Family measures are supporting Roma families in moving forward
Every year on 8th April we celebrate International Roma Day. On this day, in 1971, the First World Roma Congress was held, where delegates decided to call the ethnic group itself Roma. Since 1990, the international community has been celebrated to what and to whom Roma should be proud of. Throughout the history, there has been many Roma athletes, actors, musicians and war heroes who were honoured to be Hungarians and we can be proud of many Roma role models of the present as well.
Over the past decade, progress has been unquestionable in Roma communities, even if there is still much to be done, for example in improving housing, employment and educational conditions. In 2021, in the 118 settlements with a much larger Roma population than the national average participating in the programme of catching-up settlements, many people were able to benefit from the opportunities offered by family-related measures: home creation, baby expecting subsidy, child welfare measures such as free meals for children, free holiday camps, services and discounts provided by Sure Start Children's Houses or Tanoda Afterschool Activities provide direct assistance to many Roma families. Family allowances are demonstrably and effectively contributing to the progress of Roma families.
Among other things, it is clear that the home-creation program is also popular in the catching-up settlements, especially the village home-start subsidy. On average, the allowances amount to HUF 5.7 million per family. Half of the subsidies was used for the expansion or renovation of existing property by families and half for moving to another property.
In addition to creating stable housing, the cooperation of generations is also very important in Roma families. Roma young people are counting on older people to take over some of the tasks of raising and supervising children, which is also beneficial for the elderly, since they are together with their family members. Nearly half of the Roma grandparents meet their children and a quarter of them meet their grandchildren every day. Families are characterised by close cooperation based on respect for elderly parents and relatives and a commitment to their care within the family.
In the value research of KINCS on Roma families; family and family safety are the most important factors for the Roma respondents. Two-thirds of them feel particularly happy. In addition to the family, their belonging to the Hungarian nation is also decisive in their identity. Our surveys clearly refute the prejudices about the Roma people that they would consider themselves less Hungarian. The Roma are definitely proud of their Hungarian citizenship. 88% of Roma respondents agreed with the statement that "I prefer to be a Hungarian citizen rather than to be a citizen of any other country", while the same indicator was lower for all respondents, 85%. So, like the majority of the society, Roma are also proud of their Hungarianness. The fact that Roma people agreed with the whole population (88%) in almost the same proportion (89%) with the statement "I am proud to be Hungarian" also symbolizes the common national cohesion.
On the occasion of the International Roma Day, we remember the past of the Roma people, their cultural values and the achievements of the community, but we must also remember that there is still work to be done for the catching-up of Roma communities. This day is an excellent opportunity to draw attention to the fact that in our country our Roma compatriots are important and prominent members of the broad community of Hungarians. Let us express that it is a pride to be Hungarian and Roma, with the words of József Kovács, a stateless Roma poet:
“I confess and undertake that I am wearing two gold straps: one is Hungarian culture, the other one is my Gypsyism, and I do not want to give up either.”
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