Promoting Inclusion: Implementing Street Work Action for ROMA Women in Karditsa

1. “Reforming the social organizations of the local authorities: implementing a pilot street work action for ROMA women by the Women's Centre of Karditsa” Aikaterini VelessiotouDirector of WCKChemist, M.Sc.“Local and Regional Government and Development”

2. Basic aims are Pilot concept for a “street work action” applying on ROMANI women living in the settlement of Mauricaby the Women Centre of Karditsa Simultaneous reforming of the organization and operation of the Women Centre of Karditsa

3. WCK, which will implement the action, the existing living conditions of the ROMA community of the area, a part of relative research and outcomes, the suggestion and the necessary policies and reformations are described.

4. ROMA community in the Maurica settlement • Population 1500, consolidated 1200,women 850 – men 650 (since 2001) • Main “job”: collecting & trading of recyclable materials and begging • In the settlement are existing:street plan, rainwater drainage system, electric lighting, urban transport, supporting centre • In the settlement are not existing: sewerage network, central square, park, sports facilities, playground, kindergarten, school, healthcare structures • 72 boys and 93 girls, are studying at 19th ROMAelementary school and 10 children are dispersed among city schools • 17 boys and 10 girls are studying at the High School. • None of them continue at the Senior High School

5. The vicious circle of ROMA exlusion Increasing discrimination and racism against ROMA poor housing conditions and spatial separation Limited access to education and healthcare services Limited job opportunities Low education level and bad health

6. Women Centre of Karditsa • Supports female employment • Supports women victims of gender violence • Creative occupation area for pre-school children • Kindergarten ( 2 months – 2,5 years old ) • Actions to promote Gender equality • Informing and sensitizing • Implementing national and transnational relative projects

7. Weak point ROMA women still afraid of visiting and be supported by WCK

8. The research Work case The operation and development of WCK in order to support ROMA women living in the settlement of Maurica, may lead to multiple benefits both individually and collectively to them, and to the local community as well The question WCK, as an organization of municipality of Karditsa with multiannual support for the women, without any discriminations, has in fact the ability to develop its actions out of the main structure, aiming to offer effective support?

9. Research methodology • Bibliographic review • Sample selection • Tool creation • Procedure • Ethics

10. -alone -with another woman -with the mediator -reassignment by another Service ROMA women approach -psycho-social support -legal support -reassignment -financial support -other Provided support -financial benefits -social skills achievement -initial business capital -psycho-social support -informal training Requested support -trust building -long time support -understanding community individualities -education -psycho-social support Facts with positive contribution

11. -customary perceptions -taboo issues -fragmentary actions -coordination lack -overlap Main difficulties -state -local authorities -society -ROMA community -all together Who makes the changes -providing information -cooperation -professionals’ training -ROMA’s education -bring activities into line -actions duration -holistic approach -working in the settlement More effective work

12. Comparative evaluation of the results Social policy: All the levels of the local authorities, state organizations, social or voluntary communions, NGO, religious organizations, active citizens, usually are addressed to the same target groups with similar and overlapping actions The planning and coordination of inclusive policy are often incomplete, fragmented and ineffective, leading to a lack of trust The existing legislation on the housing and access to the other goods and services are given by the state, is not applied.

13. Comparative evaluation of the results ROMA women Dynamic group, experiencing deep rooted perceptions and stereotypes Unsatisfactory approach of existing strategy and actions at national and local level Complete illiteracy, especially at the elder women Low level of education, high rates of irregular schooling and early school leaving, high unemployment rates and poor employment opportunities deprive ROMA women and girls of real opportunities for inclusion and their full participation into the local society. They do wand education, development of their social skills, job, initial capital to start their own business. Lack of personal documents means less education, less healthcare, less employment for them.

14. The suggestion • Intervention of WCK to ROMA women living in the settlement of Maurica, using streetwork and informal education methods, with synchronic reform of the organization. • Main goal • To be provided supporting actions to ROMA women who are not coming to WCK to ask for the services. • The aim • The inclusion of the ROMA women and the establishment of a new culture • A short-term aim is the effort to approach and deeper understanding of the existing problem. • A medium-term aim is to resolve the problems they face as far as possible. • A long- term aim is to minimize the impact of the social exclusion.

