Enniscorthy celebrates Roma culture
MEMBERS of the Roma community in Enniscorthy gathered at the FDYS building on Island Road recently to celebrate World Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development Day.
The Wexford Roma Health Project aims to improve the health of Roma community members by supporting Roma to access health and other social services, as well as running a number of health programmes. Also represented at the event were the HSE, FDYS, Waterford/Wexford Education and Training Board ( WWETB) and others working in the Roma community locally including Wexford Local Development, the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Social Protection and Wexford County Council.
As part of the day of activity, Ms Diane Murse (National School Inclusion Lead at the HSE) presented certificates to four members of the Roma community who participated in a ten week Youth & Community Course delivered by WWETB. Ms Sarah Lavan also presented certificates to eight people who completed a course in Safe Use of Surplus Food. These training programmes were delivered as part of a pilot programme aimed at providing Roma and Traveller participants in Wexford with the opportunity to progress onto further training and employment.
Among the speakers at the event were project leader with the Roma Health Project/FDYS, Mr Alex Petrovics, CEO of FDYS Mr Kieran Donohoe, Community Worker Gabi Muntean, Garret Byrne from the Department of Justice and Ms Jean Hendrick, General Manager for Social Inclusion in the HSE South East.
‘World Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development Day is designated for the promotion of diversity and it provides an opportunity towards building an inclusive society based on the values of equality and human rights, mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue,’ Ms Hendrick said. ‘ There have been great outcomes achieved for all involved in the Roma Health Project in Co. Wexford. With recent funding approval for an expansion of Roma work from the Dept. of Justice and Equality, we are delighted that this collaboration will now also involve that department.’
The event concluded with a display of traditional Roma song and dance as well as some delicious Roma food.