RGDTS ROMA GADJE PARBESZED AZ ONKENTES SZOLGALAT ALTAL NONPROFIT KFT

“I chose to make my EVS with RGDTS-Phiren Amenca for their democratic beliefs and for the power of initiative they offer to volunteers” – Angela Ionescu, former EVS volunteer, hosted by RGDTS between 2015-2016 Racism Stereotypes and racism are the root causes of social exclusion and marginalization of Roma. As Roma and non-Roma we want to create equal opportunities for all young people in our societies, especially through giving equal access to voluntary service. RGDTS is a member of and functions as the coordination office of the Phiren Amenca International Network, which is a network of Roma and non-Roma volunteers and voluntary service organizations creating opportunities for non-formal education, dialogue and engagement, in order to challenge stereotypes, racism and antigypsyism. “Phiren Amenca” is a Romani expression meaning “come and share a journey with us.” In our understanding this journey is personal, its space and length are different, but the final aim should be the respect that develops between Roma and non-Roma. RGDTS has gained a considerable experience over 15 years through engaging over 400 young Roma and non-Roma in voluntary service programs. Since 2013 RGDTS developed its work in Hungary to work for the empowerment, mobilization, self-organization and participation of Roma youth. We believe that volunteering is a powerful tool of social change, as volunteers dedicate their time and energy to contribute to society. Based on national and international voluntary service programs, the Phiren Amenca network creates opportunities for young Roma and non-Roma to live and engage in local communities and projects for up to one year The experience of voluntary service can both stimulate & challenge young people through meeting new cultures, languages, people and ideas. This opportunity can enable the volunteers to develop new skills and talents, discover new interests, and make new relationships. Phiren Amenca network wants to support and encourage volunteers in this learning experience through seminars on intercultural learning, conflict-management, Roma history and cultures, civil rights activism, as well as discrimination, mechanisms of exclusion, antigypsyism and extremist movements today. In 2014 RGDTS organized with the Council of Europe Youth Department a National Training Course on Human Rights Education for Roma youth leaders in Hungary in the European Youth Centre Budapest. We organized a group of 120 young people from various communities and Roma youth organizations to participate in the Roma Genocide Remembrance Initiative in August 2014 in Krakow (Poland). In the last years RGDTS was working on national and local projects on challenging antigypsyism and antisemitism, developing interfaith and interethnic dialogue as well. May 2009, RGDTS was recognized as one of seven Ambassadors for Democracy and Tolerance by the Alliance for Democracy and Tolerance, a campaign sponsored by the German federal government. In March 2010 RGDTS was one of 21 EU -funded projects selected to be displayed at the conference: “European Union Projects in favour of the Roma Community” held in Brussels. Visit www.phirenamenca.eu for more info. “Phiren Amenca is a platform which offers so many opportunities for young people. It creates events where people can meet and share their own ideas, youth exchanges which allow people to travel and see new places and new cultures. It also supports volunteering abroad for Roma and non-Roma young people, during which the participants can deeply discover a new country, trying the experience of living abroad and going out of their comfort zone. I think this is an important and effective way to challenge stereotypes and racism, because it gives people the opportunity to go beyond them and to see the world with their own eyes.” – Livia Lainati, former EVS volunteer at RGDTS between 2016-2017 Background and founding of the organization: The Roma-Gadje Dialogue through Service (RGDTS) Initiative began