LEARN ME! – LEARN WITH ME!

(Ismerjmeg! Ismerkedj!)

Written report about the project on reconciliation and healing between Roma and non Roma communities is Hungary

Two elements of the project:

Study tour: 9th April – 13th April, 2014.

Consultation: 30th June – 4th July, 2014-10-24

Word of acknowledgement: On behalf of the Hungarian Women’s Forum (Women’s Commission of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Hungary) we would like to express our gratefulness to EFECW for theEUR 6350 (HUF 1,875,409) funds received from the Jacqueline Stuyt Legacy as well as to the KatholicherFrauenbund in Switzerland (SKF) for their donation of EUR 500 which made it possible to execute the project detailed as follows.

General description of realisation of the project

The project was executed in two steps.

  1. Astudy tour took place between 9th – 13th April in the Northern region of Hungary and in the Southern region, in the settlement called Sárszentlőrinc.

In the North participants visited congregations living in settlements where a remarkable Roma population is present. They also had the chance to study projects carried out by the Reformed (Calvinist) Church in Hungary. The places visited by the delegation are the following:

The accommodation for the group was in the Calvinist Conference Centre in Mány, where the delegation had a meeting with the church leaders of North –East region as well as got a briefing about the situation of the so called “roma population” by Rev. Anita Barnóczki coordinator of mission among gypsies in Chuch District “Tiszáninnen”. The following days the group visited Göncruszka, Szendrő, Bódvalenke, Hernádnémeti.



On the photos:Two schools in the hand of the Reformed Church. Left: teacher of roma origin inGöncruszka. Right: special lessons for Roma students in the library in Hernádnémeti/

  1. In South Hungary, in Sárszentlőrinc, the participants had the chance not only visiting

butto live together with the roma population.

The Lutheran parish, which is one of the oldest congregations in the country, its history going back to the reformation time, having been the “motherland” of many famous artists and public figures in the past, went through big changes in the last decades. Hungarian “white” population left the village due to the lack of working places and the number of roma families has significantly increased. The delegation studied how the Lutheran congregation faced the new challenges given by the fact that 60% of the church members now come from Roma background, as well as how they help the underprivileged ethnic group to find jobs and struggle for better living conditions. During the time of the visit chickens and nutriment were distributed to the Roma families, in this way giving them possibility to start their own “barnyard”.

( Photos: Delegation under the tree of the famous writer of children’s books Lázár Ervin in Sárszentlőrinc and the distribution of chickens for Roma families)

  1. As a second part of the project: Between 30th June – 4th July an evaluation consultation took place in the Retreat and Conference Centre of the Reformed Church in Balatonfüred. (program in Hungarian attached)

The program gave the possibility for the evaluation of the study tour as well as for giving some further information about how the different churches handle the issue of the increasing number of Roma population.Some statistics state that almost 10% of the entire Hungarian population are gypsies. (Lectures and reports were given about the Roma mission in the Reformed, Baptist, Pentecost, Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches.)

There was a focus on how the underprivileged Roma children could catch up with their studies. Briefings were given by representatives of Christian Schools with special curriculum for roma students. As well as during the consultation the participants discussed, how to find ways of integrating gypsies into the parish/congregation life.

Since the participants were equally of both ethnical groups they shared rooms, and daily life together during the entire time of the meeting.( See attached participant list)

Objectives fulfilled:

The project fulfilled the objectives of starting of reconciliationand healing process among ethnicities within the Christian churches, as well as giving an example of living together. The study tour helped in learning more about justiceand poverty. Further goal (which has already started within the program) is helping in capacity building for the gipsy sisters involved in the project.

As a highlight of the project the participants underlined the ecumenical spirituality, meaning the morning and evening devotions shared according to the different church traditions!

The organisers of the meeting tried to fulfil the criteria of having both elements of the project as international. There was a participant from Slovakia (a Roma young lady from Sajógömör) as well as two women accepted the invitation to attend the meeting from the Hungarian speaking part of Romania, but due to health problems they cancelled their participation. The invitations sent to our partners in Serbia and Slovenia were without recognition. It was a big privilege however to haveCathrineGyarmathy former co-president of EFECW representing Swiss Forum and of the Swiss “KatolischerFauenbund” at the meeting.Since the conference language was Hungarian it limited the possibilities for inviting further participants from abroad.

Results achieved:

Adialogue has started between the ethnical groups living together within or at the edge of Christian communities. The study tour gave a clear picture about the level of poverty most of the Roma population lives in, what difficulties coming from their under-schooling, underprivileged situation they face daily. At the same time living together gave an insight into their rich spirituality and rather emotional way of responding to challenges. It was a starting for overcoming prejudices and a step forward clarifying misunderstandings. Mutual collaboration has started. Case studies will be shared to each other through the built up women’s network.

The participants assured the need for further meetings and consultations. Therefore the Hungarian Forum (Women’s Commission of ECC in Hungary) decided to make efforts on organising a follow up conference next summer (2015).

Due to the kind donation of the Swiss women (KatholischerFrauenbund in der Schweiz) and to the economic spending of the funds received for the project, the participants were able to give financial support to some programs executed among Roma children in the areas they visited. (See financial report attached)

Evaluation of the program:

One part of the evaluation process started in the consultation, where women gave report about their experiences, which were noted. However the achievement of final results is still in progress. Participants of the program send their notes, remarks to the organisers. First results of the final report will be put on the web page of Women’s Commision of ECC in Hungary, as well as sent via Emails to the participants. A summary of the report is planned to be distributed among church leaders at the annual assembly of the council.

We consider it a big success, that the “Hungarian project” got a wider publicity in the Central European neighbourhood. For our gladness, one of our lecturers at the Balatonfüredconsultation, Ms AnikóUhrin, school director of the Roma College of the Reformed Church got an invitation to speak at the international conference on“Reformation, women and Education” organised by EvangelischeAkademie Wien on 20th September 2014. In her speech she briefed the participants about the “Learn me! Learn with me!” project, in which her institution was part of.

Issues raised during the evaluation process:

-Encourage (mostly) female pastors to confront rigid structures, traditions if needed.

-No aggressive integration (assimilation) of Roma!

-Encourage local congregations (women groups) to realise their capabilities. What are already in their possession to start the ministry with Roma?

-Children are the best “tools” to educate parents taking their needs and cultural background into consideration. ( not pushing our imaginations on them)

-Educating for self-sustainability

-Using international experiences with minorities ( like USA – red Indians, Australia – Aboriginals)

-Christ as the Integrator, fundament of all building activities.

-Living not outside the Roma communities but together with them is the only way for progress.

Monitoring:

Dr. Rev. VilmosFischl (gen.secretary of Hungarian ECC) opened and took part of the first evenings of both projects. While Rev. ZitaP.TóthnéSzakács (chair of Women’s Commission) proved to be the key organisers of the program. Both of them can witness about the realisation and the achieved results of the project.

The report was compiled by

Rev. MártaBrebovszkynéPintér

National Coordinator of EFECW, Hungary