Everyone has an important role in modern day societies to challenge the stereotypes of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, regardless of nationality, we all have a collective responsibility. Furthermore, it is the duty of Romani people to preserve their identities and I acknowledge that it means something different to every single one of us, as we are Europe’s biggest and most diverse minority group! I was brought up with my mother and my siblings in a small village called Simonfa in South of Hungary. Before starting primary school, my mother told me that I had to study twice as hard than any other child in the classroom. Her advice has stuck with me since. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to become a lawyer, because I wanted to help vulnerable people to provide a platform for their their voices to be heard, to deliver justice to them. At the age of 14, I moved to Budapest to start my secondary education in a Christian high school. Shortly after my final...

My story dates back to more than ten years ago now. For a long while, I lived in love and harmony with my husband and our daughter, but at some point we realised that we do not walk the same paths and we both started a new life. It was a peaceful divorce and we are on good terms even today. Shortly, I got to know a special man who accepted my daughter, accepted my Gypsy origin and with whom we planned our future together. I thought that finally, I have made it, but I was mistaken. Our relationship became too difficult, trust was lost and thus we had to let each other go. Let a loved one go is never easy, but this time, the circumstances made it even harder for us. My spare money was in the house that we had built together and where I could not stay any longer with my daughter. I had no home, no money and no partner, I was alone with a little girl. I had to start again from zero. I did not know how I will pull myself together and how I will get a home without any spare money. ...

The play Profound Dignity  by Sonia Carmona Tapia presents Roma heroes opposing the communist and the Franco-regime. The show commemorates the life of two Spanish women. She tells the life story of Emilia Hernández Rodríguez, the first Gypsy women who was beatified, in 2017, and Gabriela Ortega Gómez, the first Gypsy performing artist who obtained academic qualifications. The two female hero stories unfold paralelly. They both stood up for what they believed in and fought back the current authorities. Through Emilia's story, we can get a glimpse at the Spanish Civil War whereas Gabriela brings us back to the Franco-regime.

"During your life, try to find what you are good at and once you found it do not let it go. Find what fulfils your potential and what makes you happy." I can only recall my childhood from the last year of kindergarten on.   I used to ask where my mother was and why I was there. Only later did I learn that I was born in the sixth month of the pregnancy and my parents thought that I will not survive so they left me at the hospital. Presumably that was the reason, but this is just an assumption, I don't know the truth even today, no one has ever told me. I grew up in a little village in 40 kilometre distance from Debrecen, in Nyírmártonfalva, in a residential foster home in the Reviczky Castle. I finished the first two years of primary school there, then we went to Debrecen. The foster home was in 4 km distance from the village and even there we rarely went so studying in a big city was a huge difference. Settling in in the new school was very difficult as the ...

Most often, I am the one to take my little girl to the kindergarten. The doorman tells the same joke every morning when he sees us: "Where are you running pretty girl, where are you running, the Gypsies will get you and they'll put you in a bag!”  What can the Roma father do or say if in the evenings, his daughter is afraid of the Gypsy taking her away in a bag? What can we do if our children are scared by other people with the false and stereotypical image of their own community's members? What would you do or say if the doorman at the kindergarten planted fear in the soul of your child? Would you raise your voice? And if you did, would your child be present? What would you do if she were present and listened to how others keeps telling mystic hogwash about your community, and thus about you? I hope you will not have to face these dilemmas. Alex Fifea actor, in the play "You didn't see anything" shares a personal confession with us.

A play about a Roma man from Bucharest who lost his life in a police action and whose death was not forgotten either by his community or the creators of the play. They followed up on the court proceedings of the case and did not let the murder go unpunished. The play "You didn’t see anything", directed by David Schwartz and performed by Alex Fifea, presents a real-life detective story. The case caused an uproar in Bucharest and the artists tried as they might to present faithfully what happened and how justice was served.

How can you break out of a Bulgarian ghetto and start a new life whereas you do not forget where you came from? Nataliya Tsekova, in her play "Gypsy Wheels" recounts the memories of a young Roma woman in order to get rid of them and to "turn white". Can we bury our past? What is it like to hide all life long who we are? The play focuses on accepting ourselves and being proud of our identity, and discusses these issues with the help of humour.

I am Ákos Varga, I am 20 years old. After primary school, I continued my studies in Kisvárda. Unfortunately, as early as the age of 14, I have experienced what is it like if you are regarded as different because of your origin. I got into the advanced English/German class of an elite high school with 30 students. Out of 30 students, I was the only Gypsy. A Gypsy coming from a small village whose parents have only finished the 8 years of primary school. It was not easy to settle in. It took me one year to be accepted by my classmates. In the first year, I had to cope with slander and racist comments that were implicitly but undoubtedly addressed to me. Thanks to them did I first have such negative experiences and I say thanks because these offences persuaded me to show the people what I am really like. My story started at a PE lesson, playing football, when my peers shouted to me: "Run, Gypsy!" Suddenly, I did not know what to do as no such thing had happened to me bef...

Photo by Krisztián Maráczi   If we turn to other people as to equal partners, they become capable of much more than they would think. I grew up with seven brothers and sisters. We were never alone, we could always count on each other, we were real tricksters, we were never bored, neither we nor our parents. My childhood was not easy, we had everything but we had to face many difficulties. I would not trade it for anything. I owe a lot to my teachers, there was always someone who held my hand, motivated and supported me. My original profession is house painter, I am one of the best painters, thanks to my teacher of the time, who always inspired me to be twice as good as my peers. For a long time, I could only wash the tools in practice lessons, I did not have the opportunity to show that I can do far more than that. Things changed when me and some of my classmates got a task which we accomplished making our best efforts and our teacher noticed our talent. At the end ...