The objectives of the project were: - To counter intolerance and discrimination against Roma communities by promoting self-narrative through the media; - To train 15 adults (30-50 years old) from the international Roma community in the world of information, storytelling, media-related digital skills and networking, making people from the Roma community active protagonists of information. - To produce a manual in several languages with the basic rules of journalistic communication; - Improve the access of Roma organisations to the Erasmus+ programme.
The decision to participate in this project come from the need to address anti-Gypsyism and improve the representation of the Roma community in the media. Over the past 15 years, the spread of social media and the rise of private television have amplified hate speech and false news against Roma. Due to their marginalisation and low levels of education, the community often lacks the tools to respond to these injustices and counter distorted narratives. This project responded to the need to train Roma adults in digital, interpersonal and creative skills, which are essential for telling their stories in an authentic and positive way and building links with the media. The project also aimed to strengthen the participating organisations in international cooperation, in particular through Erasmus+, by providing them with tools to work internationally. The Serbian and Croatian organisations wanted to gain more recognition from Roma adults in order to improve their work with the community on the ground. This was done by involving some Roma adults in a mobility project, an opportunity often denied to them, but also through events.