Romani psychology student who is a ROMEA scholarship winner featured on Czech Television
"Our parents never went to college, but I was told I would go to college by them at home from an early age," Roman Koky, a Romani student of psychology, says in a reportage produced by the "168 Hours" program on public broadcaster Czech Television. Along with his brother Michal, who is studying pharmacy, Roman Koky has attended a recent "Baruvas" ("We Are Growing") meeting of Romani high school and college scholarship recipients.
The meeting was held at the end of August and start of September in the Krkonoše mountains by the ROMEA organization. "168 Hours" broadcast its reportage about the meeting last Sunday.
In his television interview Roman Koky is very clear about his professional future. He describes the motivation that led him to study psychology in particular at a university in Ostrava as follows: "This is mainly work that will make my life meaningful in the future, because I can aid others. I considered studying medicine, but psychology is, for me, beautiful mainly because it addresses the causes of behavior."
Thanks to his study of psychology, Roman says he is acquiring deeper knowledge when it comes to the phenomenon of racism: "I already have a different perspective on racism after my first year of studying psychology. I don't even consider it racism anymore as much as I consider it an error of social perception. I see that when the others get to know me, their view of Romani people is already better, because they say 'Aha, you're exceptional, you behave differently, others might be able to also'."
Roman's brother Michal is also in college. He chose to study pharmacy at the Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University in Brno.
"At college preparatory school I was inspired by chemistry and in elementary school I was in the first aid club. Pharmacy is a nice combination of chemistry and health care," Michal explains.
"I can do it too!"
Monika Mihaličková, a fundraiser for the ROMEA organization, is also a psychologist by training. She is quoted in the "168 Hours" reportage about the importance of young Romani people being informed about the existence of the organization's scholarship program.
"Naturally, this demonstrates to the students the possibility that if somebody else like them has achieved something, then they can achieve it also. I see that it's realistic, that it's not impossible - it's something that I may not be involved with yet, but I could be involved with it if I decide to do something better with my life," she explains.
At the end of August the meeting of almost 50 Romani college and high school students from all over the Czech Republic took place near Pec pod Sněžkou in the Krkonoše mountains. Its aim was to connect the students together, to support their efforts, and to motivate them to continue their education and personal development.
The number of Romani students at colleges and universities in the Czech Republic is continuing to grow in general, despite the fact that they must grapple with many barriers. The meeting was organized by the ROMEA public benefit corporation as a component of its "Baruvas" program (which means, in Romanes, "We Are Growing"), which is part of its Romani Scholarship Program.
Thematically, the meeting followed on from the previous regular student gathering, which was dedicated to self-presentation and the world of the media. Lecturers at that meeting included the sociologist Ivan Gabal, Czech Television reporter Richard Samko, and police officer Petr Torák, a Romani emigre from the Czech Republic now living in the UK who is a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Ahead of this academic year ROMEA received more than 130 applications for scholarships. The organization currently only has the funding to support 60 students.
"We have accepted a challenge from the US-based Bader Philanthropies foundation thanks to which we will be able to support more students this year," Mihaličková told Czech Television. "If we raise CZK 125 000 (EUR 4 800) by the end of September, the foundation will match that amount."
"Let's give a chance to more children and young people who want to study and grow," she urged viewers. You can contribute to the scholarship program and aid Romani children with fulfilling their academic and professional dreams HERE.
Don't miss:
- Romani Students Propel Themselves Forward, Aiming to Further Their Education
- They didn´t believe he was a university student, but he didn´t give up. Baruvas helps young Roma grow.
- Czech Republic: Romani law student from Slovakia says feeling her teachers cared about her future was a big help to her
- International Duke of Edinburgh's Award given to students in Prague
Related articles:
- Romanian court hands down a scandalous decision: Roma woman who was beaten up by a minibus driver has to pay a fine
- German MEP of Romani origin Romeo Franz: The situation for Roma in Ukraine is shocking, I could not believe Roma live in such conditions in Europe
- CNN: Czech Republic has discriminated against Romani refugees from Ukraine, updated data refute the myth that they all hold dual citizenship
- Interview with Romani student at Czech university who aims to become a diplomat
- OSCE: The genocide of the Roma must be included in curricula at school, youth must learn about the dangers of ideologies that are racist
- Czech research finds one-third of Romani refugees from Ukraine have experienced discrimination here, most children are not in education, dual citizenship has not been "abused" by them
- Canadian Embassy to Czech Republic offers paid internship for college students and graduates, experience with Romani-related issues is a requirement
- Former Czech MP loses appeal over his hateful call to "get rid of useless people", the original sentence stands
- Czech Romani official who proposed Romani partisan for state honors: We must never forget him, skin color doesn't matter, what is important is bravery, human decency, and morality
- Hungary's Jewish Community protests PM Orbán's racist speech in which he said Hungarians don't want to become a "mixed-race" nation
- Czech volunteers say second-largest city has broken its agreement by closing camp used by Romani refugees from Ukraine near Grand Hotel
- New handbook describes how to intervene against daily hatred and racism in the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands
Tags:
Aktuality, Charita, Kampaň, Média, Medializace, Neziskový sektor, Osobnosti, Ostrava, Sbírka, Stipendia, Velká Británie, USA, Výzvy, Česká televize, děti a mládež, informování o Romech, Občanská společnost, otevřená výzva, Richard Samko, Romani people, střední školy, student, studie, Baruvas - Rosteme, Education, RacismHEADLINE NEWS
