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Czech Republic: Gypsy Spirit 2013 jury announces finalists

08 November 2013
8 minute read

On 1 November 2013, out of 87 nominations for the Gypsy Spirit award in the Czech Republic, finalists were selected by the nominating jury, comprised of members Jozef Baláž, Darina Batyiová, Jiřina Bradová, Jana Horváthová, Gabriela Hrabaňová, Magdaléna Karvayová, Renata Köttnerová, Petr Polák, Jelena Silajdžić, Andrea Šenkyříková and David Tišer. The nominating jury evaluated the proposals according to the following criteria:

Timeframe in which the activities were implemented – long-term perspective
Results achieved and the degree to which they can be measured
Motivational influence on those around them and on other projects
Creativity, originality and uniqueness of the solutions – extraordinary contributions
Positive reception by the general public

More information about those nominated can be found on the Czech version of the Gypsy Spirit project website (in Czech only) –  http://www.gypsyspirit.eu/cz/. The nominees moving into the final round are:

Category 1 – NGOs (for implementing a concrete project and achieving results)

Romodrom, o. s. – This organization provides professional aid to people at risk of social exclusion in the Czech Republic, running three registered types of social services, accredited education programs for children and educators at primary schools, social prevention programs for children and youth, and supporting youth access to the labor market.

Slovo 21, o. s. – This non-governmental, non-profit organization began working in Prague in 1999. Its creation is closely connected with the start of the annual Khamoro World Romani Festival. The organization contributes to better inter-ethnic coexistence and has long implemented a wide variety of Romani projects through which it has, among other things, dedicated itself to supporting Romani education and employment and to enhancing Romani identity. The organization also focuses on integration projects for foreigners, multicultural education and outreach, and publishing. Its main aim is to improve overall coexistence in the Czech Republic, to help foreigners and Romani people integrate into society, to fight racism and xenophobia, to defend human rights principles and develop adherence to them, to create a multicultural society, and to improve the media image of minorities.   

Vzájemné soužití, o. s. – This apolitical, non-governmental, non-profit, registered organization has been working in Ostrava since the floods of 1997. It endeavors to create friendly platforms between the non-Romani and Romani communities. Through the community work method, it attempts to improve the social conditions and standard of living for impoverished, needy families. The association’s activity focuses on the areas of communication, conflict resolution, education, employment, humanitarian aid, human rights, the issue of housing and the provision of legal and social counseling.    

Category 2 – Business (for long-term support of social assistance to and support of the Romani community)

3B Sociální firma Duchcov (3B Social Firm, Duchcov)

Evangelická akademie Vyšší odborná škola sociální práce a střední odborná škola, Praha 4 (The Evangelical Academy of the College and High School of Professional Social Work, Prague 4)

Salesiánské středisko Štěpána Trochty, Teplice (The Štěpán Trochta Salesian Center, Teplice)

Category 3 – Municipality (for programs focused on integrating members of the Romani minority into society and activities benefiting the Romani community)

Obrnice – The project "Chance for community life in Obrnice III" (Šance pro komunitní život v Obrnicích III) is one component of a broader project concept, the purpose of which is to create the operational, personnel and professional conditions for introducing social services and programs on acquiring social and work skills, crime prevention, financial literacy, and motivation not just for the 1 150 socially disadvantaged residents of the excluded Romani localities of the Big and Small Housing Estates (Velké a Malé sídliště), but also for other citizens of the village of Obrnice, which has a total population of 2 386. The aim of the project and all of the activities of the village leadership is trouble-free civic coexistence respecting equal opportunities and an active community life.   

Kadaň – During a brief time period, this town has introduced many support programs to improve the situation of socially vulnerable residents, primarily those from the excluded locality in the Prunéřov quarter. The town has faced up to its social problems responsibly and has managed to move many things forward. In the Prunéřov quarter, rules were agreed to with municipal tenants to increase the comfort of their housing in accordance with their payment morale and good morals. Self-help actions have taken place in that neighborhood, such as the tenants of one building volunteering to paint its common areas, or concierges readying apartments for occupancy, as well as beginning to participate in providing small repairs in occupied units. Boys and girls started training in football and have held their first tournament of the Street Football League (Pouliční fotbalová liga). The town also reconstructed and opened the Prunéřov Social Services Center, which offers services to families with children, a youth club, a playground, debt counseling, and field social workers in the locality.    

