A number of projects led by the Donegal Traveller and Roma communities were showcased at a special national Pavee Point event this week.
The event was held to to celebrate community work with Roma in Ireland, including the organisation’s work with Ukrainian Roma refugees – and also fell on the same week as International Roma Day (8th April).
Amongst the highlights of the event were the launch of a new special report on the work that Pavee Point has done with Ukrainian Roma refugees in Donegal, in collaboration with the Donegal Travellers Project.
Speaking at the event, Hugh Friel, Roma Health Coordinator for Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, Donegal Travellers Project, said, “Dedicated peer-led health projects using community development approaches achieve real outcomes and change. Through our project, we have supported 47 Ukrainian Roma families that have been accommodated in Donegal. We have identified issues impacting the local Roma community and fed these back to services, policy makers, the Government and others.”
The short documentary “Sam Rom” was also shown at the event, which features Donegal Roma communities and their experiences of living in the county.
It features Roma from a number of countries, including Romania, Poland and Ukraine. This includes Ukrainian refugees with a particular experience of coming to live in Donegal.
Eimear Heaney, Community Development and Advocacy Worker at Donegal Traveller Projects (DCEDIY), said, “It is important that the stories of Roma in our county and community are told. So we were delighted to showcase them in ‘Sam Rom’. The level of participation we had from Roma in Donegal for the film is a testament to the community and the trust built through community development.”
“Today showcases the important work that’s being undertaken on the ground by Roma workers in partnership with a range of Government and State agencies,” said Lynsey Kavanagh, Co-Director, Pavee Point. “It’s really important that this is built on with further investment in community development infrastructure. This is vital to address the rights of Roma in Ireland.”
“Today is about celebrating positive achievements in our Roma community while continuing to push for a better future,” said Gabi Muntean, Roma Community Worker, Pavee Point. “Community development is a responsive and collective tool. It sees projects build trust with Roma in Ireland who are often marginalised, and experience racism, discrimination, poverty and human rights violations.”
Opening the event, Minister for Equality, Norma Foley TD, said, “Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, with a rich history and culture. This week, we celebrate the culture and heritage of the Roma community living across Ireland. The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024 – 2028 aims to address the disadvantage, discrimination and inequalities faced by Travellers and Roma across a wide range of indicators, including in terms of health, education, employment and accommodation.”
