A seminar for the European Roma youth workers was organised by the Finnish Roma Association in Helsinki in September 2023. There were three participants from the Phiren Amenca International Network, based in Brussels, Belgium; two from RGDTS from Hungary; two from Roma Active Albania; and three from Tačka Gledišta, or Point of View Association, from Serbia. In addition, the seminar was not only organised, leaded and facilitated but also participated by four persons from the Finnish Roma Association, including both youth workers and volunteers. 

Objectives of the Seminar

The aim of the project was to organise a seminar where Roma youth workers from different parts of Europe come together to share their experiences and develop their own work. two objectives were set for the project: 1) to share the best practices and learn new methods among youth workers, and 2) to increase the European level of cooperation among youth workers.

Activities

On the first day, the seminar began with various team building activities. Participants had prepared presentations in advance on their organisations with special reference to Roma youth work. They introduced themselves, their organisations and their expectations for the seminar. In the afternoon, participants discussed the major knowledge gaps, needs and challenges of their organisations and the Roma youth work they are involved, and identified the common key problem areas.

On the second day, participants introduced the major strengths of their organisations and their youth work. This led to the identification of the best practices including existing models, schemes, methods, networks, funding sources, and others. In the afternoon, participants assessed what would be the leading organisations in the field of Roma youth work, and made plans on how to survey such organisations for measures and practices in more detail, and how to visit them. They discussed on how to take the leading edge practices and develop implementation plans for their own organisations. The discussion was further stimulated by four guest speakers, notably Dr. Marko Stenroos, Senior Planning Officer at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Päivi Majaniemi, Chair of the Finnish Roma Association, as well as Jasmin Palm ja Angelica Lindberg who are Roma work supervisors for the city of Helsinki at the Haaga Youth Work unit.

On the third day, participants introduced how they establish, nurture and expand their networks in terms of geographies (local-regional-national-European), and with different organisations (Roma and non-Roma civil society organisations, activists, authorities, companies). In the afternoon, they assessed what kind of cooperation their organisations are willing to commit with the other participating organisations and agreed on a future meeting during an European event, to which everyone is planning to participate. They also developed a joint Action Plan.

Results of the Seminar

As to the sharing of best practices and learning new methods among youth workers, the participants agreed that the use of different kinds of incentives is the best way to motivate the Roma youth to become interested in the activities that they might not have been initially interested, and also motivate them to continue their involvement in these activities. Incentives can be in the form of activities (such as special field trips, food, or recreation) or in the form of rewards (such as gift certificates, or certificates of participation). Another good practice is a use of social media. It is how young people connect and engage with others, and organisations can use it to reach more young people online compared to offline. Thus the social media is an important way to give young people answers to their burning questions, share videos on how they can access local support, and educate young people on important topics and causes. Third good practice is a use of role models, which refers to persons whose behaviours serve as an example that influences others, especially young people.

As to increasing the European level of cooperation among the youth workers, the participants recognised that Europe-wide cooperation, participation in European networks and reliance on the EU Roma strategic framework give organisations tools, or even standards, according to which to develop activities in their own countries, despite the fact that the living conditions of Roma are very different and Roma issues are promoted in very different ways in different countries. Furthermore, it was recognised that the membership in European networks, including the Roma youth networks (eg Phiren Amenca, TernYpe) or mainstream youth networks (eg European Youth Forum, Youth Express Network) increases the credibility of any civil society organisation. The latter creates dialogue with non-Roma youth, which is extremely important. However working with other minorities is the most instructive of all. Through European networks, Roma youth can participate in international mobilities that takes them outside the circle of home and their own community and opens up new horizons.

As an outcome of the seminar, a joint Action Plan was developed in order to address the questions of 1) how to involve Roma youth at the grassroots level; 2) how to enable Roma youth’s participation in national Roma policy programs; and 3) how to ensure that the EU Roma Strategic Framework with its great aims in regards to Roma youth does not remain just a statement but leads to an actual implementation.

Good Practice 

The Erasmus+ National Agency awarded Ame Phiras with Good Practice. It is awarded to projects that have been particularly well managed and could therefore be a source of inspiration to others. The final score of the project was 91.0.

The Ame Phiras was a Mobility Project for Youth Workers, implemented by the Finnish Roma Association from Finland and Phiren Amenca International Network, based in Brussels, Belgium; RGDTS from Hungary; Roma Active Albania; and Tačka Gledišta, or Point of View Association, from Serbia. The project was funded from the Erasmus+ programme.

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