Education Slovakia Project #23776

Amnesty Against Extremism in Slovakia

by Nadacia Pontis/Pontis Foundation

Project Report | May 27, 2016
Human Book Testimony : I travel because I am gypsy

By Juraj Sott | Project Leader

Amnesty International, Human Books Library project, May 2016

Marek is a 22-year-old Slovak young man living in Bratislava. He has been giving speeches for elementary and high school students for the past six years. He is mainly talking about his life experience as a “gipsy”, as he calls himself. His mom, Janette, led him to the Human Library project, which she created with the IUVENTA organization. She has always been his supporter and inspiration, who motivated him to get an education, learn foreign languages and achieve something in life.

Thanks to the knowledge of English, Spanish, the basics of Italian and the understanding of most Balkan languages, he can communicate practically everywhere. In the past few years he has travelled around Europe and he has visited South and North America. The unfortunate part of his passion for travelling is that he has trouble to get a permanent job in Slovakia.

When he was 19 he joined the Centre of awareness for Roma as a volunteer and his first work meeting in Frankfurt aroused his travelling spirit.

Another opportunity appeared to Marek thanks to a nonprofit organization based in Brussels (ERGO Network), which fights for the rights of Roma people in Europe. He was able to experience daily meetings in the European parliament with the most important people, with whom we discussed the gipsy issue from his own saying. But we didn't solve it, he added.

Marek is an impulsive and ambitious person, so he decided not to stay in Brussel for long. There was a need for some change. I packed my suitcase and travelled to Uruguay, where I was teaching English to small kids, teenagers and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. I was providing this course for free.

When asked how people perceive him, when he says he's Gipsy, Marek answers: It's completely different compared to Slovakia. When I was in South America, everyone thought I was Cuban, Porto Rican or Brazilian, and when I finally told them I'm Gipsy, their reaction was very positive. What, you're Gipsy? That's great, we love Gipsy people! I stared at them like... wow, if somebody told me that in Slovakia, I'd be glad.

This pleasant experience was verified during the few weeks he spent in the USA. Marek joined the program for young Roma people from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary. This program is based on trips, workshops, seminars and life in communities. When I was in America, no one had a problem with me being a Gipsy, they took me as equal, no one made me feel different, however in Slovakia I feel inferior all the time.

Because of his origins, Marek has very often faced racism, prejudices and stereotypes. Being rejected from job vacancies is common, and negative beliefs are experienced on a daily basis.

I applied for a job position in a press agency with my CV and cover letter attached, and I received a phone call, when the lady said how great it was that I traveled the half of the world at the age of 21. My skills were fine, but she just couldn´t imagine to have a Gipsy as a colleague.”

Another time people didn't find it difficult to catch me by neck and to kick me out, just because I was asking for job behind the bar.

Last month I walked into a drugstore with my sister and the lady behind the cashbox told her colleague to check on us and she was obviously watching us all the time, until I got pissed off so I asked her what her problem was and she responded that it was because I was a stupid gipsy!

I ended up a few times in hospital. For example, once I have been surrounded and beaten up by ten skinheads, and then the police came, so it wasn't that bad. But I had a severe concussion and some problems with my ribs from other fights.

After all these sad experiences it is not a surprise when Marek says he is way happier abroad. But his cheerful theory is a proof of his unbreakable optimism: I would imagine living in Slovakia, if somebody gave me the opportunity to get a job, to have a chance to grow. I have been searching for employment since last September, unsuccessfully. His dream job would be any kind of manager position in an office.

“The fact is that I didn't grow up in a gypsy settlement. I don't speak the gipsy dialect, and I was the only gipsy in a white class. This leads to actual rejection from the gipsy society: they judge me as a redneck.”

“It's getting on my nerves when people rate us all the same… No one takes a look at the properly educated ones, who want to work, who are interested in studying. For sure there are cases which put a shame on us. I'm not supporting them. Unfortunately, only a few people think normally and don't take gypsies as a whole, but separate individuals.

