Sunday, February 4, 2007
Team I
From left to right :
1. Luis Manuel Pinto - Belgium - Coordinator of European Peer Training Organisation
2. Beata Olahova - Slovakia - Member of and active in the Forum of European Roma Young People
3. Manuela Tavares - Portugal - Project manager and Trainer - Young Women from Minorities
4. Quentin Guffens - Ouffet High's school Student in Belgium & actif participant of organisation “Le monde des possibles” – A school for the new comers
5. Naïma Amezziane - Social worker in “Le Jardin des Enfants” ASBL, a social centre for creative expression in Belgium
6. Turgut Dag - German citizen of Kurdish origin, Living in Berlin, Working for “Anne-Frank-Zentrum” on anti-racism
7. David Joyce - Student - Young member of the Travelling Community of Ireland
8. Benjamin Horvath - Born in Germany, Swedish citizen - Founding member of “Jung und Jüdisch”
9. Lisette Kampus - Originally from Tallin, Estonoa, currently living and working in Warsaw
in Gay Rights organisation: Campaign Against Homophobia
10. Aglaia Katsigianni - Greece - President of the Paraplegic Association of Drama
11. Rolf Brederlow - German actor
12. Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
13. Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Federal Minister Ursula von der Leyen
14. Ronny Ziesmer, former German gymnast
All wishes start: “With you we are ready to…”
1. Benjamin
With you, we are ready to close the gap between the official objectives of the year and reality.
2. Aglaia
With you, we are ready to encourage everyone suffering or witnessing discrimination to stand up against it.
3. Naïma
With you, we are ready to remind others that there are already existing laws against discrimination to be used.
4. Quentin
With you, we are ready to support the implementation of European anti-discrimination laws at national level in all member states.
5. David
With you, we are ready to promote existing awareness raising initiatives linked with the objectives the year.
6. Turgut
With you, we are ready to remind the medias of their responsibility in shaping people’s opinions.
7. Beata
With you, we are ready to encourage the national implementation bodies and all actors of the year to promote equality and mutual respect within schools and other educational institutions.
8. Lisette
With you, we are ready to protect the freedom of assembly of all groups promoting the objectives of the year.
9. Manuela
With you, we are ready to make sure that discriminated groups are represented in decision making processes of this year and future years.
10. Luis
With you, we are ready to fight for recognition of all forms of discrimination beyond the ones officially recognized in Article 13
Aglaia’s Story: “Disabled way of life” by Luis
As a disabled child, I was wondering and sometimes got very angry why I couldn’t go anywhere where non-disabled kids went. My parents kept explaining me that there are stairs. Later I was also wondering why some of my fellow-aged disabled citizens don’t drive their wheelchairs on the sideways, but on the streets. My parents had to carry me on their shoulders for hundreds of steps so that I could get a proper education.
As a teenager my friends also had to carry me in their arms for hundreds of meters, steps, busses etc so that I could go out with them and have fun.
Disability for me, my family and my environment was, is and probably continues to be a way of life.
As an adult I have decided to get actively involved with the disabled people in my area and together with some other disabled friends, we started a local association 13 years ago.
Today I am very proud to say that my city is one of the most accessible ones in my country. Disabled kids and their families have a lot less problems than my parents did and elderly disabled and non-disabled fellow citizens can walk safely in most of the sidewalks of our little city.
What I’ve learned during all those years is that “Attitude is the real disability”. So lets keep our hearts and minds open to everything and everyone different from ourselves. We must never forget what they say – minds are like parachutes, they only work when they are opened.
Lets make a difference, all together!
As a teenager my friends also had to carry me in their arms for hundreds of meters, steps, busses etc so that I could go out with them and have fun.
Disability for me, my family and my environment was, is and probably continues to be a way of life.
As an adult I have decided to get actively involved with the disabled people in my area and together with some other disabled friends, we started a local association 13 years ago.
Today I am very proud to say that my city is one of the most accessible ones in my country. Disabled kids and their families have a lot less problems than my parents did and elderly disabled and non-disabled fellow citizens can walk safely in most of the sidewalks of our little city.
What I’ve learned during all those years is that “Attitude is the real disability”. So lets keep our hearts and minds open to everything and everyone different from ourselves. We must never forget what they say – minds are like parachutes, they only work when they are opened.
Lets make a difference, all together!
