elementary school. Some have completed three, some four grades, and some none. A larger number of Roma men and women who are already working but do not have an education have also joined, says Zemina.
People contacted us and asked if there was any effect of enrolling in the school now, and the initiative, after collecting a sufficient number of participants, was handed over to the director of the elementary school “Hamdija Kresevljakovic”, who immediately accepted it. The evening school started last year after a public call to which all interested candidates could apply. Education is free, and the costs are covered by the Ministry of Education of the Zenica-Doboj Canton. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the process was slowed down, but this year it is working at full capacity.
There are 10 people in the first generation, older and younger. They continued the education they have started long time ago. You go to one class for three months. They are happy that they are attending school. There are people who are still in elementary school after 50 years, says Zemina.
The evening school is attended by those who need basic education for work, but also by those who simply want to be literate, so everyone is glad that a project like this has come to life. Even though they are older, they want to at least know how to sign. Many of them have now learned that, as well as counting. In a way, everyone returned to childhood, to the beginnings, to the elementary school desks when children begin to learn alphabet. Last year the number of enrollments was lower, but these numbers are expected to increase as many were late or could not attend in the evening due to work.
Education for everyone
The Center for Mothers “Nada” advocates as much education as possible for the entire Roma population, especially considering that the older generations are falling behind and that this causes practical problems in their lives. Namely, they do not know how to complete many administrative and other tasks on their own, so the Association helps them even with the simplest things. Basic literacy will greatly help them in this, emphasizes Zemina.
When ten of them finishes school, it is something big. People are more literate, they know how to manage, do some work for themselves, administration procedures, and forms. They know how to fill out some forms. Until now, mostly all the work was done for them by others. The Association still helps those who are illiterate, she says.
Today in Kakanj, there is a larger number of members of the Roma community who do not have to wait for someone else to finish their basic tasks, such as registering at the bureau for unemployed persons. Now they know how to do everything themselves. This fact alone leads to the conclusion of the need for more mass literacy program, which would strengthen the community and ensure people the possibility of a more independent life, progress and realization of basic human rights. This especially applies to Romani women who, in any case, suffer multiple discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, the awareness of the need for education among parents who are illiterate has changed significantly. Zemina states that there are families who are having four or more children attending school because they are aware that without education, they cannot have a better future and that they will forever remain at the very bottom of society, on the total margin. Because of this, there is a great desire among the younger generations to continue their secondary education. It costs money, but almost all Roma students have scholarships.
For older generations, evening school is still available, which they can finish for free, and then eventually enroll in high school, which requires financial resources. The main thing is that they are interested in education and that this is a long-term but successful project that benefits the entire society. Older generations want to finish school and often say that if their children can do it, so can they, says Zemina. Despite the fact that they are more focused on survival because most do not have a job and have to work hard for the basic necessities of life.
I would like most of all to include the youth who left school, that they have an education and that they are not illiterate. The goal of the Association is for everyone to get an education, and that as much as possible. Regardless of age, says Zemina.
This material was created within the regional program “Preventing violence against women in the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey: Implementing norms, changing attitudes”, funded by the European Union (EU), and implemented by UN Women in cooperation with civil society organizations. The content of the material, as well as the findings presented in it, are the sole responsibility of the Romani Women’s Association “Bolja Budućnost” and in no way reflect the views of the European Union (EU) or UN Women.
Source: mreza-mira.net
