What works for young Roma?
by Catherine MALLET
27th November 2017, Brussels
ERGO Network (European Roma Grassroots Organisation) organised a public event on ‘What works for young Roma, preceding the annual European Platform for Roma Inclusion. The event engaged European policy makers and civil society representatives in discussions on what is needed to better support young Roma into the labour market.
Raquel Cortes from the European Commission highlighted that the new European Pillar of Social Rights is also relevant for Roma, in particular principle 1 on education and training. There are mainstream measures which should apply to Roma but targeted measures such as the EU Framework for Roma inclusion were also necessary she said. Although there are signs that early education for Roma is improving, this is not translating into access to the labour market. There is a need to address employers and reasons that prevents them from hiring Roma.
Member and Vice President of The European Parliament Livia Jaroka stressed that there is also an economic argument to be made: that it is 5 times cheaper to invest in Roma than not to. Businesses need to be opened up and quality education and vocational training is needed. Poor health is a big problem.
From the Council of Europe, Thorsten Afflerbach spoke of their thematic four year action plan and the several priority areas. From a recent meeting on the transition from education to employment recommendations were made including the need for the issue to be more visible in the National Roma Integration Strategies, the need to improve the validation of skills, the need for employers to be part of dialogue, and the need to mainstream entrepreneurship.
Ergo board member from Albania stressed that the region needs investment, and that young want to leave because there is no future there. The Roma issue needs an enlargement perspective he said.
Results from a research project on what works for Roma involving 5 countries were presented with recommendations from young Roma, including the need to support youth entrepreneurship, the need for cooperation between educational institutions, NGOs and employment offices, decent levels of wages, support for paid internships, and the need to tackle antigypsyism among employers.
Good practice projects were presented from the ‘pro Ratatouille’ project from Hungary, which is a community-based organic agriculture programme being carried out in rural areas with disadvantaged youth. EAPN Portugal shared a successful TV campaign with celebrities interviewing Roma children about what they want to be when they are older. From Macedonia a youth led organisations was presented, stressing the importance of letting Roma youth be youth, and the need for leisure time to inspire creativity.
Dominique Bé from the European Commission concluded the meeting stressing that employers and trade unions need to be addressed. They would employ if Roma they had the skills and education he said, therefore access to quality education is essential. But there is also need for more second chance programmes needed, for those who come out of school without the qualifications.