Romani Roots

Holocaust Memorial Day January 2008

We approached the local council and were told the Romani Race  were not involved  in their Holocaust Memorial Day.

  The Holocaust Commitee subsequently invited us to participate in the event.

On the day  Council Members, MPs, the Mayor, youth groups,  members of Ethnic Races and Victim Races of the Holocaust made a pilgrimage from the Town Hall to the Town Centre and then onto the Holocaust Memorial erected at the Town Centre Church.

At the Town Centre Romani Roots members led the memorial service.  After a brief description of the  genocide of the Rromani, our requested song  Ederlezi by Goran Bregovic was  played and members of our organsiation  lit the Memorial Candle in rememberance of all victims lost in the Holcaust.

February 2008

After the Holcaust Memorial Event the Holcaust Memorial Committee met to discuss the event and make further recommendations for tuture events of this nature.

It was decieded that Romani Roots had impressed the committee with its input and that  the Romani Roots Chairperson be invited to become a permanent committee member of the Holocaust Memorial Committee.

This invitation was duely excepted by our Chairperson of behalf of Romani Roots , our members and the local Romani community.

 ©2008 ROMANI ROOTS

 Romani Roots members attended the opening of  a new branch of the Barnados project called "WHEELS". 

 The  project offers secondary school pupils the chance to gain recognised qualifications but also receive more personalised advice and support with interview preparation, life skills such as cooking and budgeting and difficulties they may be experiencing at home or in their life generally.

Once again we were well recieved and will be supporting the project in a cultural and adisory capacity.

ROMANI ROOTS was part of the Gypsy Roma Traveller History  Month event  at Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury on Sunday 15th June this year and it was a huge success for not only ourselves but all the contributers.

 

It gave all the opportunity to find out about Gypsy history and culture; past and present by way of a series of interactive workshops demonstrating past and present skills i.e. basket weaving, peg making, holly wreaths,wagon making/ restoring etc. There was also various informative displays from organisations, including ourselves.

 Also the Worcestershire Education Bus was on site to show videos of Gypsies throughtout recent history on video, and other educational videos from organisations, including our own.

Our deepest thanks to Gretal Roberts, GRTHM event co-oridnator, Trish MacDonald, GRHTM Regional co-ordinator and Sue Pope, Museum Adminstrator for their support and help before and during the event

 We had  the outcome of BOTH of the applications in two grant categories of the county council grant award scheme -

SUCCESSFUL:

 1)"CELEBRATING CUTURAL DIVERSITY"

 Event: ETERNAL WHEELS -A promotional and educational day on Romani Culture (including History, Culture, Craft, workshops, displays);

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SUCCESSFUL:

 2)"FIRST BASE - SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY ARTS"

 Event: ARTS TRAVELLING  - a fun-day containing arts, crafts, quizes, workshops and a Heritage Hunt.

 ©2007 WORCS COUNTY COUNCIL

It was an opportunity for the local communities, both ethnic and British, to come together and celebrate the diverse local community in a positive light.  We had our new display, our DVD  and a "what are the Romani Roots?" map game for the younger visitors to play on site.

What promised to be a enjoyable and fun day for all the family was exactly that. Dispite the gale force winds and torential rain ar times, the bursts of bright and warm sunshine in betwween brought the public out in force and we had much enjoyable interaction and positive feedback during the day.

We were approached by the Races Equality Officer at a Young Offenders' Insitute on Oxfordshire, to offer an event as a follow-on event to the Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.  We will be attending this establishement in July 2008 to supply this event to the young persons there. This event will include display, DVD  and Q & A . 

This was a  brilliant opportunity for young people to learn and relate in a positive manner to Gypsy & Traveller and we were well recieved.

Both staff and inmates enjoyed our display and DVD, asked many questions  and felt well informed by our visit there.

We also had the opportunity of meet some young Irish Traveller inmates who were pleased to be able to express their culture and inform the other inmates.

We will be happy at offer future events at this establishment. should we be asked.

 Traditionally whilst having a cordial public communication with the local and regional Govermental bodies, we have found that privately we are undesirable and unwelcome.  However, Jackie was very interested in dialogue with ourselves and keen to build communication, understanding and liason between Gypsy & Traveller and Goverment.  

We  discussed relevant issues and built a permanent and positive dialogue between the Gypsy & Traveller communities and the larger communities  in which we live and the Goverment, on a local and national level.

RICHARD O'NIELL - Romany Storyteller (see Richard's page.) Richard kindly showed the craft of pegmaking.

"LOLLY D" -  singer - this young lady is of Romany Heritage and sang a small repatoire of Romany and non-Romany songs. 

PUPPET TREE COMMUNITY ARTS - Entertainers

GYPSY TRAVELLER PARTNERSHIP - Nick Parker and others.

AJANTA - Romany inspired band

MIRIAM WAKERLY - Author of "Gypsies Stop tHere"  sold and signed copies of her book

COTTAGE BOOKS - Jenny  Boyd-Cropley (see  Bookworm page)

REDDITCH CHINESE ASSOCIATION - Promoted & celebrated Chinese culture & heritage

CARRIBEAN ROOTS - Promoted & celebrated Carribbean cultural heritage

EL AMERAT - Belly dancers

TALKING DRUMS -  drumplaying

 GRASSROOTS ALLOTMENT PROJECT -a community allotment based in Batchley, Redditch involving local children.

DABBLERS - facepainting

 METALHEADS DISCO -  kindly played Romany music and personnel requests at our event.

WEST MERCIA POLICE - Diversity Officer Doug Truland did a display.

WE PLAYED MUSIC FROM ROMANY AROUND THE WORLD AND THIS INCLUDED KERIEVA AND GYPSY BOY LEE WINTERS!!!!!

 Some members of ROMANI ROOTS attended this Open Day and found the day interesting and enjoyable. They were made very welcome by the hosts and will be keeping in contact with them.

Sadly ROMANI ROOTS were denied the opportunity to host a display of any kind, as we were were refused by the RTFHS committee.  However the day was still felt a success as many of our members were able to meet face to face for the first time.

Due to awaitng our new grant we were unable to offer a larger display, however we were warmly welcomed as always by the Black and Carribbean communities.

The public feedback from the event informed us that all found the display and DVD informative, interesting and enjoyable. We were had offers of contributions towards our own new event sceduled for November.

This substancial grant has allowed us for set up an organisational office base with equipment and order larger more substancial display boards for events etc.

The postal address for correspondence is:

ROMANI ROOTS

THE BUSINESS CENTRE

EDWARD STREET

REDDITCH

WORCS

 B97 6HA

We have for some time worked from members homes, but with our membership, commitments, projects and organisation rapidly expanding this became to small an enviroment.

We know that to be able to sustain and expand the services we offer and to have ourselves viewed as a serious and professional organisation, we need our new office.

Our new office and equipment will not only allow us to do precisely that - but also we will be able to offer a answering service, greater confidentiality and security and hold AGMSs and other essential meeting with various public bodies, organsiations and persons, where previously we were unable to do so.

We hosted two events on this day:

ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR : 3pm - 6pm                         

This was an opportunity to view, enjoy and purchase the Arts & Crafts of the local community and Ethnic groups, including the Romani Gypsy. The interesting and artistic talents of many were on show and sold, as  special christmas presents.

 OPRE MUSIC FESTIVAL : 6pm -10pm         

We celebrated our organisations 1st anniversary with Romani, other community groups and Ethnic organisations. It was an evening of music, dance and song that entertained all with the talents and  culture of both Romani and non-Romani alike. There where food tasters from the various community and Ethnic groups on the evening.