Luis’ Story: “Different Identities” by Quentin
Au Portugal, les autres me rappelaient toujours que je n’étais pas un « vrai homme » : je n’aimais pas le football et je ne cherchais pas les filles comme partenaires. Cela leur semblait la chose plus importante a mon sujet.
Quand j’ai déménagé en Belgique, en cohabitant avec un Arabe Musulman et en travaillant au CEJI, une organisation juive, je me suis rendu compte que c’était mon bagage catholique qui devenait le plus visible.
Alors que je roulais à vélo et que j’ai brulé un fer rouge, je me suis fait arrêter par un policier qui me parlait Français trop rapidement pour que je le comprenne. Je lui demanda de parler plus lentement car le Français n’était pas ma langue maternelle. Il m’a alors demandé quelle est-elle? Quand j’ai répondu “le Portugais” il secoua la tête mine de dire “Ok, tout s’explique.”
J’ai compris que je serais toujours le gay, le chrétien, le portugais, l’immigrant. Je serai toujours « l’autre » de quelqu’un.
Je voudrais avoir le droit à la différence, quand la différence est importante et le droit à l’indifférence, quand la différence n’est pas importante.
Quand j’ai déménagé en Belgique, en cohabitant avec un Arabe Musulman et en travaillant au CEJI, une organisation juive, je me suis rendu compte que c’était mon bagage catholique qui devenait le plus visible.
Alors que je roulais à vélo et que j’ai brulé un fer rouge, je me suis fait arrêter par un policier qui me parlait Français trop rapidement pour que je le comprenne. Je lui demanda de parler plus lentement car le Français n’était pas ma langue maternelle. Il m’a alors demandé quelle est-elle? Quand j’ai répondu “le Portugais” il secoua la tête mine de dire “Ok, tout s’explique.”
J’ai compris que je serais toujours le gay, le chrétien, le portugais, l’immigrant. Je serai toujours « l’autre » de quelqu’un.
Je voudrais avoir le droit à la différence, quand la différence est importante et le droit à l’indifférence, quand la différence n’est pas importante.
Manuela’s Story: “They don’t see me” by Beata
Manuela’s Story: “They don’t see me”
I’m a daughter of AFRICA, born in the middle of a civil war. I survived it!
Forced to leave home my family decided to make a trip to a foreign land, in Europe, where there were promises of a new life, a new beginning…
Compelled to fit in on a new society we have done our best to rebuild our lives. We’ve made it!
I still live in this sunny country that has welcomed me and my family.
When growing up I had a home, a nice family, I could play with my brothers, sisters and friends, I felt loved and really… nothing seemed to be missing. All the important things were there.
I am a grown up now, I have an education, I have a job… I live a “normal” life, similar to many other people’s lives BUT…
There is and there have always been this thing about me… THE COLOR OF MY SKIN!
My life story is not shocking… I haven’t been bitten up, I haven’t been spit at… But there is always this thing about me… I AM MARKED BY THE COLOR OF MY SKIN!
THIS DARK MOHOGANY SKIN… Everybody seems to know me, even if I don’t say a thing.
In peoples heads I am a criminal, a victim, untrustworthy, a dummy, an excellent dancer, exotic, anything…
People see what they want to see: what they have been told by their friends, what they have learned from the tabloids or the images on the MTV…
They see want they want to see BUT THEY DO NOT SEE ME!
I’m a daughter of AFRICA, born in the middle of a civil war. I survived it!
Forced to leave home my family decided to make a trip to a foreign land, in Europe, where there were promises of a new life, a new beginning…
Compelled to fit in on a new society we have done our best to rebuild our lives. We’ve made it!
I still live in this sunny country that has welcomed me and my family.
When growing up I had a home, a nice family, I could play with my brothers, sisters and friends, I felt loved and really… nothing seemed to be missing. All the important things were there.
I am a grown up now, I have an education, I have a job… I live a “normal” life, similar to many other people’s lives BUT…
There is and there have always been this thing about me… THE COLOR OF MY SKIN!
My life story is not shocking… I haven’t been bitten up, I haven’t been spit at… But there is always this thing about me… I AM MARKED BY THE COLOR OF MY SKIN!
THIS DARK MOHOGANY SKIN… Everybody seems to know me, even if I don’t say a thing.
In peoples heads I am a criminal, a victim, untrustworthy, a dummy, an excellent dancer, exotic, anything…
People see what they want to see: what they have been told by their friends, what they have learned from the tabloids or the images on the MTV…
They see want they want to see BUT THEY DO NOT SEE ME!
