Access to health services for Roma women

In line with a project plan, a methodology for the workshops for all three age groups was developed by two consultants experienced in peer approach and SRHR. Tailored programs and materials were created for each of the three age groups, using culturally and age-appropriate peer approaches to address health topics. These materials covered a range of subjects, with a particular focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). T-Workshops for girls included topics related to the importance of reproductive health, the right to health care and preventive services, including HPV vaccination, family planning, consequences of early/child marriage, and adolescent pregnancy issues;

-Workshops for adult women refer to family planning, the importance of spacing between pregnancies for the mother's health and overall health, prevention and early detection of diseases, primarily cervical and breast cancer, prevention of gender-based violence and harmful practices, including child marriage;

-Workshops for older women refer to the topics of menopause, chronic diseases including cancer of the reproductive organs, the importance of regular medical examination, prevention and response to gender-based violence and harmful practices;

-According to the overall  Project Proposal 20 workshops were planned in each Roma settlement: six separate workshops for each age group and two joint workshops for all participants.
Additionally, two joint workshops are designed to foster mutual trust among participants and enhance their ability to discuss topics considered sensitive in Roma community, such as child marriage and sexual health, and intergenerational exchange and support.

Ten female activists were selected via public call to be engaged as local educators (two from each of the participating cities), to facilitate the workshops. Their responsibilities included recruiting participants, organizing and  delivering workshops while building trust within Roma communities, and encouraging their active participation.

Their responsibilities included recruiting participants, organizing and  delivering workshops while building trust within Roma communities, and encouraging their active participation.

The  online ToT for 10 local educators  was held  via  Zoom online platform.  After the online training, a detailed plan for the implementation of the workshops  was prepared. The activists were responsible for conducting workshops in  settlements, leading group sessions tailored to the particular needs of each target group.

The trained local educators recruited 30 women in each of the planned settlements to participate in the workshops (10 girls, 10 adult women, and 10 older women, totaling 300 participants across 10 settlements in five cities).

 Workshops were  implemented in the settlements of Makis and Deponija in Belgrade, in the settlements of Licika and Bresnica in Kragujevac,in  Sat Mahla and Podrovce in Leskovac, Tijabara and Nova Mala in Pirot, and in Vrbovac and Drenovac settlements in Sabac. 
Total of 60 workshops were held in this reporting period, two for each of the age group in every settlement

The work with the girls began with them being very shy and reserved. However, as the workshops progressed, they gradually opened up and became more willing to discuss the topics. In some of the settlements, this was the first time that such work was done with girls and women. Despite the difficult working conditions—lack of space, no electricity—their enthusiasm and interest in participating in the workshops was remarkable.

When working with older women, the group was very  active. These women were eager to share their experiences and can talk for hours, often providing examples from their own lives and highlighting the behaviors of certain healthcare professionals. For instance, the village doctor usually maintains a friendly relationship with the women, and the nurse, who works in Šabac, is always available when the village doctor is not on duty.

The women were open and encouraged each other to speak, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. They greet us with great enthusiasm, joking both about themselves and local educators. Perhaps due to their age, they are especially kind, approachable, and cooperative, making it a pleasure to work with them.  The only challenge was managing the length of their presentations and guiding the workshop back on track.

We believe that these workshops should be held more frequently in Roma settlements, as they greatly enhance the participants' knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and encourage open discussions on topics that are still taboo in the Roma community. In the beginning, the women were reserved, but over time, they became more comfortable talking about such important issues.