Remembering the forgotten Porajmos Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFC-REM
Sharing stories from the past,- working towards the future - A meeting between Roma and Jews
Verhalen delen uit het verleden,- werken aan de toekomst - Een ontmoeting tussen Roma en Joden - An exchange on trauma healing and institution building for self-empowerment, held in Ámsterdam, 21 October 2012,
Project report: 1 November 2012
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Radio
La
Leidsestraat
Benevolencija Humanitarian Foundation 106
Tools
. 1017 PG Amsterdam The Netherlands
[email protected] . T +3120 6166599 . +3120 330 8155 www.labenevolencija.org . KvK# 3417658 . VAT#81.1072.423.B.01
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Summary On 21 October 2012 Radio la Benevolencija HTF organized a meeting between Roma and Jewish activists. Radio la Benevolencija is interested in working with the Roma, Sinti and Travellers of Europe as part of its active bystander orientation in the spirit of its ideological archetype, La Benevolencija Sarajevo, i.e as part of working for the creation of a solidarity alliance among all targets of genocide and hate violence - working for self empowerment and mutual aid. In this spirit, ERIO, the European Roma Information Office, asked Radio la Benevolencija to participate in their EU-sponsored program "Remembering the forgotten Porajmos", by creating a workshop in Amsterdam for Roma and Jewish engaged youth, to discuss a topic called "Sharing stories from the past; working towards the future". The goal of this meeting was to compare the Roma and Jewish experience during the Holocaust and the Porajmos and to learn lessons for self-empowerment after World War II. Each participant introduced himself and told about his or her family history. During the program, the participants learned about the history of Jews and the Roma during, before and after the Holocaust and the Porajmos. Orhan Galjus gave a lecture about the Roma history, while Denise Citroen told the story of the Jews. The participants watched video's with the story of Ed van Thijn, a Jewish survivor, and Zony Weiss, a Roma survivor. A very important part of the program was a brainstorm session, where participants discussed in small groups the possibility of cooperation between Roma and Jews in the fields of: - Educational - Holocaust and Porajmos remembrance - The use of media for anti-discrimination - The preservation of cultural heritage
Radio
La
Leidsestraat
Benevolencija Humanitarian Foundation 106
Tools
. 1017 PG Amsterdam The Netherlands
[email protected] . T +3120 6166599 . +3120 330 8155 www.labenevolencija.org . KvK# 3417658 . VAT#81.1072.423.B.01
. F
After the brainstorm sessions, the (sub)groups presented their ideas to the participants and the different aspects of the project ideas where discussed. Participants agreed that this first meeting has the potential for follow-up in the form of working groups who can work on the following issues: A) State of treatment and compensation of the survivors of both groups. Comparative analysis of the legal fight for post-Holocaust compensation- what Jewish organizations achieved and what can be achieved by Roma today. Comparing services for holocaust survivor families available to Jewish and Roma groups: social services and legal services B) The importance of the Holocaust commemoration for contemporary Jewish identity, the importance of commemorating the Porajmos for contemporary Roma identity and trans-national cohesion building. C) Comparative analysis of modes of political organization among Jews and Roma: 1) differences in modes of organization 2) the role of persecution: The importance of persecution in general, and the holocaust in particular for Jewish trans-national cohesion building. 3) Echoes and comparison with Roma efforts: is the Porajmos commemorated in a similar way? D) Set up of recommendations for Roma empowerment based on lessons learned from Jewish empowerment.
Radio
La
Leidsestraat
Benevolencija Humanitarian Foundation 106
Tools
. 1017 PG Amsterdam The Netherlands
[email protected] . T +3120 6166599 . +3120 330 8155 www.labenevolencija.org . KvK# 3417658 . VAT#81.1072.423.B.01
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Invitation Verhalen delen uit het verleden; werken aan de toekomst Een ontmoeting tussen Roma en Joden Sharing stories from the past,- working towards the future - A meeting between Roma and Jews
In het kader van het Europese 'Citizens for Europe' programma organiseert Radio la Benevolencija samen met ondergetekenden een ontmoeting tussen maatschappelijk betrokken Roma en Joodse jongeren. De Roma en Joodse minderheden delen een geschiedenis van uitsluiting, vervolging en genocide. Als dieptepunt geldt de Tweede Wereldoorlog waar leden van beide groepen op grote schaal zijn vermoord. Joden noemen dit de Shoah of Holocaust, Roma spreken van Porajmos. De Shoah en Porajmos hebben diepe sporen nagelaten binnen de twee gemeenschappen, sporen die ook vandaag de dag nog zichtbaar en merkbaar zijn. Hoewel het gaat om twee volkomen verschillende groepen is er een duidelijke gemeenschappelijke verbinding: discriminatie en vervolging. Het doel van de ontmoeting is om te elkaars geschiedenis te leren kennen en te bezien hoe de twee minderheden elk op hun eigen manier omgaan met herdenken en het doorgeven van de geschiedenis van de Shoah en de Porajmos. Bovendien willen we van elkaar leren op welke wijze beide groepen vorm weten te geven aan hun culurele identiteit en er al dan niet in slagen de gemeenschap te versterken en de positie als minderheid in de samenleving te doen verbeteren. Daarbij zullen we vergelijken hoe beide groepen zichzelf organiseren en wat we gezamelijk kunnen bereiken om discriminatie en vervolging in Europa tegen te gaan. De bijeenkomst vindt plaats op zondag 21 oktober 2012 te Amsterdam, van 15.30 tot 18.00 uur, met aansluitend diner. Het programma bestaat uit een kennismaking, gesprekken, verhalen van (prominente) gastsprekers en een aantal andere activiteiten. Er zullen totaal zo'n vijftien mensen deelnemen en deelname is op basis van een persoonlijke uitnodiging. Alle deelnemers zijn uitgenodigd vanwege hun actieve maatschappelijke betrokkenheid. Er zijn geen kosten aan deelname verbonden en de eventuele reiskosten worden vergoed.
