Hello everyone! My name is Elena Dimitrova, I’m 21 years old, from the city of Pazardjik. I live close to the Roma neighborhood with my family. I am an only child. Despite that, I don’t feel alone because I have such wonderful friends and colleagues. I’m fluent in Bulgarian, Turkish, English, and Romani.

I’ve worked at Foundation Napredak for 6 six years, during this time I’ve worked as a volunteer. Also, I worked as a leader of the youth group in the Foundation. Foundation Napredak is an NGO for multiethnic cooperation, located in the Roma neighborhood in my town. I continue to work at there because I see real changes in the community where I live. For example, more girls attend school and the youth don’t marry as young as before. Currently, I work as a mediator for the new desegregation project. There are 8 other mediators who work with me and we are helping children to get to school and motivating them. We also are talking to the parents so that they will want to send their children to the schools in the center of town to help desegregate them.

I participated in Camp Zaedno Napred in 2001 and last summer I was a leader of a small group. I’ve also participated in different workshops in different countries and cities in Bulgaria. For example, this summer I went to Namibia as part of a volunteer program called Raleigh International. I was there for 5 weeks, working on different projects and different challenges.

My name is Sofiya Tsvetkova. I was born in the town of Vidin – a picturesque place right on the banks of the Danube, a placid and relaxing tiny town scattered along the old river…that is the place where I grew up, my native town where I spent the predominant part of the first 17 years of my life.

The subsequent part of my life began when I had to embark on the challenging adventure of studying abroad and living on my own. After graduating the English Language High School in Vidin, I enrolled in the Ludwig-Maximiliams University of Munich, Germany, studying law. Having spent a self-enriching and exciting semester there, I transferred to the American University in Bulgaria, where I am currently studying. I plan to do a double major in European Studies and Political Science/International Relations and also to fulfill the requirements for a Journalism and Mass Communications minor. My future plans include going on an exchange program for a semester next year and also doing a masters degree someplace in Europe after I graduate from university.

The reason I chose my present fields of study is that I feel they will provide me with the vital knowledge that I need in order to be a responsible and socially engaged citizen who would duly participate in improving the society we live in. The feeling of being responsible for the development of my own and the global community is one that was impregnated in me through my participation at camp GLOW. This leadership camp was a turning point in my life. I have always been socially active and responsible but the camp provided me with the opportunity to find out why I was doing it. The answer that I received was: because I was a leader and not a follower, because I relished in changing things I didn’t like and not in adapting to them. The camp taught me how to express my viewpoints adequately, how to listen to others, i.e. accumulate my peers’ views, how to appreciate my peculiarities and promote my strong points, how to muster up my personal vigor and willpower in order to be able to withstand my convictions and carry out the responsibilities which being a leader in one’s community entails. Therefore, I regard it as a venue that evokes self-revelation and a conscious strife towards self-development. That effect of my experience at GLOW in addition to the fact that I met precious friends there kept me going back to GLOW every year. In 2002 after being selected through an essay competition I was participating at the camp as a camper. The following year after applying for a Junior Counselor’s position I was assigned the responsibilities of a Counselor organizing and leading the large group session on “Self-Esteem”. In 2004 I was functioning as a Counselor facilitating the “Decision –Making” large group session. In the year of 2005 I participated as an Assistant Counselor on the Fundraising Committee. 2006 was the year when as a Counselor I was in charge of the “Continuing GLOW and Fundraising” session. This summer was the first one I did not attend the camp because I was on a Work and Travel program in the US and I really do feel as if an integral part of my summer is missing. Therefore, I will be working on the camp this year – because it charges me with energy for the rest of the year, it reminds me that the world belongs to dreamers, and to people that can determine their goals and struggle for their accomplishment, i. e. to leaders.

My name is Sofiya Tsvetkova. I was born in the town of Vidin – a picturesque place right on the banks of the Danube, a placid and relaxing tiny town scattered along the old river…that is the place where I grew up, my native town where I spent the predominant part of the first 17 years of my life.

