8 April – World Roma Day

The awards for literature works related with Roma presented

Within the activities of the project for marking 8 April – World Roma Day, implemented by MCIC, FIOOM and a group of Roma civil society associations, five primary school students and five high school students have been awarded with books and a free summer holiday in one of our summer tourist destinations. The awards were presented by Dragan Nedeljkovik from the Ministry of Education and Science, which was involved in the activities and announced a literary contest in the month of March at 20 primary schools and 22 high schools on subjects related with conditions of Romas, thus becoming part of the current efforts of Macedonia and the Roma civil sector for improving the Roma integration within the Roma Integration Decade (2005-20015). The works were marked by the Ministry of Education and Science representatives, representatives from the primary and high schools and civil society organizations.

“I received an award for my composition on “Romas in the 21st century – how they live and how other se them”. When I was writing, I was guided by my conviction that everyone should be given equal opportunities for education and for expressing their qualities. In my school there are Roma children, and I have been together with them since primary school. I know that one of them has always ended the year as excellent student with highest marks. However, the finances are a big problem for continuing the education of all Romas”, said the awarded Milena Pagovska, III year at “Aco Ruskovski” High School in Berovo. Olivera Doneva, I year at “Ljupco Santov” High School in Kocani, was also very pleased with the award she received for her work: “It is the first time that I write about Romas. Under the title “Who invented the holidays”, I chose to write about a young Roma girl who expresses her most honest wishes for the future. The girl in the composition is based upon a real character who has been a friend of mine since my earliest childhood. Her desire to continue the education was huge, besides the financial problems. Everyone deserves to accomplish their goals in life!”.

Awards received one student and one mentor from the following primary schools: “St Cyril and Methodius” – Skopje, “Hristijan Todorovski – Karpos – Kumanovo, “Vanco Prke” – Delcevo, “Dimitar Vlahov” – Stip, “Goce Delcev” – Tetovo, as well as from the high schools” Josip Broz Tito” – Skopje, “Dimitrija Cupovski” – Veles, R.J.Korcagin” – Skopje, Ljupco Santov” – Kocani and “Aco Ruskovski” – Berovo. The selected works will be published in a special multi-language edition that will be distributed to all libraries in the countries.

 

D.M.