Latcho Dives

This program is aimed at survivors of the genocide against the Roma in nine countries: Belarus, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine. These people frequently live in poverty, are socially excluded and marginalized as well as discriminated against. The EVZ Foundation gives survivors access to existing medical, social and other services. In this way, they and their relatives suffer less material hardship and their health is more stable. They participate in social life and feel valued. Until recently, the survivors of the genocide against the Roma were among the "forgotten victims" of National Socialist persecution. There is hardly any support for them, either in their home countries or internationally.

These objectives are to be achieved with various project activities:

For the immediate needs of elderly roma:

Activities to improve the physical and mental health of survivors
Advice and support for access to state benefits
Services which help survivors in their daily lives according to their needs
Opportunities for social participation, in particular for less mobile or non-mobile survivors

For the strengthening of families, helpers and carers of the elderly roma:

Training and counselling for nursing relatives, voluntary helpers and professionals
Advising and mentoring local Roma leaders, self-organizations or initiatives in the administration and implementation of social projects for elderly Roma
Activities to improve cooperation between experts and local organizations, administration, etc.
Strengthening of the local Roma community, especially relatives of survivors, e.g. by vocational training with subsequent employment in the project; support for self-sufficiency with agricultural products

Comprehensive support for 80 survivors of the genocide of Roma in Belarus

What does the EVZ Foundation intend to achieve with the project?

The living conditions of elderly Roma survivors in the Belarusian regions of Gomel, Minsk, Bobruisk and Mogilev are to be improved by material aid such as food, hygiene products, medicines or heating material. Legal advice makes for easier access to health, social and legal services for survivors and their families. Spiritual counseling and an emergency phone help to stabilize their mental health. The dialog between generations and the willingness to help within the Roma community is promoted by historical eyewitness interviews and the deployment of volunteers. Enhanced interaction between the Roma and the majority society as well as a newly established website, increase recognition and respect for the Roma national minority.

Who’s involved, and who does the project reach?

The Roma self-organization "Romano Drom" from the Gomel region provides multifaceted support for approximately 80 survivors of the genocide against the Roma in 16 Belarusian municipalities. The young Roma volunteers involved in the project receive training in elderly care and legal matters. Representatives of the majority society meet living historical eyewitnesses, visit public commemoration events and thus learn about the history and culture of the Belarusian Roma.

Why is the Foundation supporting this project in particular?

In recent years, this project sponsor has developed from a small initiative into a professional NGO. It enjoys a high degree of trust among the Roma communities in more and more Belarusian regions. The implementation of the project is the only possibility for the EVZ Foundation – especially in times of pandemic and on account of the difficult political situation – to provide need-based and survival-oriented aid to the elderly Roma.

Project sponsor: Romano Drom
Duration of the project: 2021 - 2023
Funding amount: EUR 55,000
Funding country: Belarus

Advocacy Coalition for the rights of elderly Roma in Serbia

What is the EVZ Foundation aiming to achieve with this project?

There are local action plans for the inclusion of Roma in Serbia in order to improve the living situation of elderly members of the Roma community. A new national action plan and a national strategy for inclusion of Roma are currently being developed. The findings and recommendations from the project activities will be incorporated into them.

Who is involved in the project, and who is it reaching?

Three Roma self-organizations and a network of 17 (pro) Roma organizations are taking part in the project. Local and national stakeholders are reached, as well as political bodies dealing with social civil and human rights and equality of elderly people in Serbia.

Why is the EVZ supporting this particular project?

The project sponsor has produced a report on the current life situation of older Roma, in particular survivors of the National Socialist genocide, and has also formulated political recommendations for action. They have good access to civil society and government stakeholders, as well as a number of years of practical experience in planning and implementing advocacy projects. This is reflected, among other things, in an invitation from the National Commission for the Equality of Older People and the Strengthening of Intergenerational Dialog to present the results of the study as well as its recommendations there.

Project sponsor: Roma Forum Serbien
Duration of the project: 2020-2022
Funding amount: 92.920 Euro
Funding country: Serbien
Website: rs.org.rs/en/elderly-roma-between-transitional-and-social-justice/

Social inclusion, counselling and humanitarian aid for survivors of the genocide against the Roma in Slovakia

What does the EVZ Foundation intend to achieve with the project?

The quality of life of survivors of the genocide against the Roma from Eastern Slovakia will be improved by individual counselling and easier access to medical and social services. Those in need, often home-bound elderly people, also receive reimbursement for urgently needed medical services as well as hygiene items. In addition, the publication of five audio or video interviews with survivors is intended to anchor the persecution fate of the Roma more firmly in the consciousness of the local public.

Who’s involved, and who does the project reach?

The organization ETP Slovakia looks after approximately 255 survivors of the genocide against the Roma in 32 municipalities in Eastern Slovakia (Prešov, Košice and Banská Bystrica regions) by providing social, medical and legal counselling during home visits. The project staff from local administrations or supporters and helpers receive training, whereby the aim is to give them greater sensitization in order to the target group. Furthermore, they will be prepared for the development and implementation of their own sustainable project activities in the future (social and educational services for disadvantaged, socially excluded Roma).

Why is the Foundation supporting this project in particular?

ETP Slovakia can rely on a large network of social centers and aid organizations and on contacts with municipal social workers; this makes it possible to reach people from the target group who are in need of help. This organization also has a great deal of experience in promoting projects for the benefit of Roma survivors, successfully advocating for their interests and contributing to social inclusion between the Roma and the majority society.

Duration of the project: 2018-2022
Project sponsor: ETP Slovakia - Centre for Sustainable Development
Funding country: Slowakia
Website: www.etp.sk