Benjamin’s Story: “Daily Resistance” by David
Benjamin’s Story: “Daily Resistance”
I was born in Germany as a Jew. That means that I am one of those Jews that have remained or returned to Europe and not turned their backs to the countries that persecuted and murdered their ancestors. I am giving Europe a second chance.
After the shoa most people thought Anti-Semitism could only be found in history books. I have been spat on and attacked while walking in the streets. We are protecting our Synagogues with the help of the police. Our Kindergartens need three metre high walls and camera surveillance. But the worst is the hidden Anti-Semitism that also prevails in many moderate people.
I have been accused by friends that Jews have too much influence in society and that we rule the financial world. This new wave of Anti-Semitism in all kind of facets is highly disappointing and forces many Jews to disguise their identity which often appears to the outside world as being exclusive.
I am a founding member of an Organisation called “Young and Jewish. My target in the recent years has been to re-establish Judaism in Germany. My work has been like cultivating a small flower. It is very vulnerable and can be crushed very easily. It is our task to cultivate it together so it will become a healthy and strong flower in the big garden of diversity.
I was born in Germany as a Jew. That means that I am one of those Jews that have remained or returned to Europe and not turned their backs to the countries that persecuted and murdered their ancestors. I am giving Europe a second chance.
After the shoa most people thought Anti-Semitism could only be found in history books. I have been spat on and attacked while walking in the streets. We are protecting our Synagogues with the help of the police. Our Kindergartens need three metre high walls and camera surveillance. But the worst is the hidden Anti-Semitism that also prevails in many moderate people.
I have been accused by friends that Jews have too much influence in society and that we rule the financial world. This new wave of Anti-Semitism in all kind of facets is highly disappointing and forces many Jews to disguise their identity which often appears to the outside world as being exclusive.
I am a founding member of an Organisation called “Young and Jewish. My target in the recent years has been to re-establish Judaism in Germany. My work has been like cultivating a small flower. It is very vulnerable and can be crushed very easily. It is our task to cultivate it together so it will become a healthy and strong flower in the big garden of diversity.
Lisette’s Story: “Impact of discrimination” by Aglaia
Lisette’s Story: “Impact of discrimination”
I am a homosexual woman or a lesbian if you wish. The other day I was having dinner with my parents and they told me that because of my orientation and the work I do, they have had some problems with their colleagues and friends, and that it is sometimes really hard for them, too.
We continued this talk for a while, and at the end my mother said: “Well, but we have raised you this way; we have taught you that injustice needs to be stood up against, we have told you not to stay quiet when someone is treated unequally. And I guess that is a good thing, I guess we managed to raise you with the values we appreciate the most.”
When I think of how hard it must have been for my family to accept me for who I am and support me, I can’t even imagine how my mother feels when she overhears people on the street saying gay people should be isolated from the society. Or how my father feels when he reads a newspaper article about how homosexuals should not be allowed to marry or have children. And what my brother feels when he goes to school and the teacher tells him that homosexuality is a disease.
I wish people would understand that discrimination never only affects one individual, but also absolutely every person who is connected to this individual.
I am a homosexual woman or a lesbian if you wish. The other day I was having dinner with my parents and they told me that because of my orientation and the work I do, they have had some problems with their colleagues and friends, and that it is sometimes really hard for them, too.
We continued this talk for a while, and at the end my mother said: “Well, but we have raised you this way; we have taught you that injustice needs to be stood up against, we have told you not to stay quiet when someone is treated unequally. And I guess that is a good thing, I guess we managed to raise you with the values we appreciate the most.”
When I think of how hard it must have been for my family to accept me for who I am and support me, I can’t even imagine how my mother feels when she overhears people on the street saying gay people should be isolated from the society. Or how my father feels when he reads a newspaper article about how homosexuals should not be allowed to marry or have children. And what my brother feels when he goes to school and the teacher tells him that homosexuality is a disease.
I wish people would understand that discrimination never only affects one individual, but also absolutely every person who is connected to this individual.
Naïma’s Story: “Spirituality path of a woman” by Lisette
Naïma’s Story: “Spirituality path of a woman”
I am a Belgian citizen of Muslim creed. At the age of 19, in my spiritual path, I have felt the need and I have chosen to wear the headscarf. This was the beginning of a journey of ordeals. Wearing the headscarf is a choice like any other that allows me to live in harmony with my aspirations and contribute to my wellbeing. My identity is not reduced to a piece of cloth covering my head. I am, before anything, a person, a woman and that is how I wish to be seen.
