Address: str.Vasilkivska, 53 korp.1, app.93. Kiev 02731 Ukraine.
Tel/fax 4557246, 2571929 e-mail: ssidd@skif.com.ua ;
Contact person- Zemfira Kondur, Yuliya Kondur 2571929, +380672497119
Our organization was founded by Roma individuals, and the main goals of the organization are: to protect social, human, educational, cultural health rights of Roma; created favourable condition for the saving and developing Roma culture, tradition, social-economical and political position of Roma.
- Financial and charitable support to socially unprotected Roma (orphans, refugees, poor people, disable, unemployed, multychildren families, single mothers, others).
- Cultural and educational work
- Medical investigation of Roma children, women, girls, and the conditions of their life.
- Health-improving for children and elders with different kinds of diseases.
- Lobbying of Roma issues on the Governmental level.
Aims:
Charitable help which is directed to the protection of Roma and Roma women, who require moral, financial, social, legal protection and help.
- Providing charitable help directed to defence of interests of Roma, who need in financial, legal medical and other help;
- Creating favourable condition for practical realization of national, international and regional programs, which are directed to improvement of social-economical and political position of Roma;
- Creating and realizing programs connected with progressing national, cultural, language, educational, traditions and art creativity;
- Rendering assistant to the socially unprotected layer of the population, multychildren families, pregnant women, children, orphans.
- Protection of health and saving cultural traditions, education-oriented initiatives.
Activities:
For example: to change the difficult situation in Roma education we opened Roma educational centre in Izmail (preschool education, education for youth, and prepare them for the higher education, searching for the scholarships, internships, for all children developing of social skills, etc.). After successful work of this centre we started to replicate our experience to other Roma NGO’s in Ukraine by providing trainings, organizing first in Ukraine Roma Educational network, training for teachers Roma, for non Roma teachers to overcome negative stereotypes to Roma children, and to provide new methods of work with children. Provide informational and financial assistance for opening Roma educational centres in Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Uzhorod, Odessa, Balta. Also we organise meetings of Roma teachers with the Ministry of Education department of national minorities education. Also in cooperation with the UNPD to change the situation in children rights; with the Global fund for Women to bring gender programs and education to Roma communities.
In 2006 started to implement project on Human Rights education of Roma children, about their rights, supported by UNDP.
In the same years implementation of the project on “Integration of Roma children in to Ukrainian society” began with the support of Childhood foundation.
In 2007 first time in Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Education it was held course “Integration of Roma children in to Ukrainian society”, for teachers of primary schools and Roma teachers from 7 regions of Ukraine.
In the field of medicine: our organization opened pilot rooms of “Mother and child” in Izmail, Uzhorod, Donetsk. The purpose of this rooms is to provide free medical investigation to Roma women, girls, children; to provide first medical assistance, consultation, and educational work on reproductive health. Also in 2004 year we organized first training in Ukraine for Roma women on reproductive health. In the end of April we will start research on “Virginity cult” among Roma communities in Ukraine, based on the results of research we plan to develop educational Reproductive health program for Roma women.
In 2006 we made a pilot project in Roma communities on HARM REDUCTION, also collected information about HIV/AID problems in Roma communities and TB situation of Roma in Ukraine.
In 2008 education of Roma coomunities on TB infection and propoganda of healthy life style. Lobbying Ministry of Health to adopt Roma health mediators program.
To save and develop Roma culture our organization in cooperation wit the Roma Association of izmail we organized 6 Festival of Roma culture, one summer cultural school for youth and elders ( to exchange with information and knowledge about Roma traditions, culture, Roma trade etc). Also in the Educational centres we have such lesson as Romany culture, choreography.
In 2007 organised Exhibition “Holocaust against Sinti and Roma and present day discrimination against Roma in Europe”.
To change the situation on the governmental level we organise seminars, round-tables meeting with the participation of international experts and government representatives and Roma NGO’s. Also we are lobbing in the government bodies Roma issues and making proposals for different Ministries how to improve social and living conditions of Roma people in Ukraine. Our organization has good cooperation with the Roma NGO’s officials and international organization, Council of Europe (CoE), European Roma Rights centre (ERRC).
First in Ukraine we raised the question of Roma women. With the participation of CoE in Kiev it was held first conference “Roma women double discrimination”. As a result we started Roma women program in Ukraine. In October 2003 in cooperation with the CoE was held first round- table “Development of Roma communities and improvement of social conditions of Roma in Ukraine”. The next step in 2004 was of holding first in Ukraine training for Roma “Framework convention on the protection of national minorities and advocacy skills”. Also it was held very important event for Ukraine as “Round table on the CoE Advisory Committee’s recommendations on the situation of the Roma in Ukraine”, with the participation of member of UN comity of children rights, ERRC, Ministries, Roma NGO’s.
After such important events special recommendations were developed for the governmental bodies, ministries. As a result in 2005 Roma fund raised the question of the Parliament hearings on Roma issues. Parliament with the cooperation of the Roma women charitable fund “Chiricly”, All-Ukrainian Association of national-cultural organizations, and Forumo Romen Ukrainatar, preparing Parliament Comity on human rights, national minorities issues, hearings on Roma situation in Ukraine.
Also based on the round-tables recommendations, discussions, recommendations of the independent experts and recommendations of the CoE, our organization prepared Governmental program for improving Roma situation in Ukraine for the period 2006—2010 that will be send to the Government Department of National Minorities, Parliament, and other relevant bodies for adopting this program.
In 2006 in cooperation with the European Roma Rights centre organised Round table discussion on “Inclusion of Ukraine in to European Roma Decade”.
Since 2006 –present time lobbying comprehensive Antidiscrimination law in Ukraine.
2007-2008 Trainings for law-enforcement representatives on Internation legislation on minorities rights and antidiscrimiation legislation.