The subsequent part of my life began when I had to embark on the challenging adventure of studying abroad and living on my own. After graduating the English Language High School in Vidin, I enrolled in the Ludwig-Maximiliams University of Munich, Germany, studying law. Having spent a self-enriching and exciting semester there, I transferred to the American University in Bulgaria, where I am currently studying. I plan to do a double major in European Studies and Political Science/International Relations and also to fulfill the requirements for a Journalism and Mass Communications minor. My future plans include going on an exchange program for a semester next year and also doing a masters degree someplace in Europe after I graduate from university.

The reason I chose my present fields of study is that I feel they will provide me with the vital knowledge that I need in order to be a responsible and socially engaged citizen who would duly participate in improving the society we live in. The feeling of being responsible for the development of my own and the global community is one that was impregnated in me through my participation at camp GLOW. This leadership camp was a turning point in my life. I have always been socially active and responsible but the camp provided me with the opportunity to find out why I was doing it. The answer that I received was: because I was a leader and not a follower, because I relished in changing things I didn’t like and not in adapting to them. The camp taught me how to express my viewpoints adequately, how to listen to others, i.e. accumulate my peers’ views, how to appreciate my peculiarities and promote my strong points, how to muster up my personal vigor and willpower in order to be able to withstand my convictions and carry out the responsibilities which being a leader in one’s community entails. Therefore, I regard it as a venue that evokes self-revelation and a conscious strife towards self-development. That effect of my experience at GLOW in addition to the fact that I met precious friends there kept me going back to GLOW every year. In 2002 after being selected through an essay competition I was participating at the camp as a camper. The following year after applying for a Junior Counselor’s position I was assigned the responsibilities of a Counselor organizing and leading the large group session on “Self-Esteem”. In 2004 I was functioning as a Counselor facilitating the “Decision –Making” large group session. In the year of 2005 I participated as an Assistant Counselor on the Fundraising Committee. 2006 was the year when as a Counselor I was in charge of the “Continuing GLOW and Fundraising” session. This summer was the first one I did not attend the camp because I was on a Work and Travel program in the US and I really do feel as if an integral part of my summer is missing. Therefore, I will be working on the camp this year – because it charges me with energy for the rest of the year, it reminds me that the world belongs to dreamers, and to people that can determine their goals and struggle for their accomplishment, i. e. to leaders.

Hello again,

I’ve been wondering how many of you have followed my advice. Here I am back to remind it to those who might have forgotten it: “Enjoy life!”…as in my opinion it is the only valuable and priceless thing ever offered to anyone. Although it takes quite a lot to start realizing it but the earlier you do the better it is for us.

Considering the different view points for what exactly it means, I am clarifying my words: Enjoying life is not only the time we spend with friends over coffee or aimless flirts with people who we admire…Enjoying life, to me, means enriching ourselves in a long lasting spiritual way which eventually affects our community and our life style. So the more educated and knowledgeable we are, the higher perspectives we have available. It depends on what each one of us wants from life.

Having spent three months in the US has been not only a helpful experience for me but also an adventure. An experience because I learnt a lot about the American law system in general, American Immigration Services and many other helpful things which I might never study at school. An adventure because every day is unique in its own way. One never knows how the day would end…hard to predict.

There is much to be said about American culture and life. Many writes, authors and publicists have made attempts to describe what the NEW WORLD, called America, resembles. But I am not making even an effort to describe it.
All I can say about this country is: You need to experience it in order to understand it…to understand its sizes, its culture, its mentality, its diversity.

My name is Radostina Chausheva and I am 21 years old. I was born in a small, mountainous village in Bulgaria but grew up in a city there.

Currently, I have been enrolled as a full-time student with a major in international relations at South-West University in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.
The reason I selected this educational field was partly due to my ambition to study more about all social, political, economic and cultural world issues. I believe that by becoming more familiar with them, I will be able to contribute to the improvement of the world.

I first started asking myself questions about our planet and mankind at the Roma camp, which I attended in 2005. Then, I realized one truth for myself:
Once we begin meeting a larger variety of people, life begins to seem to be not only what surrounds us, but a broad universe of human minds and spirits.

