Education is one of the most pressing issues for the Roma people in Moldova. About 80% of the Roma population is illiterate, and because of their lack of education, they are often unemployed and as a result they have no health insurance to get access to medical services, thus falling into a vicious circle. This was stated by Valeriu Căldăraru, executive director of the National Association of Community Mediators, during a press conference occasioned by the launch of a radio station for the Roma, Patrin FM.
Speaking about the Government’s effort to improve the situation of the Roma people, Valeriu Căldăraru mentioned the 2016-2020 Action Plan. While “very good”, the document is far from being implemented, with only under one percent progress achieved to date. He says that the only activity with financing under the Plan is the employment of community mediators, which local mayors do not even want to do, inventing various excuses instead. Valeriu Căldăraru hopes that through Radio Patrin FM, the voice of the Roma will finally be heard. “In Soroca we have a community of about 10,000 ethnic Roma, and so far little has been done to give them a voice”.
In the radio broadcasts, says Valeriu Căldăraru, representatives of the Roma community and public authorities will be invited to discuss issues faced by the Roma. He also says that during this period various political parties are trying to sweet-talk the Roma community in an effort to earn their votes. Căldăraru urged the Roma to vote, but to choose consciously and vote for the competitors who they believe will change the situation of the Roma in Moldova.
Marin Alla, representative of the Roma Voice Coalition, hopes that by 2020 the voice of the Roma will be heard not only in Soroca, but also throughout the country as a result of Patrin FM’s plans to extend its coverage. Future plans also include the desire to create a Roma Agency to support the ethnic group. In this respect, Marin Alla has called on the future Parliament and Government to react to Roma issues because otherwise the Roma risk being excluded from social and political life. The Roma Voice Coalition brings together 34 organizations.
The radio station Patrin FM was officially launched on Monday. It will broadcast locally in Soroca on the frequency 103.6Mhz. It can be also listened to online at www.radiopatrin.md and on Android smartphones through an application. The radio answers the need of combating discrimination and stereotypes faced by Roma people in Moldovan society. Launching it was made possible with the financial support of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
