ContextIn 2015, the situation of European Roma communities continues to be critical. Socio-economic strategies will produce limited impact as long as root causes of exclusion: stereotypes and racism are not addressed more assertively, drawing on the power of culture and putting the communities themselves into a position to promote positive self-image, drawing on the rich history of Roma contributions to European culture. PartnersThe Roma Cinema Youth Project gathers 3 organisations working in very different complementary ways on Roma youth empowerment:- Somany (FR)- Romawood (KS)- Phiren Amenca European Network (HR)They identified 3 main problems to be addressed:1/Initiatives from organization tackling the production of collective’s narratives about Roma Culture and identities remain scattered, and often based on stereotypes both negative or positive/exotic as well as produce by non-Roma.2/Many projects youth project are blending Culture with non-formal education but are either -carried out by non-formal education sector "using" art only as a “tool” with rather poor artistic outcome and thus potential of dissemination-carried out by cultural workers / artist lacking pedagogical methods 3/Films, and videos and online new media are a very powerful medium to empower, shape representation and challenging imaginaries. There is today a challenge in developing creative and digital competence of youth workers, educators, trainers, and teachers Objectives of the project *Increase the number of quality transformative spaces, events and screen related projects of all kinds using the power of films/video blended with non-formal education for combating stereotypes and racism against Roma.* Increase the quality of educational programmes designed around those spaces contributing to empowerment, participation of Roma youth and intercultural dialogue, design new tools and methods*Create a supportive trans sector network on this theme to enhance cooperation & cross-fertilization *Challenge the media and cinema’s role in creating (and maintaining) the exotic image of the Roma c and reach out to media, policy maker and other multipliers/ stakeholders’ attention about it.*Put Roma youth in a position to produce, curate and promote audio-visual content showing the diversity and plurality of their own identities and cultureThe strategic partnership has, as a starting point, the unique expertise and resource of the Rolling Film Festival, a festival in Kosovo running since 2009 and broadcasting films made by & about Roma. Along its fourth editions, Rolling Film Festival build up a list of 150 films what became today the richest film database of Film Made by & about Roma in the world.Innovation to be transfer from Romawood Kosovo• A film database of 150 films on various thematic • Know-how on festival / screening organizing especially regarding audience development and outreach strategy involving local Roma communities and “non-audience”• Expertise on how to design meaningful film programmes for various typed audience and especially in context educational context • Expertise on how to design film workshop with Roma & non-Roma YouthTo achieve RCYP objectives, we trans-nationally combine-the unique experiences and ressources of Romawood with RFF-the power of Phiren Amenca's network & expertise on human rights education -the cross-fertilization and cross sector approach of Somany culture / educationTargeted persons directly benefiting from the activities= 325-Roma and non Roma-youth- workers from education/training/ youth sector-Cultural sector workers-Political representative/ decision makers-MediaActivities :3 transnational cooperation meetings1 staff training activity1 intellectual output 2 dissemination eventsSummary of the eToolkit: “Roma youth on screens: a etoolkit challenging Antigypsyism through cinema & Non-formal Education”1/ A detailed film eCatalogue featuring 100 films made by & about Roma2/ How to organize a screening: basics and tips 3/ Roma Audience outreach strategies: examples of good practices 4/ Pedagogical sheet/teaching aids for 10 films combining film resources with description new non formal education activities5/ New / innovative Curriculum of the training course for staff/ youth trainer working on this topic Impact 1/ For Roma youth: benefit from quality trainings, empowerment, self-confidence & price2/ Workers from education field and their organisations: -improve quality of projects, training, and tools and methods-develop capacity in cross-sector cooperation -new tools and methods to blend cultural and educational activities/ creative and digital competences3/ Media, political representative and a decision makers :-be more aware about the need of addressing more assertively held stereotypes about Roma drawing on the power of culture-To question their responsibility in maintaining stereotypes against Roma communities
The situation of European Roma communities continues to be critical in Europe today. The impact of government initiatives and policies will always be limited as long as the root causes of exclusion: stereotypes and racism are not tackled. The project Focus : Roma cinema youth project drew on the power of culture and films to fight for human rights. It is challenging both negative and positive/exotic stereotypes of the Roma communities by promoting grass-roots cinema from inspiring filmmakers. Partners The Roma Cinema Youth Project gathered 3 organizations working in very different complementary ways on Roma youth empowerment: - Somany (FR) - Romawood (KS) - Phiren Amenca European Network / RGDTS (HR) Context The project addressed three main issues 1/Initiatives from organization tackling the production of collective’s narratives about Roma Culture and identities remain scattered, and often based on stereotypes both negative or positive/exotic as well as produced by non-Roma. 2/Many projects youth project are blending Culture with non-formal education but are either -carried out by non-formal education sector "using" art only as a “tool” with rather poor artistic outcome and thus potential of dissemination-carried out by cultural workers / artist lacking pedagogical methods 3/Films, and videos and online new media are a very powerful medium to empower, shape representation and challenging imaginaries. There is today a challenge in developing creative and digital competence of youth workers, educators, trainers, and teachers. And to finish with: independent films offering alternative narratives often are not accessible. Objectives of the project The strategic partnership has, as a starting point, the unique expertise and resource of the Rolling Film Festival, a festival in Kosovo running since 2009 and broadcasting films made by & about Roma. Along its fourth editions, Rolling Film Festival builds up incredible resources that remain mostly inaccessible. The "Focus! Roma youth cinema project" organized, improved, updgraded, developed and disseminated these resources. Specific objectives of the project *Increase the number of quality transformative spaces, events and screening related projects of all kinds using the power of films/video blended with non-formal education for combating stereotypes and racism against Roma. * Increase the quality of educational programmes designed around those spaces contributing to empowerment, participation of Roma youth and intercultural dialogue, design new tools and methods *Create a supportive trans sector network on this theme to enhance cooperation & cross-fertilization *Challenge the media and cinema’s role in creating (and maintaining) the exotic image of the Roma and reach out to media, policy maker and other multipliers/ stakeholders’ attention about it. *Put Roma youth in a position to produce, curate and promote audio-visual content showing the diversity and plurality of their own identities and culture Activities 3 transnational cooperation meetings 1 staff-training activity 1 intellectual output production Description of the intellectual output produced We created on online plateform called " Roma cinema resources center" www.romacinema.org What you will find on the resources center : 1. A database of films featuring 100 films made by and about Roma selected by Roma & non-Roma youth targeting especially the education, film and youth sectors; 2. Education screening kits for 10 films on 9 topic that educators/film professionals can freely download to help design an educational program around the screening; 3 A five-day training curriculum for youth workers; « FOCUS ! Movies to challenge preconception » 4. A Manual " Tips on how to organize film screenings " - 1 international dissemination event in Budapest - Local event in France, Kosovo and Hungary Participants 1490 direct beneficiaries’ : participants to the activities project or visitors on the website 190 000 people indirectly impact by the project Longer-term benefits. -For Roma youth and Roma community: more balance, diverse / fair resources on own ‘culture: empowerment, self-confidence & pride / inclusive elaboration of new narratives -For education (formal and non-formal sectors) and cultural sector: improve quality of work (projects, events, trainings) and cross-sector cooperation / fertilization -For media, political representative and a decision makers: Increase awareness about the need of addressing more assertively held stereotypes about Roma drawing on the power of culture/ art / on majority’s representation and the importance of self-production of narratives