Bringing Roma reality through art

TIRANA, oct.4- “Romani Realities: From Exclusion to Inclusion”, a traveling photo exhibition organized by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Albania, has opened at the National Culture Center (the Pyramid). The event has been organized within the framework of the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005 – 2015 initiative, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The exhibition will be shown in the cities of Tirana, Elbasan and Kor衬 between 2 and 28 October 2007. The exhibition seeks to increase public awareness on the Roma Decade’s targets and challenges.
The photos exhibited were taken by Swiss photographer Yves Leresche in Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Kosovo.
The exhibition is organized by the Swiss Cooperation Office along with Pro Helvetia, UNICEF, Terre des Hommes, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MoLSAEO), the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MoES), the Center for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Ndihm롰철F쮩j촠(NPF), Rromani Baxt, Amaro Drom and Amaro Dives.
The central message of the event is “Inclusion through Education.” Without a proper education, Romas are unable to work and are condemned to live in poverty. To bridge the educational gap, Roma students require special support and attention by teachers. That is what the SDC is supporting in Albania through the Ndihm롐철F쮩j촠(NPF) project: schooling of Roma street children and increasing their abilities to find a job later, as well as the promotion of reproductive health and health education among Roma women.
The exhibition in Tirana was opened by the Ambassador of Switzerland in Albania, Erich Pircher, together with the Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Kosta Barka, and the Minister of Education and Sciences, Genc Pollo.
The exhibition is accompanied by various events such as round table discussions, films and public concerts.