El This report covers initiatives implemented between May 2000 and May 2001 within the framework of the European Project: "Santé et Communauté Tsigane", financed by the European Commission, the National Drug Plan of the Spanish Home Ministry and the Town Hall of Madrid (Municipal Drug Plan) and developed by this entity in collaboration with other European organisations related to UNISAT (France) REAPN (Portugal), CNCA (Italy), KEPIT (Greece) and T3E (UK).

The objective that sets the stage for the activities that the Asociación Secretariado General Gitano has been developing in the field of drug dependency since 1992 focuses on the promotion of intervention in the areas of prevention and medical assistance with certain sectors of the Gypsy minority population. Awareness work with Gypsy organisations, the need to improve the situation of difficult access to treatment services facing Gypsy drug users, the need for intervention instruments adapted to our community and consolidation of the coordination and work of the Project partner organisations are the actions that have been given priority in this Project. The principal beneficiaries of these actions have been the Gypsy associations themselves as well as the mediators, professional health care workers and those responsible for public policy.

The following operational objectives form part of our Project and have guided our actions:

This training meeting forms part of the actions that the ASGG carries out on an annual basis to train mediators/educators involved in prevention programs with Gypsy children and youth throughout the whole of Spain.

The meeting objective were:

• To provide educators with the tools needed to improve the quality of their intervention in their local areas.
  
• To foster the sharing of experiences among the participants.
  
• To evaluate the development of the programs under way in each of the local areas.
  
• To set up common intervention criteria

16.30 – 17.00: Registration and presentation
17.00 – 18.30: CRITERIA Evaluators:

18.30 – 18.45: Coffee break
18.45 – 20.00: Operational criteria and working tools for the 2000/2001 Project

29 November 2000

10.00 – 14.00: Training workshop in family intervention

Courses held: Training was done by the ASGG on health promotion and the prevention of drug dependency through the following courses:

• Mérida, 13-15 September 2000
  
• Cuenca, 27-29 September 2000
  
• Pamplona, 8-10 November 2000
  
• Santiago de Compostela, 13-15 December 2000
  
• Gijón, 18-20 December 2000
  
• Badajoz, 9 April 2001
  
• Murcia, 26-28 April 2001
  

Beneficiaries: field professionals working with the Gypsy population through public institutions or NGOs. A
 total of 215 people attended from all of Spain.

The following material was presented at the sessions:

• Focus on integrated social intervention
  
• Closing the cultural gap with the Gypsy community
  
• Social intervention
  
• General framework for integral social intervention
  
• Intervention strategies: specially tailored methodology, tools, materials and programs
  
• Work areas: health and drug dependency, education, women, youth, housing…
  
• Social promotion through employment: experience gained through the "integra-acceder" program
  

This training was co-financed, supported and disseminated by the Spanish Labour and Social Affairs Ministry

GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES

• To provide an opportunity for meeting and communication among professionals working in the field of health care with the Gypsy population.
  
• To allow for the sharing of experiences and strategies that can provide direction for intervention in the field of health care.
  
• To work on fundamental aspects of intervention from a global framework so that the health care needs of the Gypsy population can be met form an integrated, health promotion perspective.
  
• To Support and provide continuity for the work being carried out with regard to some specific problems 
  such as drug dependency and HIV/AIDS.
  
• To foster the detection and meeting of new needs that may emerge in the field of health care.
  
• To provide mediators with the necessary tools in order that, with the proper training, they may implement intervention actions through the associations in health care and drug dependency.

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE/PROGRAM

16.30: Participant registration and distribution of documentation.

17.00: Opening session:

• Mr. Francisco Parras. Delegate Secretary of the National AIDS Plan.
• Ms. Sonia Moncada. Head of the National Drug Plan’s Prevention Service.
• Mr. Pedro Puente Fernández. President of the Asociación Secretariado General Gitano.

18.00: Key-note speech: Intervention in Community Health.

Blanca Tejero. Clinical Psychologist, Training specialist in health care issues.

19.00: Debate.

09.30: ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION: FAMILY HEALTH

• Women’s health: Gynaecological prevention.

• Pepa Calderón. Midwife at the Campo de la Paloma Health Centre in Madrid.

• Children’s health: Vaccination Program.

• Paloma Martinez. Paediatrician at the Jose Mª Llanos Health Centre in Madrid.
  
  
  Eating habits and nutrition:

• Irene Alonso. Psychologist specialising in eating behaviours

11.00: Debate.