It is not easy to be a Muslim today: the suspicion, stereotypes and prejudices become part of normality and are reinforced by the media. I don’t feel and I don’t introduce myself to you as a victim, but I confirm the existence of Islamophobia in Europe today.
Unfortunately, the first to be affected by this discrimination are women. Muslim women are deprived of their rights, education and the access to employment. All this in a democratic state.
Myself, I have lived discrimination in my search for a job. Therefore, in order to achieve having an inclusive society, it is important that such contains different realities: Muslim women are one of such realities.
I have a job and It is the daily contact that allows others around me to change their mentalities, integrating the difference in their idea of normality.
It is possible to live in harmony a spiritual life as a citizen. I do not want to be perceived as a minority that aspires to be recognized by society, but someone who owns her life. I do not wish to walk in the shadows but under the sun. I invite you all to take your “normative glasses” and instead replace it by “diversity glasses”.
I am a Belgian citizen of Muslim creed. At the age of 19, in my spiritual path, I have felt the need and I have chosen to wear the headscarf. This was the beginning of a journey of ordeals. Wearing the headscarf is a choice like any other that allows me to live in harmony with my aspirations and contribute to my wellbeing. My identity is not reduced to a piece of cloth covering my head. I am, before anything, a person, a woman and that is how I wish to be seen.
It is not easy to be a Muslim today: the suspicion, stereotypes and prejudices become part of normality and are reinforced by the media. I don’t feel and I don’t introduce myself to you as a victim, but I confirm the existence of Islamophobia in Europe today.
Unfortunately, the first to be affected by this discrimination are women. Muslim women are deprived of their rights, education and the access to employment. All this in a democratic state.
Myself, I have lived discrimination in my search for a job. Therefore, in order to achieve having an inclusive society, it is important that such contains different realities: Muslim women are one of such realities.
I have a job and It is the daily contact that allows others around me to change their mentalities, integrating the difference in their idea of normality.
It is possible to live in harmony a spiritual life as a citizen. I do not want to be perceived as a minority that aspires to be recognized by society, but someone who owns her life. I do not wish to walk in the shadows but under the sun. I invite you all to take your “normative glasses” and instead replace it by “diversity glasses”.
Turgut’s Story: “I’m not human, I’m a foreigner” by Benjamin
Von Geburt an gehörte ich einer Gruppe an, die von der Gesellschaft geächtet wurde. Dies wurde mir erst so richtig bewusst, als ich mit acht Jahren von meinem Lehrer geohrfeigt wurde. Der Grund dafür war, dass ich in meiner Muttersprache und nicht in der Landessprache einen Mitschüler nach einem Radiergummi gefragt hatte. In diesem Moment lernte ich meinen ständigen Begleiter kennen, …. die Diskriminierung. Sie prägte meinen Alltag.Glücklicherweise bekam ich in frühen Jahren die Möglichkeit Frieden und Toleranz in einem anderen Ort zu finden. Hier angekommen, habe ich sie nicht wie erhofft sofort gefunden. Nicht nur gewalttätige rechtsradikale Übergriffe auf Ausländer erschütterten mich, sondern auch verbale Angriffe in alltäglichen Situationen. So sah ich mich z. B. Beleidigungen bezüglich meiner ethnischen Herkunft auf dem Schulhof oder während der Busfahrt ausgesetzt…
Gehört die Diskriminierung zum Leben dazu?
Sollte ich aufhören, nach einem Ort zu suchen, wo die Diskriminierung mich nicht begleitet?
Ich weiß es nicht….Ich weiß aber, dass ich die Toleranz immer nur dann finde, wenn ich mich der Gesellschaft beweise… So werde ich erst mit einem Lächeln begrüßt, wenn ich meine ersten Worte auf einer perfekten Landessprache sage…
Beata’s Story: “Stereotypes” by Manuela
I am a young Roma woman, last year when I passed my final exam in the university I decided to celebrate this event with my friends.
We dressed up, prepared and we headed to the local disco club.
To our surprise when we got to the club the bodyguard informed us that we could not enter, because the club was full.
We were wondering, it was still early, and as we stood in front of the club we saw more people coming and entering without any difficulty.
We decided to approach the bodyguard again, and we asked him why other people were allowed to enter into the club when it is already full.
Suddenly, the bodyguard turned aggressive and he yelled at us “You gypsy prostitutes get out of here; otherwise I will call my friends who will kick your black asses!”.
