Nardi Ahmetovic: Roma people have a rich culture that deserves full promotion

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Tuesday, 23 June 2020 12:31

Nardi Ahmetovic came to Montenegro when he was seven years old. He finished primary and secondary school in Niksic. The award for his active support of others as an honorary citizen is another’s sign of his empathy. Listening to his own and the needs of young members of the Roma community he founded NGOCenter for the affirmation of Rome and Egyptians. He is an active member of the local action group in the ROMACTED, joint programme between European Union and the Council of Europe. We talked with Ahmetović about cooperation with NGO Young Roma, volunteerism, life in Montenegro.

When did you establish your NGO Center for Affirmation of the Roma Population? How did you take that step, where did the idea come from, and was there any fear? Describe the beginnings of your work.

AHMETOVIC: NGO CAREP was founded three years ago and our vision is a society in which Roma are equal and full members of the municipality of Nikšić and Montenegro. I have been active since I was 15 years old, so I met various non-governmental organizations and got the desire to solve community problems and provide a different view of education and lifestyle. There was no fear because I was already a participant in trainings and seminars, and later I became an educator.

Where is your NGO today? What are the most important achievements? What are you currently working on?

AHMETOVIC: Currently we are implementing our second project Media for us - we learn and create, supported by Montenegro Media Institute. We are constantly working on developing the organization and raising awareness among young members of the RE population to be activists/volunteers. We expect support soon and the beginning of the third project, which will also deal with activism and youth. We received key support for the development of all three projects through the ROMACTED programme.

Members of your organization CAREP participated in the first aid competition for youth from Niksic, organized by the Red Cross, on May 25 last year. What memories do you have about that event?

AHMETOVIC: I have beautiful memories of that event. In a short time, we managed to prepare a team composed of members of the Roma community, which for the first time in the history of Nikšić and beyond competed in this area. As a great team named First Aid CAREP, we won second place and we were surprised by results. It was important for us to participate and to be a part of the competition. We are preparing youth teams this year as well. The ROMACTED project provided financial support for this activity last year. I hope that donors will help so that we can participate again. I think this is how we promote activism and young people.

You were the implementer of the project Young people represent themselves and their culture - We are here! with the NGO „Young Roma“. Who supported the project and what did you achieve? 

AHMETOVIC: That project is the first we have realized. We gained the trust and support of the NGO Young Roma who provided us with a mentor in the implementation.

It lasted from October 1 to December 31, 2019, and was financed with funds in the amount of 3,050 Euros. I worked out the idea with my team and mentor. I wanted to promote our culture with young people from our community and draw the attention of the local and wider community to ourselves and our friends. No nation is without culture, and the Roma have a rich culture that deserves a full promotion.

The key results of the project are strengthened individual and activist capacities of young Roma and greater visibility and understanding of the specifics of Roma culture and tradition in Montenegrin society. The project activities were two performances of the forum theater (one in the Roma settlement and the other at the Faculty of Philosophy), an interactive fair of Roma culture with the participation of young Roma men and women, as well as the wider population in the Cultural-Artistic Society Zahumlje (KUD Zahumlje). They were later donated to the same institution for further purposes and the promotion of valuable Roma culture. Finally, we prepared and published a brochure about this project in order to leave a written trace about our work. After the first realized project, I think that preconditions have been created for gaining the support of other donors for our activities.

You have been working as a human rights activist since the age of fifteen. You are a Red Cross volunteer and you were a health mediator in the Health Center Nikšić. Where did the idea of volunteerism come from? Did you participate in the distribution of the help packages provided by ROMACTED? What is the situation with health mediators in Niksic?

AHMETOVIC: I could write a book about volunteering. I’ve given a lot of interviews, so I’ll answer briefly. As a boy, I fell in love with a red uniform. My love for volunteerism can be seen in my award, which I received this year as an honorary citizen, as one of 41 people who actively provided assistance in the Red Cross. Of all the representatives from Montenegro who are involved in the municipal organizations of the Red Cross, the three of us chose to present the Red Cross and be part of the ceremony. I have participated in the distribution of packages distributed through ROMACTED, as well as in many donations.

The health mediator in Nikšić does not exist for half a year. I was involved as a mediator and that meant a lot to the RE community. We helped and were a link between institutions and the community. I hope that a solution will be found and an opportunity will be created for Roma to be employed in health care.

Since you arrived in Montenegro from Italy when you were seven, what are your thoughts about the area you live in today? Do you sometimes think you would be better off there, rather than here today?

AHMETOVIC: Yes, that's right. However, life is not easy wherever you go, and I am a member of the Roma minority, which unfortunately is not yet sufficiently integrated into society and which does not have the right protection and assistance. Life chose its own path and here I am in Montenegro. I’m not sorry that I’m here today and I don’t feel like a stranger and someone who wants to leave this beautiful country. I love that I’m here with my dearest, my friends. Maybe one day I will go to another country to get an education and gain a better future. I never thought I would be better off in Italy because I go there every other year on holiday with my family. However, my grandfather is in Niksic, my house and family is always waiting for me.

The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union and the Council of Europe.