Zineta Selimovic: Roma want to be part of the modern world

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Monday, 06 July 2020 13:07

NGO Roma from North, led by Zineta Selimovic from Bijelo Polje, is doing everything to empower Roma men and women to actively participate in society. Selimovis says that cooperation between Roma NGOs is the most important, and the fruit of that teamwork will surely be sweet and recognized by other NGOs and the majority population. Zineta's contribution was especially visible during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The wave that swept the Roma settlements did not overwhelm them, thanks to her accomplishments. She invited her fellow citizens to stay at home and save their own and the health of others, she delivered food and hygiene products to their families... She taught us solidarity, unity, and showed how important it is to take care of others. We talked to, we can freely say, one of the heroines of the Roma community about the training, the projects she implements, the burning housing issue, and other problems of the Roma population in Bijelo Polje.

How satisfied are you with cooperation with NGO Young Roma?

SELIMOVIC: Our NGO was created with the strong support of NGO Young Roma who empowered us as individuals and groups to organize and register and take responsibility for the success of the process of integration of us Roma in Montenegro. Our cooperation is more than good; we share responsibilities, as well as satisfaction with the results in the field of Roma integration, which we will certainly achieve in the future. I consider this organization „responsible“ for visible and accelerated positive changes for us members of the Roma population in Montenegro.

One of the projects, supported by the NGO Young Roma last year through the small grants program, is Capacity Building of the Roma Civil Sector which was implemented in partnership with the Roma Movement by your NGO Roma from North. What has been achieved, are you satisfied with the results?

SELIMOVIC: The results were useful to us, the beneficiaries of the project, from several aspects. We realized that many Roma, especially young people, are crying out to learn something. They want to be a part of the modern world. We got to know each other throughout the project. We met some people, activists from other NGOs who are from the majority community, who helped us learn something new and useful, but also to understand that there are people who want to help us, but more importantly - that there is no help if we Roma do not engage and if we are not united in that engagement. The importance of teamwork and togetherness is crucial in the process of our integration. During the project, we acquired certain skills and knowledge in creating and implementing projects, which are useful for everyday life.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, you contributed to the REspect campaign, organized by the NGO Young Roma, and invited fellow citizens and members of the Roma community to stay at home, save themselves, their families, and others. How much did your message resonate and did your fellow citizens listen to you?

SELIMOVIC: It all started through the REspect campaign, sending messages, distributing info-materials, procuring tanks, and then we started providing food and hygiene products. I must point out that some owners of Bijelo Polje companies, butchers and bakers made an immeasurable contribution to that campaign. Every day we provided and distributed milk and bread for the most vulnerable Roma families. Rozana and I were on the front line of that campaign, but there were also Esko, Ringo, Robert, Tanja... What I learned in this situation is that it feels so nice when you help others, and we Roma don't really have the opportunity to do that since we live in poverty and for generations and generations, we survive mostly with the help of the majority community. Now they recognize and congratulate me in the city. They say: „The Roma woman who helps her community“. This is an incredibly valuable experience for me.

How important is the cooperation of Roma organizations? You and Rozana are quite recognized in Bijelo Polje and by your actions, you encourage Roma women for active inclusion in social trends.

SELIMOVIC: As I said, harmony and togetherness within the Roma community are prerequisites for our faster and better integration. Our organizations can serve as an example of good practice. We believe that this is one NGO with two solutions and two seals. We don't care who will be the leader and who is a partner in the project, because our target group and goal are joint. I take this opportunity to appeal to all Roma organizations to network, cooperate, and share information, responsibility, and the „cake“, so that every member of the Roma population benefits from this action. Let's leave the slogan „I'm only saving my Roma“, it won't bring benefits to the community. In other respects, we have an obligation to the wider community, which selflessly helps us to make the whole society prosper. Therefore, we are obliged to the network to more efficiently implement the process of integration of the Roma population in Montenegro.

Your organization also influenced the solution to the problem of lack of water and electricity in Nedakusi in the middle of the pandemic. How did you help?

SELIMOVIC: With the support of the NGO Young Roma, we bought and installed a tank for drinking water, and with the support of the Fire Department we have been regularly filling it with drinking water ever since. Before that, the residents of the Roma settlement next to the railway used to bring jugs of water from various locations every day. They were so happy the day they realized they were provided with drinking water! An agreement with the Municipal Secretariat for Housing helped us solve the electricity issue by installing lighting in the middle of the settlement, which is so great for Roma families living there. The progress in the fight for a better life for us Roma in the municipality of Bijelo Polje is visible due to the joint action of us activists from the Roma civil sector. And I must point out that we were supported by the NGO Young Roma in all possible ways.

Was there any progress and information on resolving the Roma housing issue?

SELIMOVIC: About ten days ago, we had an extremely productive meeting with the local government, led by the Mayor Petar Smolovic, at which we finally agreed, or rather harmonized on how to solve the housing problem for Roma families, especially those from Rakonje. For now, we are very satisfied with the understanding we reached, if the agreement is implemented, we will be satisfied, and we - activists from the Roma community are proud of our work and contribution we have made.

Author: Milena Cavic

Text adapted by: Samir Jaha

The views expressed in this article do not represent in any way the views of the NGO Young Roma, the European Union, the Council of Europe and other donors.