Since practically our beginnings, we have participated in European competitive calls projects, to contribute to overcoming the triple exclusion suffered by Roma women (by gender, ethnicity, and educational level).
The work carried out in some of the European projects that we have coordinated has been recognized by the European Commission through different distinctions such as the Gold Award Grundtvig, Success Story or Good Practice Example.
On November 30, 2019 took place the XVIII Roma Women Students Gathering of Catalonia, This year, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the organization, it has been celebrated in a special way.
The Gathering was held in the Paranimf Hall of the historical building of the University of Barcelona, a very special and emblematic hall that was also Roma during that day.
More than 300 Roma women from different parts of Catalonia, neighborhoods and cities participated, such as Font de la Pólvora, Figueres, Girona, Tortosa, Amposta, Reus, Tarragona, Camp-clar, Barcelona, Sant Adrià de Besós, San Roc, Hospitalet de Llobregat, El Prat, Badalona, etc. They met with the aim of sharing and reflecting on the educational improvements that will contribute to the educational success of our community.
The day began with the inaugural round table, with the presence of Ms. Ana Contreras, president of Drom Kotar Mestipen, Dr. Mercè Puig, Vice Rector of Students and Language Policy of the University of Barcelona, and Mr. Ramon Vilchez, head for the Program of the Integral Plan for the Roma People of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Dr. Jesús María Prujà, Head of the Office of Access to the University of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and Ms. Ana Lebrón, President of the Federation of Cultural and Educational Associations of Adults (FACEPA).
Ramón Vilchez, responsible for the Program of the Integral Plan for the Roma People of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Dr. Jesús María Prujà, Head of the Office of Access to the University of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and Ms. Ana Lebrón, President of the Federation of Cultural and Educational Associations of Adults (FACEPA).
Followed by the conference “Educational advances for the Roma woman” by Dr. Jelen Amador and the panel of speakers with the participation of Ms. Raquel Sánchez, Medical Student at the University of Pompeu Fabra, Ms. Amparo Santiago Luque, Psychology Student at the University of Barcelona, Ms. Manuela Cortés Fernández, Mare de la Salamanca and Ms. Manuela Cortés Fernández, Mare de la Salamanca and Ms. Amparo Santiago Luque, Psychology Student at the University of Barcelona. Manuela Cortés Fernández, Mother and daughter, with a degree of access to the University for people over 45 years old, Mrs. Sara Santiago Sánchez, Student of Nursing at the University of Barcelona, Mrs. Cidipe de Sa Cuaresma, Mother and daughter, working and in the process of literacy and Mrs. María Cortés, Graduate in Pedagogy at the University of Barcelona.
All of them explained their experiences in the educational path, motivating and encouraging the youngest and all women to achieve their goals, fulfill their dreams and together continue to overcome the barriers that we can find along the educational path.
Afterwards, the working groups were held, where the participants were able to contribute their reflections, improvement actions, experience and the will to continue building a successful educational path for our town.
To conclude the day, the conclusions of each of the working groups were shared and we had the performance of the singer Montse Cortés.
El Diario Feminista
“Las mujeres gitanas queremos que los profesionales no decidan por nosotras”
Link
Catalunya Ràdio
“Jelen Amador, doctora en Sociologia: “La universitat no m’ha fet menys gitana i tinc més eines per defensar la comunitat”
Link
RTVE
Catalunya Informació
🔴🔉 Només el 0,8% dels membres de la comunitat gitana arriben a la universitat. Elles, ho han aconseguit.
L'Associació de dones gitanes @DromKotar les ha reunit a la 18a trobada d'estudiants gitanes de Catalunya #educació #societat https://t.co/2y1vL1IDxT pic.twitter.com/iQfxO0l310— Catalunya Informació (@Catinformacio) December 1, 2019
El diari digital de l’acció social a Catalunya:
“La universitat no m’ha fet menys gitana i tinc més eines per defensar la comunitat”
Alumnes gitanes animen a estudiar per “trencar barreres” i construir un sistema educatiu “més plural”
Link
Museu virtual del poble gitano
Las mujeres gitanas hacen suya la Universidad de Barcelona por una tarde con la voluntad de que sea para siempre.
Link
The RTransform project is coming to a close, and to this end we moved to Brussels on 7 September, to share the achievements achieved in these three years, the dream of bringing Roma Students’ Meetings from Catalonia to more territories became a reality, Roma women from Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, together with our entity, held these meetings in their territories, achieving changes in the education system and empowering Roma girls and women to continue to form despite the barriers that we find in society.
This time we in the European Parliament will share the results and impact produced by this project.
Our Association also works in networks and participates in different organizations related to the Roma community, adult education and the fight against gender violence at regional, national and European levels.
Some of these organizations in which DromKotar Mestipen participates are:
Apart from these groups, Drom Kotar Mestipen has participated as a collaborating institution in other European projects and Spanish projects.
At the national level:
Drom Kotar Mestipen is a member of KAMIRA, a Federation of Roma women from Córdoba, Spain. The collaboration has become stronger during the last years, especially with the work of empowering Roma women, and the concern of how to deal with gender violence and human trafficking, which also affects greatly the Roma communities.
At the European level:
Drom Kotar Mestipen is an invited member of three recognized organizations active at the European level, where in each of them the voices of grassroots Romani women are carried.
Outreach, Empowerment, Diversity” Project funded with the support of the European Commission within the Lifelong Learning Programme- Grundtvig”.
Coordinator: European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA).
A step forward “Empowering young people and women from local Roma Communities”. From local Roma Communities” Largely funded through the European Commission’s DAPHNE programme (2013- 2015).
Coordinator: Amalipe.
A mentoring system for Roma women and their professional and educational path”
The MS4ROW project is a European project funded mostly through the Lifelong Learning Program of the European Commission (2013-2015).
Coordinator: Cik Trebnje (Slovenia).
Promoting Roma people’s access to lifelong learning, vocational training and labour market programmes through family training in primary schools” Part of the LifeLong Learning Programme. Funded with the support of the European Commission.
Gender Mainstreaming in Roma Education” LifeLong Learning Programme funded with the support of the European Commission (2013-2015).
Coordinator: Unión Romaní.
Implementing Dissemination, Empowerment, Diversity project for a more inclusive and equal society”. Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission (2016-2018).
Coordinator: European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA).
Overcoming inequalities in schools and learning communities: innovative education for a new century Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) (2015- 2017). EU Horizon 2020.
Coordinator: Rovira i Virgili University.
“Roma Women and the Labour Market” National R&D&I Plan. Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology. Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Women’s Institute (2003-2004).
“The Creation of New Occupational Patterns for Cultural Minorities: The Gypsy Case” The project is part of the Fifth Programme of the European Commission, specifically the programme Improving the Socioeconomic Knowledge Base (2001-2004).
“Roma women and associations in Spain. Challenges and contributions”. National R&D&I Plan. Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology. Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs/Women’s Institute (2004-2006).
Gypsy
Women’s
Association
dromkotarmestipen@gmail.com
+ 34 933 043 000
Carrer Claramunt 4, local 2
08030 Barcelona (Spain)