“I can't stay at home. I'm an active kind of person, who always has to do something.”

Despite Marek's difficulties to get employment, he is not resting a tiny bit. He has just returned from an international festival in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca just few weeks ago, where he stood up for a nonprofit organization from Budapest. He has a part time job as a photo model; his face represented advertising campaigns for the network of cafes La Putika and festival Bazant Pohoda. Right now he is playing the bad guy in a Slovak movie, which will be released in our cinemas next year. He is missing 10 centimeters to become a professional model and to promote a fashion collection on a mole. “Some agencies require a height of 180 – 190 cm, so I'd have to walk on stilts to get this job”, he's laughing.

The bullies from Mark's elementary school class are now his friends. Therefore he realized that the Human Books Library project is of essential importance in elementary schools, high schools and colleges: “talking to kids of the age of 12 – 13 can fall on deaf ears, but those who are 14 years old can already think for themselves and react in a way.”

It is true that the older students are very curious of how Marek got to travel and how they could do something similar. Marek likes to discuss all the details, give them advices, teach them how to participate in youth exchange and seminars and not just follow the path of their parents. “I see some potential in young people, they want to do something, they want to improve their language skills, travel abroad, and see different cultures, other habits and traditions.”

The feedback following his intervention in the Living Books library is mostly positive. The readers keep their fingers crossed for him and Marek believes it can change something. They start to understand that all Gypsies are not the same and they shouldn't lump them all together.”

Marek's most memorable Living Books session was when he had a young skinhead in his class. When I saw him, I couldn't stay cool about it, especially when I had to tell him my story, but afterwards, he came to me, shook my hand and said he actually respects me and that I'm a rare case, I'm the first Gipsy he spoke to and shook hands with. Marek describes this moment with a smile on his face because it carries the joyful feeling of changing somebody's mind.

I sincerely thank Marek for sharing his story and for his long term participation in Living Books Library. We wish him luck in his professional and personal life, either in Slovakia or abroad.

Translation by Milena S.

The Human Books Library project by Amnesty International is on Global Giving thanks to ESET Foundation.

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Apr 27, 2016
Testimonies from mind-changing human books stories

By Amnesty International Slovakia | NGO in charge of the project

Amnesty International does more than just investigate the violation of human rights when this becomes an acute issue; it tries to prevent this problem from arising in the first place.

Our real aim is to help stop the abuse of human rights and mobilize the public; this can in turn put pressure on governments, armed political groups and intergovernmental groups by means of public protests, direct lobbying, targeted appeals in favor of individuals, e-mail petitions and other online activities, partnerships with local groups who are leading campaigns, community activities, and cooperation with student groups.

This project is aimed at eliminating all forms of prejudice that can grow into young people´s mind if they are not aware of the damages such a behavior can cause on people who are the victims of this prejudice. With this project, they are able to hear a mind-changing story.

Instead of books, young people in the Living Library can “borrow” a person with an interesting life story, who they would probably never talk to in real life, and ask about anything that interests them. The people that the students get to meet are members of minorities living here. Among the “books” on offer you will find heroes from different ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, professions and lifestyles.

The project allows young people to meet with real heroes and hear incredible life stories, and therefore gain an immediate experience with the previously unknown destinies of these real people. This personal experience will allow them to find out what their stance is towards many issues, how they react to differences, and what the difference is between their ideas on an issue and the reality. Thus, the Living Library helps overcome fear of the unknown; it refutes stereotypes, teaches respect and understanding, and, last but not least, it gives the opportunity for people to form their own opinions and gain new experiences.

Living Libraries work in a way similar to classic ones. This means that the participants are the Books, Readers, Librarians and Support Staff, who secure this event from the organizational point of view.

Your donation, be it big or small, will help actively educate the younger generation in tolerance, understanding and respect for human rights and freedom.

You can take now the time to read some testimonies collected among the young people who had the opportunity to listen to one of those human books, to see how important it is that we carry on our action.

