On the 23rd and 24th, around a hundred people gathered to discuss digitalisation among future generations of the Rroma People
The Gaz Kaló Federation, in partnership with the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), the Centre for Research and Community Action (CESPYD), the YILÓ Association of Seville and the Romani social economy enterprise “La Fragua Projects” (LFP), organised this forum to analyse the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation for Roma people within the framework of public policies and the National Strategy for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of the Roma People 2021–2030. The event was attended by prominent activists and influencers from the Roma community, coming from different autonomous communities, alongside representatives from social organisations, academia and public administrations.
On the first day, the methodology was presented by the Centre for Research and Community Action (CESPYD) in collaboration with the Public University of Navarre (UPNA), and working groups were organised across five areas: health, education, employment, housing and discrimination, to address the consequences of digitalisation over the coming decade, using the photovoice method, featuring a range of diverse voices that contributed to this process, promoting participatory processes and community action in the design of public policies, to build and envision a digital (and analogue) future free from discrimination and full of opportunities for the Roma community and for all citizens.
The event featured a roundtable discussion with Roma representatives, followed by a highly insightful debate, in which Samuel Escudero, a MásMadrid member of the Madrid Regional Assembly; Paco Vargas, a PSC councillor in San Adrián de Besós; and Pedro Aguilera, Commissioner for Citizen Participation at Barcelona City Council, took part. Among those in attendance were representatives from the Department of Social Rights of the Government of Navarre and the Parliament of Navarre; Javier Arza and Maite Esporrín, councillors for Pamplona City Council; Zaloa Basabe, Marina Curiel, Eloy del Pozo and Miguel Matellanes; and the Ombudsman of Navarre, Patxi Vera.
Also present during the event was EspacioKrea Educational Radio: the Gazteak+Sociales project run by the Navarre-based association Nuevo Futuro, in which the youngest participants took part by conducting interviews: Palmi, an activist with the Kera association in Irún; Sheyla, a young woman from Larraga who is studying for a Higher National Diploma in Pamplona; Alex, a young Roma man trained in social and healthcare support; and Natalia, a school outreach worker in the Carcastillo area.
The event concluded with a commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the Romani people on the Iberian Peninsula and the 25th anniversary of the Gaz Kaló Federation. We received greetings from Diego Luis Fernández, director of the Institute of Romani Culture, and Carmen Santiago, vice-president of the State Council of the Romani People, as well as a live link from India with the “Ethnosfere” project, which aims to document the origins of the Romani people through audiovisual means, connecting them with the Romani community of Navarre. A moving tribute was held, including a minute’s silence for the Romani victims of the Nazi genocide, and the event concluded with a tribute to all the older Romani people who took the first steps to claim their rights, organise themselves within the Romani associative movement, and champion Romani youth.
For further information on the “NextRom” project:
https://institucional.us.es/nextrom
Source: Pamplona Actual.
Photo: La Fragua Projects.