11.30: Break.

12.00: ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION: SPECIFIC HEALTH PROBLEMS.

Drug dependency: the health care response

• Olga Junca. Physician at the CAID de Usera in Madrid.

• HIV/AIDS: The "snowball" methodology.

• Gloria García Lalinde. Program coordinator – Risks and Health, reducing risks and damages. Interdisciplinary Drug Group.

Stress and psychosomatic problems.

• Isabel Vaquerizo. Clinical Psychologist specialising in social abilities training.

13.30: Debate.

14.00: Lunch.

16,30: SIMULTANEOUS WORKSHOPS:

• Workshop 1: Family health.
  
• Workshop 2: Specific problems.

09.30: Intervention: How to involve the community in the promotion of health.

Concepción López Casares. Psychologist specialising in community intervention.

11.00: Debate.

11.30: Break.

12.00: Reading of the conclusions.

The methodology of the course was active and was based on participation. It built upon the know-how that the participants brought to the course and provided key input so that the learning took place from the practical perspective of their professional reality. Much emphasis was also given to the sharing of intervention experiences and to their analysis for the benefit of the rest of the group.

It should be mentioned that, given the group’s heterogeneity (some of the mediators are already developing prevention program activities, others are implementing actions in other health programs and there were also people from other professional backgrounds like ATS (physician’s assistant), social workers, psychologists, etc.) this methodology was instrumental in involving participants in the task thus achieving what was denominated "intercultural learning" in the course evaluation questionnaires. The heterogeneity of the participants’ backgrounds and the participatory and dynamic methodology allowed the technical experts from the different entities represented to acquire significant knowledge with respect to Gypsy culture and also allowed mediators to incorporate very valuable learning in the area of methodology and community intervention strategies.

The most significant conclusions were:

This training course is part of a broader program for field professional training for social intervention and received the approval of the Greek Ministry of Labour. The module presented on intervention work with the Gypsy population dealt with the following issues:

 

• Europe’s Gypsy population: characteristics and current status.
  
• Criteria and methodology for intervention with the Gypsy population.
  
• Prevention of drug dependency, HIV/AIDS health care intervention.
  
• Specially tailored intervention tools and materials.
  
• Trans-nationality as a strategy: The Sastipen Network.

The objectives of this in situ mediator training and exchange meeting were:

• To foster learning through the work being done by the mediators from the different countries in their organisations, i.e. different practices and methodologies.
  
• To delve further into the role of the mediator: attitudes, aptitudes and know-how needed for the job.
  

Overall it was an active learning meeting, highly praised by the mediators with regard to knowledge gained from the different ways of working and useful in reinforcing the work that has been done.

Held in Passo Mendola the second week of September 2000.

A group of 50 operators working in drug dependency participated.

The training was carried out within the framework of the training that the CNCA does with its workers. Specific attention was paid to the issue of the Gypsy population and immigration (specific issue affecting minorities residing in Italy and which requires specific intervention methodology).

These sessions are ongoing since immigration is a relevant issue in Italy both from a political perspective as well as from the perspective of social intervention and drug dependency work.

The Spanish working group is comprised of professionals from different entities (Gypsy and non-Gypsy, public and private) working in the area of drug dependency. Professionals from 4 public health care centres, from regional, local and national public entities and from 14 Gypsy associations as well as persons responsible in the ASGG for the health area and the Sastipen Network have participated.

The principal thrust of the actions developed by the working group was:

• The drafting of a protocol for intervention with the Gypsy population to be followed by the drug dependency health care services.
  
• The coordination and editing of new specially tailored materials for intervention with the Gypsy population ("Prevention Guide for Gypsy Families" and others).
  
• The drafting of a reference document on the needs and priorities regarding intervention with the Gypsy population in drug dependency and health promotion.

The meetings were held approximately on a monthly basis.

PORTUGAL

Ever since 1996 and in the framework of the Sastipen Network, the SINA Group has been the national organisation serving as a point of reference for the Network and for intervention with Gypsies in Portugal in general. The following is a partial list of its activities:

• Training exchanges.
  
• Organisation of seminars and workshops.
  
• Drafting and dissemination of studies, research and projects furthering good practices for intervention with the Gypsy population.
  
• Technical assistance.

The following entities are members of the working group:

• Hermandad and Santa Casa de Misericordia in Santo Tirso.
  
• National Pastoral work with the Gypsies – Diocesan secretariat in Lisbon.
  