1. Samuel, Dumbierska Elementary School, Banská Bystrica

“I started to behave with more tolerance towards people, I stopped having inhibitions when talking to strangers, and I made new friends. I started to be interested in international affairs. Before that I was indifferent; I thought it did not concern me. Today I can empathize more with others. I also visit the Amnesty International website from time to time and read through the latest news.”

2. Saša, Evangelical Lyceum, Bratislava

“From my point of view, my attitude towards strangers changed. I myself have an unconventional style, and I used to look differently at people, condemning them. When I worked behind the counter at Tesco, a family came in with two white boys and one Roma boy. For their shopping they received some stickers, I gave them enough so each of them would get two. First one of the white boys wanted to keep them all, but his parent told them to share, but only with one of the other boys: the white one. I gave extra stickers to the Roma boy, but he told me to leave it be; he said he’s used to this. Then I started to think about why people within a family would look down on each other. Retrospectively, I looked at my own behavior and found out that for no reason I used to look down on people too. It’s something I strive not to do anymore.”

3. Noemi, Evangelical Lyceum, Bratislava

“Thanks to the Living Library I realized how children in Afghanistan grew up and how I grew up, and I mean what luxury I had compared to them. I often think about how the world works, how often people give themselves power over others. I think about what I can do about it.”

4. Adéla

“I was most influenced by Zuzana, a Book from the Living Library, who had got into drugs. Since then I try to judge people by their personal story, and not condemn them on the basis of their appearance. That has led me to a more understanding approach towards minorities”

5. Michèle, Na Vítezné pláni Secondary School

“In the future I’d like to study international affairs. Thanks to this project, I found out where the greatest need of change was and that I have an opportunity to help people. This project showed me a way to do this.”

6. Johana, Na Vítezné pláni Secondary School

“Thanks to this project, I found out that a lot of interesting life stories are out there. I was most intrigued by the story of a certain woman from Vietnam whose family had had a rough destiny brought on by the father publishing a certain magazine.”

7. Ludovít, Dumbierska Elementary School, Banská Bystrica

“I think that the Living Libraries were the best. They also showed me that although the stories of the Living Books always had a happy ending, it doesn’t have to be that way.

8. Jozefína

“I was most intrigued by the story of a Vietnamese woman who did not feel at home neither here nor in Vietnam. In the future I will try more to perceive and understand other people.”

9. Terka, Biskupské Secondary School

“The stories from the Living Library that interested me most were the stories of a man without a home and of a woman who was blind. I was very surprised by the man. In the past I had certain prejudices against homeless people because I imagined someone who was drunk and who bothers you. But thanks to this man, I understood that there are people who end up on the street blamelessly, and it was interesting to find out how easy it was to end up there. In the Living Library they instructed us on how to behave when we meet someone who is blind. Not so long ago, I met one lady who looked very lost. She wanted to catch the number 4 bus. But she had got lost, so I helped her.”

10. Adéla

“The biggest difference for me was that in the past human rights organizations did not interest me: joining was pointless. The Living Library opened my eyes. Now I think that a person can’t be totally indifferent. Today I would join something similar to this without a doubt. The project showed me that change is not only that posters are hanging somewhere, or that flyers are distributed. In the end it is possible to achieve change.”

11. Elementary school, Banská Štiavnica

“In my opinion, the Living Library is more interesting, and I have had a better experience from it than from reading a regular book. Thanks to the library, I meet new people and can better identify with their story. It also allows us to ask questions because it takes place in the form of a dialogue. The mood during the project was pleasant. We learned a lot of new and interesting things, and some of us changed our opinions of people who we would have previously condemned or abused. Because a lot of young people are biased towards minorities. We got to know three stories from the lives of other people, what happened to them, and how they live. We learned a lesson from the Living Library. We liked the Living Library, and it gave us a lot of good life advice. I talked with a homosexual for the first time in my life. It captivated all of us, and we would certainly like to repeat this sometime in the future.”

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