GOOD NEWS!!! MTV SAF approval!!!

As some of you already know, RROMA was preparing an application for the MTV Staying Alive Foundation (SAF). The whole idea came from the youth, who thought that is about time we break the taboo and stigma that this community have regarding certain topics as sexual intercourse and diseases and start to address a serious issue concerning the health of the people. The issue was AIDS, the HIV virus and STD.

We found out on the internet about the MTV SAF application and sent out a resume of 300 words, just to check out our luck and see if these people would be interested to hear about a small Roma NGO from Macedonia and their idea. The people from SAF liked it and sent us a whole application form, which meant that we were in the second round for their award. After sending out the application we got notified that we are in the third and final round, before getting approved, so we had a interview via phone with MTV SAF and on the 27 of May we got notified that our project got approved.

This means RROMA will work one year under the logo of MTV SAF on an awareness campaign regarding AIDS, HIV and STD.

As you know RROMA's vision is Roma youth to become promoters of positive values. This is more than positive :)) this is great. Because for the first time a NGO from Macedonia got an award from MTV and the NGO itself is a Roma NGO. This project gives Roma youth the opportunity to be leaders of a change and to break the stigma and taboo not only for them selves, but also for the others around them. Roma youth will have a leading position and the chance to be assertive and leave the shadows of "passiveness" behind.

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RROMA sharing their experience on youth and information

RROMA's president was invited from the local youth club "Young Initiatives of Kratovo" to share the experience regarding youth and information, but also youth inclusion in problem solving that concerns this target group.On this event, which was held in the Municipality of Kratovo, were also present young people from around the town and local NGO representatives.

Beside RROMA, on this public debate, another speaker was the editor of the local Newspaper "Aberdzija", Oliver Arsovski, who explained to the youth how important it is to be informed.

The president of RROMA continues saying that it is important to be informed as a young individuals, but only having the information and not acting on behalf of it, leads to have a passive youth. The youth needs to be assertive according to him.

It was a very interesting event and we hope that the youth from Kratovo will act and become more assertive regarding problems that concern them as young individuals.

RROMA service

On the 24-th of May 2010, RROMA had their meeting with the youth, were a program for their service was created.

The RROMA service is group of young Roma leaders who are doing non-formal education of their peers. The aim is the young Roma that will attend this meetings of non-formal education to become active citizens, but also the vision is those young individuals to become active members of RROMA.

The service will be an after-school activity during school year in five Municipalities, using the active members of RROMA to teach their peers when the school years starts. The topics will be various including human rights, minorities rights, lobby and advocacy, but also daily school problems that bother the youth.

We looking forward to have you there :)