What is your backstory?
I am from the Czech Republic and my ethnicity is Roma. I moved to the UK at 15 years old and started working in the charity sector at the age of 25. I have been doing this work for 15 years now.
We left the Czech Republic as asylum seekers. We were claiming asylum because of the discrimination and racism we faced in our home town and the lack of educational opportunities, due to the elementary school system, which condemns the Roma to a second class education.
How long have you worked for the local community?
I worked for different charities and then opened my own charity about 10 years ago. I started working with Peter Sagar and being involved in cultural events and Holocaust Memorial Day. We held an event about the history of the Roma at the Millin Centre in Benwell.
We also worked together at Cumbric on Coatsworth Road and then at a venue in Gateshead High Street, supported by Integration Station.
Sirak Berhe helped us to make more progress by developing an association and then a community interest company, called the Roma Rights Project.
What does the community group do?
We do lots of different things. We help people with information, advice and guidance. We work with a lot of young families, adults and young people, with whom we do youth work, like music, a homework club and dance sessions.
For adults we do sessions on digital skills, and help them to integrate into society. We give them information about how the UK works. People need to know laws and how to be part of British culture.
We help them to get into education and give them support for training and employability. We now have young Roma people who want to go to university.
We are trying to break barriers and now we have young people getting further education and employment, so breaking the old stereotypes for good.
Can you tell me about successes?
One major success has been our work with Roma women. Previously, they were limited to being housewives and now they are employed and becoming independent in work and education.
Also mental health is no longer a taboo. The women can get support and the situation is improving within the community. They now know that they can get support, they know that people will help them and that it is OK to ask for help and not feel ashamed. A lot of women got help to recover from the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can you tell us about plans for the future?
I want the system to change. I have been doing this work for 15 years and I can see a cycle going round and history repeating itself. I want the Roma to be truly equal and independent and get access to services they need.
I also want to see young Roma having awareness of their cultural background and not lose the Roma language and keep their cultural identity and be proud of it.
I want the community to get the balance right between integrating and being aware of their cultural background. Many young Roma at present are not sure of their identity.
What other initiatives are you involved in?
Along with other communities we have a base in Cruddas Park Shopping Centre, another at Integration Station in Gateshead and a third in Sunderland. The Roma community is getting support.
We work with the university, on post-natal issues, and with the citizens advice bureau. We also liaise with different charities and work in partnership.
We have developed a poster and a leaflet, which is now in Gateshead Library and even the National Archives!
Which other organisations do you work with?
We work with the local council, and other communities, such as the local Sudanese, Iranian and Rwandan communities.
We work to help people, like Feeding Families, and Fair Share and distribute food to families.
Why is the work of the Roma Rights Project important?
Families can now integrate into wider society and be equal, get support and get education. We are helping the Roma to give back to society, because we are grateful and want to give back.
What is your vision for the Northeast and the country as a whole?
I would like to see everybody have peace and to support each other. I would also like to see us support different cultures instead of being against each other. I would like to see us all work together.
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