The Roma, a subgroup of the Romani people who live primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, were formerly known as “Gypsies.”
Romani were forced out of their nomadic lives around the 1700’s and have been persecuted and highly discriminated against for hundreds of years.
Topaana, Macedonia is a predominantly Roma community.
Ten percent of Topaana’s children never enroll in school.
Of those who do, nearly fifty percent will drop out by 5th grade.
In Topaana the unemployment rate is over 80%
Although their families have lived here for centuries, 30% of Roma in Macedonia do not have citizenship documents – they have no legal identity.
Since their homes do not meet codes of safety, they are denied a legal registered address.
A registered address is a prerequisite for receiving health insurance, social assistance, and to register your child for school.
Without a registered address and legal identity Roma are barred access to education, health services, housing, formal employment, financial services, social security, justice, property rights, legal marriage, and participation in the democratic process.
Nationally, 89% of Roma live in income-based poverty.
Roma children who beg on the streets for their livelihood (“street children”) often do so in busy and dangerous intersections.
Life expectancy of the Roma population in Macedonia is significantly lower than of the general population.
Only 3.7 percent of Roma are aged 65 or above, as compared to 10.4 percent of the overall population.
Around half of Roma in Macedonia live in informal, overcrowded or inadequate housing.
“There are some 15 million Roms dispersed across the world. Their history is one of suffering and misery, but it is also one of the victories of human spirit over the blows of fate.” – Indira Ghandi, Former Prime Minister of India
-A Sumnal slideshow, Jessica Mangskau, adaptation
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