Throughout February and March 2023, as part of my PhD research, I spent time with a Hosta Gypsy community in the village of Rizgari, Iraqi Kurdistan. During discussions with the community on how I could give something back (after all, they welcomed me; allowed me to take up their time; opened their homes, lives, thoughts and inner-most feelings to me; taught me; and helped pave an additional step towards publishing articles and ultimately, writing my PhD thesis), many people asked if I could help improve access to education for Rizgari's youth. The community leader also asked if I would help raise the funds to repair, refurbish, and reopen the community centre. I have therefore been (and will continue) fundraising with the community leader to achieve these goals for the community centre - it has a facebook page where progress will updated here. If you would like to get involved, please feel free to contact me!
I am also currently working with grassroots organisation Youth Speak to secure funding and implement a pilot programme which seeks to improve access to education for young Hosta by providing 'scholarships' for secondary school (though schooling is free in Iraqi Kurdistan, the severity of poverty experienced by many Hosta families prevents them from being able to afford transport and stationary etc - scholarships will cover these costs). If you would like to be involved in this in any way - again please feel free to contact me, or reach out to Youth Speak In the meantime, there is a fundraiser to cover initial costs (school uniforms, shoes, school supplies, transport to and from school) here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-roma-students-in-kri-get-to-secondary-school
My blog posts focusing on Rizgari can be found here and here.
I am also currently working with grassroots organisation Youth Speak to secure funding and implement a pilot programme which seeks to improve access to education for young Hosta by providing 'scholarships' for secondary school (though schooling is free in Iraqi Kurdistan, the severity of poverty experienced by many Hosta families prevents them from being able to afford transport and stationary etc - scholarships will cover these costs). If you would like to be involved in this in any way - again please feel free to contact me, or reach out to Youth Speak In the meantime, there is a fundraiser to cover initial costs (school uniforms, shoes, school supplies, transport to and from school) here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-roma-students-in-kri-get-to-secondary-school
My blog posts focusing on Rizgari can be found here and here.