I’m writing this in Bulgaria,
where I am leading a CRED Team Trip. We are based in Stara Zagora – a community
of 150,000 people, that includes one of the largest Roma communities.
The main impression you get of SZ
is that of a fairly average, working – middle class town, with a nice
pedestrianized central area, lots of places to eat out, a range of shops, green
spaces, and the usual mix of housing, schools, employment, services etc.
But dig below the surface, and
‘otherisation’ hits you clean between the eyes!
Otherisation, according to the
urban dictionary, is the process of otherizing, which in turn means ‘to
make into the "other" to separate from the 'our'; to make a
distinction (negative connotation) – and it is sad to note how much we are
seeing this out here between the Roma and the non-Roma communities.
The staff that we are working with at the project are all fine,
and it’s been good to share with them about some of the frustrations they find
in their ongoing work trying to overcome it. But at other times it is very
obvious.
For example, our translators (who I have to say are very
accomplished translators for just 17 and 18 year olds), come from a local high
school that specializes in languages. For these students, the opportunity to
practice their translation and English skills is invaluable, and so we have
different ones each day, to spread the opportunity.
They are very intrigued to know what we are doing, and why, and
in particular why we are helping in a school that has so many Roma kids in it,
rather than going to a school that is better organized with ‘better students’
in it. For most of them, this is the first time they have been into such a
school, or mixed with such children, and so their eyes are definitely being
opened.
But it has been disappointing to hear some of the comments that
they make about the Roma kids, without thinking. It is clearly inherent in
their sector of society to assume that the Roma kids have no future, no value
and aren’t really worth making much effort for. Otherisation so inherent within
them that it has become a subconscious way of being.
And it has reminded me that on this trip, quite apart from the
benefits we are bringing to the Roma kids, just our presence in working with
these children, and in showing inclusivity to them, is speaking a lot to other
parts of the local community.
One thing that we did last night, to experience one of the ways
in which inclusivity and unity is being encouraged in the community, was a
bread-making workshop run by a local ambassador of the Bread Houses Network.
Quite apart from the joy of making bread together, it was
fascinating to hear about the organization, and their work that started in
Bulgaria and has spread around the world. Through the Bread House Network, the
simple experience of joining together to make, bake, break and share bread
together has been used across cultural divides, across political divides, and
to unite people of different gender, class, ages and abilities.
A very inspiring evening, quite apart from resulting in some
delicious, fresh-baked, straight-from-the-oven bread to share, and a good
counter to some of the negative comments that we have been hearing that are the
stuff that stops the world spinning smoothly on its axis.
PS For more insight into the
Bread Houses Network go to: http://www.breadhousesnetwork.org
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