• "Olho Vivo" youth association – Braga.
  
• Portuguese Red Cross – Regional Delegation in Braga.
  
• Diocesan social promotion work in Oporto.
  
• Northern Region Health Administration
  
• The Social Reinsertion Institute of Oporto.
  
• The Northern Region Drug Dependency Prevention and Treatment Service.
  
• The Northern Regional Social Services Centre.
  
• The Education Ministry – Primary Education Department.
  
• The Gypsy Recreation, Social and Sports Association of Coimbra.
  
• The Coimbra Drug Abuse Centre.

Periodic work meetings have been held by the different CNCA groups that work with the Gypsy population (Milan, Rome, Florence, Pescara, Palermo).

These sessions were mostly for the purpose of sharing, debate on adapted methodology and for the training of intervention workers (operators, mediators).

Most of the meetings were held during the months of October and November 2000 although less systematic meetings were held throughout the entire period.

GREECE

The French working group was developed within the framework of the "Commission Santé".

The overall assessment of the workshops was extremely positive due to the quality of the presentations and the ensuing debate as well as to the number of participants (250) and their diversity: technical experts and leaders from public and private entities (state ministries, schools, town halls, health centres, NGOs, …), projects involved in the fight against poverty and Gypsy associations.

There can be no doubt that the workshops achieved the objectives set within the framework of the Sastipen Network which were to:

• Promote the Gypsy community through the involvement of its members.
  
• Consolidate the SINA working group as a national point of reference when it comes to intervention with the Gypsy population.
  
• Spread the news about the Sastipen Network highlighting its different experiences and intervention methodologies as well as the project’s European dimension.
  
• Facilitate the sharing and transfer of good intervention practices in the area of drug dependency and health promotion with the Gypsy population.

The institutional involvement of the Portuguese public administrations was very relevant. The participation of the High Commissioner for Immigration and Ethnic Minorities both in the presentation as well as throughout the rest of the Workshop was very significant because of the attention that it drew to the meeting and his involvement in the work. Another fact that should be highlighted was the presentation of the provisional conclusions of the research on AIDS and Gypsies that the ASGG is carrying out in partnership with the Universidad Complutense of Madrid.

A summary of the Workshop’s most relevant conclusions as well as the materials and documents produced is included in the Annexes.

The initial objective of this work was to create a system allowing for the observation, diagnosis and drafting of action recommendations leading to an increased knowledge of the status of the Gypsy population in the different countries comprising the Sastipen Network and later in the remainder of the European Community countries.

The enlargement of the European Union to include Central and Eastern European countries with high percentages of Gypsy population that find themselves in a real or potential situation of social exclusion, converts this type of activity into an essential tool needed to assess the situation and to implement public policies that take the needs of this segment of the population into consideration. Furthermore, health status is a fundamental indicator of a group’s degree of social incorporation within their society.

I. Definition of objectives, instrument design, key analysis indicators.

The projected result of this first phase is the drafting of a report that lists the indicators agreed upon by all of the partners and includes the application questionnaire for each one of the countries.

At the same time a search was made for secondary sources that, through publications of other research and articles published in medical journals, would help to provide a clearer picture of the health situation in which Europe’s Gypsy population finds itself.

II. Implementation of the analysis and information system through the standing working groups set up in each country.

Time frame established for execution was between February and April 2000.

III. Drafting and publication of an annual report that includes all the national reports filed by each partner country and an overall European report including a proposal of recommendations for intervention in this field. The annual report has already been completed.

Conclusions reached after the first phase of implementation

The most relevant conclusions of this first report are as follows:

• There is not much existing data and in no case did we find information collected in a systematic way but rather in piece-meal fashion or in ad-hoc studies. Furthermore, the studies found are very spread out over time. In this compendium we have dealt with studies ranging from the 70’s to the present which is indicative of the lack of existing data on the health status of the Gypsy population. This fact complicates the utility of the indicators if no other source of information is found aside from these secondary sources. For this reason we feel that it is necessary to implement the techniques proposed in this report in order to guarantee inputs to this information system: Delphi, ad-hoc research and studies.
  
• Despite this lack of data, we feel that it can be stated that the situation of Gypsies with respect to health is improving in certain aspects: increase in the number of vaccinations, broader health care coverage and better use of services.
  
• However, new areas have appeared in which there is an important deficit: drug dependency or HIV/AIDS infection. These are new problems which the Gypsy population is not prepared to face adequately.