We felt embarassed and we went home. The following morning we reported the incident to the local police, the response of the police officer was that “we should not worry too much about the incident because it was nothing personal against us, but it most probably happened because the owner of the club had bad experience in the past with beautiful Roma girls, who were stealing in the club!
We dressed up, prepared and we headed to the local disco club.
To our surprise when we got to the club the bodyguard informed us that we could not enter, because the club was full.
We were wondering, it was still early, and as we stood in front of the club we saw more people coming and entering without any difficulty.
We decided to approach the bodyguard again, and we asked him why other people were allowed to enter into the club when it is already full.
Suddenly, the bodyguard turned aggressive and he yelled at us “You gypsy prostitutes get out of here; otherwise I will call my friends who will kick your black asses!”.
We felt embarassed and we went home. The following morning we reported the incident to the local police, the response of the police officer was that “we should not worry too much about the incident because it was nothing personal against us, but it most probably happened because the owner of the club had bad experience in the past with beautiful Roma girls, who were stealing in the club!
Quentin’s Story: “Witnessing discrimination” by Turgut
I am a Belgian student. I was never a victim of discrimination. Recently, I’ve participated in a project lead by an organisation in Belgium that allows young people like me to meet asylum seekers. I was shocked by all the difficulties that such people can live and I think that even if one never lived discrimination, that shouldn’t prevent fighting against it.
Many people that witness discrimination, turn their heads and pretend not to see. It’s important to me that people that are not affected by discrimination may help the ones that are. I think that solidarity can make today’s society more fair.
Many people that witness discrimination, turn their heads and pretend not to see. It’s important to me that people that are not affected by discrimination may help the ones that are. I think that solidarity can make today’s society more fair.
David’s Story : « All Human Beings » by Naïma
Je suis un membre de la communauté des Travellers d’Irlande. Comme tous les groupes minoritaires, nous souffrons de discrimination au niveau de l´accès au logement, à l’éducation et à l’emploi.
Dans mon pays, la discrimination contre les membres de ma communauté fait généralement partie des choses couramment acceptées par la majorité. Nous, en tant que membres de cette communauté, devons régulièrement faire face à des rapports négatifs et parfois fabriqués de toutes pièces par les medias qui renforce le fait que la société se montre hostile à notre égard. Malgré cela nous continuons à lutter contre la discrimination avec le soutien d´une petite partie de la société des sédentaires. Cependant le moindre article négatif d’un journal peut détruire nos efforts et nous renvoyer loin en arrière dans notre lutte pour l’égalité.
Une partie de la société semble juste être capable d’avaler les stéréotypes vendus par les médias nous présentant comme des criminels vivant grâce aux aides sociales.
Lors de ce séjour à Berlin m’ayant donné l’opportunité de côtoyer d´autres minorités j’ai pu me rendre compte combien ces autres groupes vivent la même expérience que nous à propos du rôle souvent négatif des médias nationaux.
Je demande à chaque personne aujourd’hui présente ici de combattre la discrimination sous toutes ses formes pendant cette année européenne de l’égalité des chances pour tous.
Rappelons-nous que si nous sommes effectivement, aussi différents, nous restons pourtant fondamentalement et avant tout des êtres humains.
Dans mon pays, la discrimination contre les membres de ma communauté fait généralement partie des choses couramment acceptées par la majorité. Nous, en tant que membres de cette communauté, devons régulièrement faire face à des rapports négatifs et parfois fabriqués de toutes pièces par les medias qui renforce le fait que la société se montre hostile à notre égard. Malgré cela nous continuons à lutter contre la discrimination avec le soutien d´une petite partie de la société des sédentaires. Cependant le moindre article négatif d’un journal peut détruire nos efforts et nous renvoyer loin en arrière dans notre lutte pour l’égalité.
Une partie de la société semble juste être capable d’avaler les stéréotypes vendus par les médias nous présentant comme des criminels vivant grâce aux aides sociales.
Lors de ce séjour à Berlin m’ayant donné l’opportunité de côtoyer d´autres minorités j’ai pu me rendre compte combien ces autres groupes vivent la même expérience que nous à propos du rôle souvent négatif des médias nationaux.
Je demande à chaque personne aujourd’hui présente ici de combattre la discrimination sous toutes ses formes pendant cette année européenne de l’égalité des chances pour tous.
Rappelons-nous que si nous sommes effectivement, aussi différents, nous restons pourtant fondamentalement et avant tout des êtres humains.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)