Radio
La
Leidsestraat
Benevolencija Humanitarian Foundation 106
Tools
. 1017 PG Amsterdam The Netherlands
[email protected] . T +3120 6166599 . +3120 330 8155 www.labenevolencija.org . KvK# 3417658 . VAT#81.1072.423.B.01
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Organisatie: Radio la Benevolencija Radio La Benevolencija - Humanitarian Tools Foundation ontwikkelt campagnes om mensen te activeren tegen haat en geweld tussen verschillende bevolkingsgroepen. Tel: 06-55888053 (George Weiss, oprichter en directeur) email:
[email protected] Orhan Galjus Orhan is journalist, activist en oprichter van Radio Paterin, het radiostation voor en door Roma. Orhan is betrokken bij verschillende projecten op het gebied van Roma emancipatie en anti-discriminatie. Tel: 06-81655498 email:
[email protected] Naftalie Hershler Naftalie is maatschappelijk ondernemer, actief op het gebied van educatie, joodse identiteit en conflictpreventie. Naftalie is (mede) oprichter van Radio la Benevolencija, De Digitale Joodse Stad en Stichting Levende Herinneringen. Tel: 06-24642940 email:
[email protected]
Radio
La
Leidsestraat
Benevolencija Humanitarian Foundation 106
Tools
. 1017 PG Amsterdam The Netherlands
[email protected] . T +3120 6166599 . +3120 330 8155 www.labenevolencija.org . KvK# 3417658 . VAT#81.1072.423.B.01
. F
Program
1) Inleiding – wat doen we vandaag (Orhan & Naftalie) 2) Introductie – wie is wie (Deelnemers) 3) De hoofdlijnen: wie zijn wij en wat heeft ons naar deze plak gebracht (Orhan en Denise) 4) Het Verleden: de verhalen van Zoni Weiss en Ed van Thijn Pauze 5) Het heden: Culturele identiteit 6) De toekomst: Wat kunnen we voor elkaar betekenen? 7) Rondvraag en afsluiting samen eten..
Radio
La
Leidsestraat
Benevolencija Humanitarian Foundation 106
Tools
. 1017 PG Amsterdam The Netherlands
[email protected] . T +3120 6166599 . +3120 330 8155 www.labenevolencija.org . KvK# 3417658 . VAT#81.1072.423.B.01
. F
Participants Mr. Roman Krok BA Social Applied Sciences Roman, is one of the most promising young Roma in the Netherland, he is activist and participates in various project and on international level. Mr. Armend Alibajro BA Economic School Amsterdam Armend is as a hidden weapon of the youngest generation of Roma in the Netherlands in the field of business and economics. He is main advisor to the CEO of the Radio Patrin.tv Ms. Andrea Cervenakova BA Social Applied Sciences Andrea is student and she want to achieve highest degree in social sciences to be able to change ‘sleepy’ social strategies on Romani social issues. Mr. Amet Jasar Finance Adviser to NGO Amet is representative of the matured young generation of the Roma in The Netherlands. He is active in various projects. He worked for international NGOs and he is expert on finances issues of the NGOs. Mr.Behljulj Galjus Beki Editor in Chief Radio Patrin.tv Beki, is co-founder of the grand Radio Project project. He is long standing activist and promoter of the Romani culture world wide. Mr. Ardzun Galjus IT Management&Training Ardzun was pioneer to promote Roma from Holland in few projects. Nowadays Ardzun is studying law and administration. Ms. Meire Student Orhan Galjus (organiser) CEO, Radio Patrin.tv This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM
Orhan Galjus, Rom, born in Kosovo, Lives in Amsterdam Dutch citizen Orhan worked both as journalist and editor of the Romani radio programs in Belgrade and Pristina. After migrated to the Netherlands in 1990 he worked in Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, and France and in other countries. He is pioneer in establishing the Romani radio station PATRIN. Ms. Mila Burik Mila is van zowel Joodse als Roma afkomst. Ze is reeds jarenlang betrokken bij projecten en programma's tbv de Roma gemeenschap. Yuri van der Sluis Yuri is ondernemer en filmmaker. Denise Citroen Denise houdt zich o.a. bezig met mondelinge geschiedenis. Ze was de coordinator van het Shoah Survivors project in Nederland. Carla van Thijn Carla is fotoredacteur bij de VPRO gids. Amos van Gelder Amos is kunstenaar van Nederlands-Israelische afkomst. Naftalie Hershler. (organisator) Naftalie is maatschappelijk ondernemer, medeoprichter van Radio la Benevolencija en houdt zich bezig met educatieve projecten en technologische innovatie. Achsa Vissel Achsa is seksuologe, journalist en schrijver.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM
Reactions participants Bokertov Naftali, Dank voor de hartverwarmende en goedverzorgde middag/avond! Zo komen mensen bij elkaar. Zie uit naar de volgende gelegenheid. hartelijke groet, denise
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM
Pictures
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Nº 521237-EFC-1-2011-1-BE-EFCREM