Could a network of FM radio stations operated by and for Roma youth really work? Could Roma kids help shape their own future through making radio? If so, how would it work and what form would it take?

The Issue

Marginalization of the Romani minorities of Central/Eastern Europe remains among the most difficult problems facing Europe today. The search for solutions must include empowerment of Roma people through education and access to media structures.

The Call to Action

At the EU Roma Summit in 2008, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called upon all of Europe: “We must use all means possible to improve the inclusion of Roma people. Unless fundamental change happens, millions of young Roma will face nothing else than a lifetime of social exclusion and marginalization. Mainsteam societies need to offer Roma youth a real, practical chance to improve their own perspectives.” He continued: “We should encourage the Roma to become active subjects of their destiny and to take responsibility for their lives. But we must offer them real opportunities. People grow into citizens, only when they get the opportunity to do so.”

Our Idea

Community Radio owned and operated by Roma youth groups can provide an effective means for media literacy, collaboration, inclusion, access, education employment skills development and social cohesion. The Roma Youth Radio Project is a multi-year initiative (2010-2015) to establish and maintain a network of sustainable FM radios operated by the Roma minority youth in Europe. Its goals are to establish enabling environments for Roma youth radio in civil societies, and develop sustainable Roma youth radio organizations. The project is based on a strategic plan developed by Henry Loeser at Masaryk University that will employ advocacy, consulting, and training, and project development.

How Does it Work?

The plan is to work in parallel on a macro and micro level. As civil society environments are made more enabling for community radios, so too those radios should be sufficiently developed: first as NGO internet-only, then migrating to FM and becoming self-sustaining community organizations. First, all relevant stakeholders should be engaged through a series of workshops, consulting and training sessions for the sector and organizations to build necessary capacities. Then through ongoing coordination, support, and consultation progress is achieved and measured. It is a community-building exercise with the radio at the heart of the stakeholders’ collaboration.

Enabling Environments

Communities – Identify and inform Roma youth and their communities
Organized Interests – coordinate NGO’s and execute conferences
Feasibility – research macro societal, economic, and technical issues
Politics – enlist participation of government agencies
Legislation / Regulation – develop and recommend enabling legislation
Support – solicit financial support to insure sustainability

Sustainable Radio Organizations

Community / Board of Directors – identify and develop interested NGO's and Roma youth groups
Feasibility – research micro societal, economic, and technical issues
Strategy/Plan/Budget – develop the foundation from which to build
Management – recruit, and build a responsible team
Technics – acquire and install the studio and transmission facilities
Programming – train Roma youth broadcasters to create their on-air presentation
Development – implement the plan, people, and systems to insure sustainability

The Roma Youth Radio Project would contribute to enhancing tolerance and mutual understanding by providing a means of communication for Roma youth to better understand their role and responsibilities in EU society, and also for non-Roma people to learn about Roma culture, values, and issues thereby reducing racism and intolerance through understanding. It would promote employment through the transfer of know-how and skills capacity building. Successful Roma radios will then be a conduit for sustainable development by associated groups, also encouraging social cohesion by establishing Roma radios as effective civil society organizations.

Outcome

To achieve our desired outcomes of sustainable Roma youth FM radios, we'll need your participation and support. So contact radioexpert today and let's continue to build a brighter future for Romani communities and all of European society.

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