15. Applying method • Necessary preconditions • Full acceptance of the particular culture • To be followed the principals of streetwork action • Approach • Mobile mediation structure • Implementation • Control of stereotypes • non-exercise of sovereignty through charity • Prerequisites • Ex ante assessment of the • organization • Needs of the beneficiaries and personnel • Action plan • Identifying directions • Feasibility analysis • Ex ante impact assessment of change • Indicators

16. Implementation of the action • Making the necessary decisions • Steps • place • Social contact • Connecting with the group, mediator, trust building • Involvement into the plan • Information on issues of interest • Training • Keeping distance of the internal conflicts • Cooperation of all the departments of WCK with the mobile mediation structure • Constant training of WCK executives • Supervising the executives • Networking and cooperation • In a local level • In a regional level • In interstate level

17. Χρηματοδότηση δράσης ΕΠ Ανάπτυξη Ανθρώπινου Δυναμικού, Εκπαίδευση και Δια Βίου Μάθηση, Τομέας Εκπαίδευσης ΕΠ Μεταρρύθμιση Δημόσιου Τομέα 2014 -2020 Ευρωπαϊκό πρόγραμμα Δικαιώματα, Ισότητα και Ιθαγένεια «Rights, Equality and Citizenship (REC Programme) 2014 -2020» Βραβείο για Καινοτόμες Πολιτικές Ένταξης των Ρομά (Dosta! – Congress Prize for Municipalities) Πρόγραμμα Erasmus plus (Erasmus +) Ευρωπαϊκό πρόγραμμα «Europe for Citizens programme 2014-2020»

18. Policies and reformations • Vital are • The political will to reform the exsisting conditions, at National and Local level • Encouraging the policies and the actions that will result to the understanding and the diffusion of the only acceptable reality: the social and economic benefits of a society ate greater, the greater is the degree of the inclusionν και των δράσεων αυτών, που θα οδηγήσουν στην κατανόηση και τη διάδοση της μόνης αποδεκτής πραγματικότητας: οι κοινωνικές και οικονομικές ωφέλειες μιας κοινωνίας είναι τόσο μεγαλύτερες, όσο μεγαλύτερη είναι η ενσωμάτωση

19. Instead of an epilogue • Local interventions that promote ROMA inclusion • Actions to reduce poverty and exclusion from generation to generation • Actions to establish new sources of economic development • Actions to promote social cohesion by exploiting the potential of ROMA women in all the areas that society requires, are for the benefit of all citizens and therefore vital to the whole society, including ROMA and NON ROMA, people all with equal rights!

20. “The approach of ROMA women, is essentially Gender Mainstreaming. The struggles for their rights are not the way to “save” them from their culture, but the means to enhance their choices and opportunities, so that they could play an active role in shaping their culture and life.

21. References • Γκασούκα, Μ. (1998). Κοινωνιολογικές προσεγγίσεις του Φύλου-Ζητήματα εξουσίας και ιεραρχίας. Αθήνα. (Σύγγραμμα στο Τμήμα Κοινωνικής Πολιτικής και Κοινωνικής Ανθρωπολογίας Παντείου Πανεπιστημίου). • Θελερίτη, Μ. (2008). Η Άσκηση Κοινωνικής Πολίτικης σε Τοπικό Επίπεδο – Προτάσεις για τη Διαμόρφωση ενός Νέου Μοντέλου. Αθήνα: Ε.Ε.Τ.Α.Α. • Mason, J. Επιμέλεια Κυριαζή, (2003). Η διεξαγωγή της ποιοτικής έρευνας. Αθήνα: Ελληνικά Γράμματα. • Ντούσας, Δ., (1997), Ρομ και φυλετικές διακρίσεις στην ιστορία, την κοινωνία, την κουλτούρα, την εκπαίδευση και τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα. Αθήνα: Gutenberg. • Παπαδοπούλου Δέσποινα – Λυγδοπούλου Τίνα (2008), Κοινωνικές παρεμβάσεις εκτός δομής, Ένα μεθοδολογικό εργαλείο, Αθήνα: ΕΕΤΑΑ • Στρατηγάκη Μ. (2006), Το φύλο της κοινωνικής πολιτικής. Αθήνα: Μεταίχμιο. • Akrivopoulou, C., Dimitropoulos, G., & Koutnatzis, S. I. G. (2012). The" Kallikratis Program": The Influence of International and European Policies on the Reforms of Greek Local Government. Istituzioni del federalismo: rivista di studigiuridici e politici, (3), 653-693 • Geertz, C., (1973). The interpretation of Cultures. New York. Basic books • ……

22. #Otheranthropolitics Workshop co-organized by “Heteropolitics: Refiguring the Common and the Political” Volos, 15th May 2019 Photos: Aikaterini Velessiotou, Michael Papanouskas Αικατερίνη Βελεσιώτου, Θεσσαλονίκη 17.12.2016