Our students
Emma and Rasmus visited a fair event called Mahdollisuuksien päivä, where various
possibilities to study and work were presented from the Roma people point of
view. The fair took place on 2nd of November in Pohjankartano School. There
were information desks where various learning institutions and employers told
about the possibilities that they have. There was also a presentation about the
Romani culture.
Our
students felt that they got new information about the Roma people and their
roots. ”They are people like anybody else and equal to all of us. The Roma people shouldn’t be treated in a
different way just because of their background,” they think.
The Romani
minority in Finland
There has been Roma people in Finland since 16th century. Nowadays
their social situation is pretty good compared to many other European countries,
but it hasn’t always been like this. Roma people have been discriminated, and
still there are many things that need improvement.
Romani language gained a minority language status in Finland in 1995.
The status guarantees some rights, but issues like accommodation, subsistence
and education have been problematic. During last decades, also health education
has been important aspect in improving Rome people social status.
The National Roma Forum of Finland (FRF) was
established in 2007 to promote and monitor the realization of
the Roma people’s basic and civil rights. FRF works
against all kinds of racism, anti-gypsisim and discrimination. FRF promotes
Roma culture and Romani language, Roma people’s social integration,
participation in public life and decision making.
(References: romanomission.fi, magma.fi, romanifoorumi.fi)