Jirkov – The northern Bohemian town of Jirkov supports social inclusion. Overt the course of several years it has introduced many interesting projects and services and significantly expanded opportunities for the socially vulnerable, many of whom are Romani. The town’s social firm, ONZA Jirkov, employs long-term unemployed people and receives commissions from the town to maintain its greenery, perform cleaning services, etc. Because it functions as a social firm (it was founded with the aim of not creating profit, or rather, of investing all profits back into the firm), one of its principles is also to work with its employees on the social side, to solve their problems, and to prepare them for transitioning into the mainstream labor market after their time with the firm. The town has a field social worker and has introduced a system of graduated housing, in which people transition from living in shelters to living in training apartments and from there__ to ordinary apartments. The town has also newly hired a social services coordinator. Other social services (a drop-in club for youth, the Center for Parents and Preschool Children, and a shelter) are provided in the town by the Cesta naděje (Path of Hope) nonprofit organization. There is also a counseling center which provides courses in financial literacy together with the schools and a preparatory year for children about to start their compulsory educations.   

Category 4 – Individual (someone whose long-term work has contributed to improving the position of Romani people)

Emil Cina – Mr Cina passed away in October at the age of 65. He is a leading Romani author (particularly as a poet), activist, and mover in the ethnic Romani emancipation movement after 1989. He first worked at Czech Radio and then for several Romani periodicals. He loved the Romanes languages and worked to maintain it. Even during his serious illness, he tirelessly traveled to schools around the Czech Republic, debating with children about the Romanes language, Romanipen, and Romani history. 

David Tišer – Mr Tišer is one of the most original and outstanding personalities of the current generation of young civic activists in the Czech Republic. Through the many forms of his unique work, he draws attention to problems faced by both LGBT people and the Romani minority when interacting with the Czech public.   

Sri Kumar Vishwanathan – Mr Vishwanathan is a Czech activist, educator and social worker of Indian origin who has dedicated himself to the Romani minority in the Czech Republic since 1997, particularly in the Ostrava area, and who strives to improve inter-ethnic coexistence. He lives in Ostrava and feels at home here.

Category 5 – Action of the Year (saving a life or improving an individual’s quality of life)

Irena Drevňáková – For saving five people from a submerged vehicle

Pavel Berky – For designing his new "Coming Out" fashion collection

The Green Party (Strana zelených) – For integrating Romani people into its candidate lists during elections to the lower house

Category 6 – Special Jury Award – Gypsy Spirit Media (special award to a journalist for either objective or positive reporting about Romani issues in the Czech Republic)

Hana Čápová – This journalist has long dedicated herself to Romani issues. She was nominated for the Journalism Award in 2012 in the category of Written Journalism – Best Reporting for her report entitled "Natálka in the land without mirrors" ("Natálka v zemi bez zrcadel"), published by the RESPEKT weekly. The jury’s evaluation of that piece was as follows: "Natálka in the land without mirrors" is an example of a perfectly-handled report which, thanks to its literary elements, draws the reader in to an analytical piece with many broader ramifications. In this piece about the consequences of a racially motivated assault, the author sheds light on many of the factors behind marginalization and reveals society’s intolerance."   

Zdeněk Ryšavý – Editor-in-Chief of Romea.cz. Mr Ryšavý dedicates all of his free time to volunteer journalism. An inconspicuous person, he has produced a great body of work.

František Kostlán – This independent author, commentator and musician was the co-author of the book Newcomer (On the Lives of Migrants) – Czech title Příchozí (o životě migrantů). Prior to November 1989 he was a laborer. After the revolution he has worked as a commentator and journalist. He has worked as Editor-in-Chief of the Czech Daily (Český deník), Editor-in-Chief of Parlament magazine, as a commentator for Czech Radio Regina and the Lidové Noviny daily, and as a dramaturg for talk shows on television. He is a member of several civic associations involved with human rights, minorities, and the lives of children in orphanages. He has long focused his publishing activity on Romani people and Romani integration. He currently works for the Romea association.  

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