Along with the project, the participants set up a Camp, or Tabor, which means camp in Russian (Табор), and is same word as in the name of a 1975 Soviet film Табор уходит в небо, [Tabor uhodit v nebo], or ”Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven” in English. The film shows how Roma packed their carriages, moved from one place to the next, and all the while they sang. Back then the life of a Roma meant that they were constantly on the move from one place to the next. Therefore, all the significant life experiences were shared orally in these fleeting encounters while people gathered around the shared campfire. There Roma updated each others on those who had been born and passed since the last time. In those moments everyone was together, young and old. There the shared history and heritage was passed on. Since the temporary nature of these encounters, was known to all were they always tinged with happiness of meeting loved ones as well as with sadness of parting of ways that inevitably followed.

At the turn of the 20th century this kind of encounters declined rapidly which is why the current project has been such a unique experience for the young Roma. The era of travels and shared campfires may be long gone now, and yet today’s youth build a blazing fire of their own out of colourful flowers they gathered around. In that fleeting moment, the youth from three different countries found not only themselves but were also one with each other’s and with their history. They were blessed with an experience of a lifetime. What they shared in that moment is something no one will ever completely understand. Since no one else knows or understands this history, and as there are no written sources, it is the responsibility of today’s Roma to pass on this cultural heritage. The young people have their own way of doing things that is different from the previous generations, and yet the youth truly learnt something. The age old saying rings true, that each generation must be allowed to make their own way in the world. After all, the youth won’t learn if their parents always do everything for them. The activity during which the youth collected memories and stories from their elders clearly managed to bridge the generational gap somewhat, notably when the stories were returned to the community in the launch party, final event and finally in a wrap-up party. Youths who up until this had never in their lives taken part in any kind of civic action, were now acting bravely together and truly showed themselves. Roma culture is an oral culture, and the youth may not be able to put these stories in writing, but they can live them. They were amazed even by themselves by what they produced, as they were able to create content that was truly meaningful for them. They may not be able to put it in words, but they are able to present it via means of art. They produced a significant presentation with those tools that they have.

In Finland, the Roma communities have preserved traditional manners, notably respect for their elders as well as their visible dresses and jewellery. At the same, the end of nomadic lifestyle in the 1970s, led to the near loss of the Finnish Romani language as Roma were scattered and housed into all corners of the country. Moreover, the Roma youth no longer learn the proper behaviour from their elders, as there are no extended families, or multiple generations living side by side like there used to be. In Finland, the current project has been the first attempt to encourage Roma youth to recognise what is valuable in their culture and history, and to motivate them to preserve and pass it on. According to the little feedback received, this project has been able to raise the self-esteem of the Roma youth by making them feel proud of being Roma. The young participants of the project also became role models for other Roma youth who might dare to join next time.

Amari kultura project was implemented as a cooperation between the Finnish Roma Association (Finland), the Euroopa Romade Foorum Eestis MTÜ (Estonia) and the Public Institution Roma Community Centre (Lithuania). It was a Cooperation Partnership project funded by the Erasmus+ programme in the field of youth.

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For more information about the Erasmus+ programme please visit www.oph.fi/erasmusplus