(Roma) Heroes in Theater, Education and Everyday Life Erasmus Project

Project Title

(Roma) Heroes in Theater, Education and Everyday Life

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Romas and/or other minorities; Inclusion – equity; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Prior to the project, there was no initiative outside Hungary in which Roma and non-Roma peer trainers brought the diversity and challenges of European Roma communities closer to their peers through the heroes of Roma dramas, highlighting the values ​​of Roma culture – strengthening the positive identity of Roma youth, improving the image of non-Roma youth about Roma, and strengthening openness to active citizenship in both groups. The ethnic and gender diversity of the young people participating in the training, their interest in theater, social issues and Roma communities were important to us. It was equally important to see if young people had the basic skills (e.g., communication, openness, relationship-building skills, creativity, team spirit) along which they could become successful trainers during their training. Finally, 28 young people were able to take part in local trainings.
The first meeting took place in Italy, where the partner countries presented their context and methods, on the basis of which an outline of the methodology was compiled. Its final form was born over the summer, including artistic, educational and psychological backgrounds, the contexts of the different countries regarding Roma communities, a comprehensive picture of European Roma theater, the structure of the pilot workshop and other relevant aspects that could be useful in further developing of peer trainers’ training and methods.
At the end of August, a 5-day-long training was held for the staff in Bucharest, where we examined aspects of training and selection of peer trainers as well as possible methods for the workshop.
During the autumn, all partners started to select peer trainers, and at the end of the autumn and in the winter, the selected trainers took part in several days of training in each country.
The international training for the youngsters took place in Budapest in February 2020, where 24 people took part instead of the planned 16. Here, in addition to the training about basic skills of a trainer, the leaders of each partner held workshop modules, and the youngsters also presented their workshop plans for each other and they also formulated feedback and development suggestions. Each country’s peer group prepared their own workshop plan. The workshops to be held by peer trainers would have taken place in the spring, but due to the obstacles caused by the pandemic, a significant part of the workshops took place only later. Eventually, workshops were held in all countries. Instead of the 8 workshops undertaken and 120 participants led by peer trainers, 18 workshops were finally held with a total of 236 participants.
The collaborative, communication, creative and intercultural skills and coaching competencies of the young people involved have developed. Interethnic groups also led to an increase in their social awareness for all participants. It strengthened the positive identity of Roma youth and improved the image of non-Roma youth about Roma.
The aim of the project was, on the one hand, to promote social inclusion and acceptance towards Roma groups. The Roma Heroes workshops provide knowledge through Roma dramas, dramatic heroes and social themes raised in the dramas, and as at least one of the trainers who held the workshops was Roma, they also provided an opportunity for a personal meeting. Personal encounter has proven to be one of the most effective tools for shaping attitudes. Moreover, the participants did not meet with the members of the given group to “sensitize” them directly, but to help the dramatic heroes, or their own heroes, to present and process their own heroic deeds. As the workshops focused not only on the challenges of the Roma heroes but also on their active role, and in parallel on the heroes in and around the participants, the emphasis was on basic human connections and values.
In parallel with the training of peer trainers, the consortium leader also provided training for university lecturers – participants in the two courses could mix and participate together in some modules. The Roma dramas, the interdisciplinary themes that appear in them, as well as the possibility of processing these themes and dramas can be the focus of seminars held in many university disciplines. Thus, the themes and tools of Roma Heroes are relevant not only to young people but also to the academic field. In the recent period, nearly a dozen university courses related to the topic have been implemented. We consider it important to cooperate with formal education, and especially with universities that educate the intellectuals of the future, the multiplier effect of which cannot be overemphasized.

Project Website

https://independenttheater.hu/en/roma-heroes-in-theater-education-and-everyday-life/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 86816 Eur

Project Coordinator

Nok a Jovoert Egyesulet & Country: HU

Project Partners

• Asociación Cultural por la investigación y el desarrollo independiente del teatro profesional en Andalucía
• The Roma Actors Association (Giuvlipen)
• Rampa Prenestina