Now, I’ve been living and working in Seattle, Washington, since the beginning of June. I am on the way to starting a new chapter of my life. I am planning on attending the University of Washington next fall … sounds exciting to me! Never had I dared to think about it before, but now it’s turning into a reality.

My advice to you, dear participants of previous and future camps, is always to follow your dreams; dreaming keeps you alive! Take ME as an example: I was born as a Bulgarian but consider myself as being a world citizen. You may ask: “Where is the logical connection with her previous statement?” Here is my answer: Nationality shouldn’t determine people’s destiny or be a restriction to anyone’s getting the most of life. Therefore, enjoy life!

My name is Radostina Chausheva and I am 21 years old. I was born in a small, mountainous village in Bulgaria but grew up in a city there.

Currently, I have been enrolled as a full-time student with a major in international relations at South-West University in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.

The reason I selected this educational field was partly due to my ambition to study more about all social, political, economic and cultural world issues. I believe that by becoming more familiar with them, I will be able to contribute to the improvement of the world.

I first started asking myself questions about our planet and mankind at the Roma camp, which I attended in 2005. Then, I realized one truth for myself:
Once we begin meeting a larger variety of people, life begins to seem to be not only what surrounds us, but a broad universe of human minds and spirits.

Now, I’ve been living and working in Seattle, Washington, since the beginning of June. I am on the way to starting a new chapter of my life. I am planning on attending the University of Washington next fall … sounds exciting to me! Never had I dared to think about it before, but now it’s turning into a reality.

My advice to you, dear participants of previous and future camps, is always to follow your dreams; dreaming keeps you alive! Take ME as an example: I was born as a Bulgarian but consider myself as being a world citizen. You may ask: “Where is the logical connection with her previous statement?” Here is my answer: Nationality shouldn’t determine people’s destiny or be a restriction to anyone’s getting the most of life. Therefore, enjoy life!

The year is 2002 and the place is a small town near to the Rila Mountains, Southwest Bulgaria. The town has four different Roma communities, each located on the outskirts of town. About 5000 Roma live in these communities, but not all are segregated. Two of the communities are mixed and Roma and non-Roma live together.

I was almost 22 years old, having just finished my mandatory time in the army. I returned to find that many young people were wasting their time, doing nothing. I found myself fall in the same situation, but I learned to separate myself from this negative situation. I had a strong wish to study at University, and I did everything I could to enter. Unfortunately, I didn’t got chance to be a student, my test scores fell a little short. Anyway, I thought, there was always next year and set to studying more. So back home after one year I started going out with friends to the discotecs , pubs, and bars. It was so cool. My life was consumed with what I would wear on Saturday, where I would be going outAnd not only had I thought in this way but all my friends did it as well. After 6-7 months I was angry and tired of this narrow view of life, I had my wish – I wanted to be a student and live separately then my parents, to have my own life. I wanted to develop myself in a positive way, not just living at home, without continuing my studys and just get married because of a lack of other things to do.. During this time I had a chance to enter college, but I didn’t have enough money, I couldn’t even cover my tuition.

Around me were only marriages, pubs, bars etc. For example, I had seen a young girl, very beautiful but in 8th grade – who had just finished and was hoping to go on to high school. Unfortunately she has been “stolen” as bride[1] and is now living on the second floor of my family’s block apartment building (many Roma marry in this way in my town. “Stolen” means that both the boy and the girl are going out of town – close by – but serves as an “engagement” of types). At first, things were good but then she started thinking why she agreed? and what has been happened? She was missing so much her life…

During 2003, without intending it, I received an application form from a girl, which was working in the Roma movement (I didn’t know anything about this movement previously). The application was to be filled out and sent to the organizers within a scant 3 days. There was not much time to fill it out and send it. The application required an essay, work experience in a NGO, basic English knowledge and many other things. But when I looked deeply I saw that the organizers (PAKIV European Roma Fund – www.pakiv.org and www.pakivnet.org) were looking for young Roma who had time to travel and be overseas for the following 9-12 months. In the back of the application I was informed that the applicants must study abroad and had a curriculum similar to a school. It was exactly for me and exactly on the right time. I did all my best to fill the application and get in contact with the office, which was located in Sofia(I remember how I disliked Sofia at the time, too much noise and chaos). So I filled it in and sent it, they just replied to my e-mail that I will informed of their decision soon. A lot of time passed and I didn’t think there was any chance of being called in but then, all of a sudden, I received a call for an interview in Sofia.

When I entered the PAKIV office for the first time and I saw a number of other applicants. In this huge office there wasn’t even a place to sit! I was shocked. Everyone looked and seemed well educated and very intelligent. I was dejected and didn’t think that I had any chance of being accepted. I was the last on the list to be called in and then learned that only 6 people of 120 would be accepted. – I though, absolutely no chance.

By the end of the day it came my turn to be interviewed. It was my first interview and I was very impressed. There were four people (Nikolay Kirilov, Rumyan Sechkov, Jennifer Tanaka and Silvia Filipova[1]). All those people were asking me question by question starting with why I have a different color of my hair. I didn’t want to go out of the room. They told me I could be one of the accepted and I had to wait their decision. Going back home I was thinking about this program and I was sure I would be in it. However, two weeks passed and I didn’t hear from them. After that I stopped thinking about it… I started thinking back to my old life – like pubs, bars etc.

After a month I was invited as a member of the Program. I was ecstatic. The program was designed as follows: 4 months study English with other NGOs subjects, like project proposal, communication skills etc. in Sofia; 2-month training in International People’s College in Denmark, studying other subjects useful for working in an NGO; then again trainings and internships in Sofia.

This program changed my life so much, when I went back home I was asking myself how could these young people only think about pubs and bars, for marriages…how could they not have a bigger aim in life? How come they don’t want to finish their school education?

That’s how I began working in CEGA Foundation, I wanted to change the situation, I wanted the youth to have a chance to go out of their communities and not to be so closed, segregated. Since 2004 I have directed many trainings for the young Roma and since then I have seen a significant change in the youth that I have worked with – many would like to continue studying in university, they would like to travel abroad, as I have been fortunate to do.

Most of the youths from my community have been participants in the camp Forward Together, which changed their lives, event though it was only for 10 days. They found there lots of friends, found motivation to pursue life, and started to think about their lives and how continue their education. My personal experience shows that these kinds of activities really make a difference and are worth supporting.

My wife and I saw an incredible movie tonight called Gypsy Caravan: Where the Road Bends. It was the opening for the movie in New York City and after rave reviews in the New York Times, we went to see it with high expectations.

First off, the movie was wonderful. Bringing together Roma bands from India to Spain (including Macedonia and Romania), I was practically brought to tears listening to the variety and emotional complexity of the music. Despite the differences, there was an incredible similarity in the music. Additionally, the musicians themselves displayed an amazing camaraderie even though most of them did not speak the same language.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see the focus on the beautiful and positive aspects of the Roma people while bringing to light the horrific discrimination that many face. We were fortunate to participate in a Question and Answer session with the director, Jasmine Dellal, who was very passionate about her work with the Roma and extremely approachable.

Please look to see if the movie is coming to your area – www.gypsycaravanmovie.com

C.E.G.A. (Creating Effective Grassroots Alternatives) has been disseminating newsletters to the Roma community in Bulgaria for several years. Their latest initiative has an English version that is worth reading! The aim of the bulletin START is to give objective and analytical information for the processes connected with Roma integration in Bulgarian society to stakeholders abroad.

An excert:

“In January 2006 the first issue of C.E.G.A. Foundation’s bulletin, START (A Start for Tolerance with an Accent on Roma Tradition) was issued. It was established for a non‐for‐profit purpose – to improve the image of Roma people in the Bulgarian society by informing thepublic on all positive processes and events regaring the Roma community and its integration. This bulletin was almost indispensable –to compensate for the negativism widely proclaimed by the media with regard to Roma people and their integration.”

The START Bulletin # 1

The START Bulletin #2

 This is interesting information on roma women’s rights in the Balkans:

European Roma Rights Organization Quarterly – Romani Women’s Rights: Part 1

European Roma Rights Organization Quarterly – Romani Women’s Rights: Part 2