• The health care idea prevalent within the Gypsy population of cure rather than prevention is a stumbling block to the correct use of services and the acquisition of proper health habits (particularly in the area of nutrition).
  
• Inadequate housing conditions and the unhealthy atmosphere in which a large percentage of the Gypsy population still lives also make it difficult to gain access with the guarantee of proper care.
  
• It appears clear that there is a need to carry out a study and definitive implementation of the system of indicators if proper information is to be gathered regarding the Gypsy minority. The data collected to date is very fragmented.

In order to continue with the development of the information system we have set up the following actions:

• Analysis of secondary sources: During the course of this second phase we plan to continue with the analysis of the secondary sources initiated during the first phase. To do this we are going to use the data collection card. This data card, as was already described in the "techniques and instruments" section, provides for the gathering of data on the proposed indicators and on their reliability and validity.
  
• Put together a Delphi Group that will allow us to gain clear knowledge about the situation of Gypsies in each European country. The application of the Delphi method is a research project in and of itself in each one of the countries. A description of this method’s characteristics is found in the annex.

• Data collection systems. During this phase an attempt will be made to reach agreements with drug treatment centres, health centres, hospitals or community intervention programs, to get them to collect information on the pre-established indicators. In order to do this a data card will be designed specifically to take down this information.
  
• Carry out ad-hoc studies. In light of this situation characterised by the absence of data and by difficulties in finding it, the implementation of studies in each one of the countries is a priority. Once the Delphi study has reached its conclusion, priorities will be established on the object of the study in each one of the countries.

With these initiatives we continue to develop the system and, thanks to the Delphi studies, a global vision will be obtained with regard to the situation and the health status of the Gypsy people in each one of the countries. We also give great importance to initiating the establishment of information collection systems even if this is through the collection of health data on Gypsies in existing systems, for example through drug centres, health centres or neighbourhood primary care facilities. It is also important to simultaneously implement the collection of health data through the programs being carried out by participating organisations or others who may want to participate.

This research project is being carried out in collaboration with the Social Anthropology Department of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid and the ASGG. It is being funded by the Foundation for Research and Prevention of AIDS in Spain.

This particular research project has a dual objective: on the one hand to gain insight into the effects that the HIV/AIDS phenomenon is having on the Gypsy population; what cultural mechanisms it uses to deal with this issue; how social networks are constructed in response to the disease, etc. and on the other hand to use these results to improve the intervention that the Asociación Secretariado General Gitano (ASGG) and the Sastipen Network has been implementing since 1996 with the support of different institutions (National AIDS Plan, the Health Department of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, the National Drug Plan, the EU (DG SANCO), etc.

The need to become more aware of just what is happening in the Gypsy community in relation with HIV/AIDS so as to be able to apply it to the intervention, makes this project one of Research-Action the results of which will be used as working tools for the different programs. It was, in fact, intervention itself that set the ground work and helped this work along in its development process.

The ASGG’s scope of action (national), its implantation in the different Autonomous Communities and its role as the territorial coordinator of the actions along with its participation in European networks and health projects, guarantee both the impact and the transferability of the results.

In its very conception, this work attempts to be the first step in a process that will shed light on the reality facing the Gypsy community in relation with HIV/AIDS. This initial work is developed using qualitative methodology that will be complemented in the future with epidemiological research that will undoubtedly be needed to carry out the intervention.

• Broaden knowledge base, habits and socio-cultural patterns in order to adapt the preventive and palliative measures concerning HIV/AIDS to the needs of the Gypsy community.
  
• Gain insight into the socio-economic conditioners, habits and lifestyles related to attitudes and behavioural practices with respect to the concepts of health and disease within the Gypsy population.
  
• Analyse the level of awareness, attitudes and behaviours related to the transmission of HIV/AIDS within the Gypsy population.
  
• Learn about and analyse those elements and socio-cultural networks that the group itself has traditionally depended on to deal with problems of health and disease and evaluate the prospects of its adaptation to deal with the HIV/AIDS dilemma.

As was mentioned above, the methodology chosen for this research is qualitative and forms part of the ethnographic methodology. The techniques used are: in-depth interviews with key informers, broadly representative discussion groups and life histories in which attention is paid to specificity through generalities. Given the objectives of the study which focus on the analysis of awareness, attitudes and practices, it is our view that qualitative techniques have significant advantages over quantitative ones. Furthermore, the cultural characteristics of the Gypsy people and their distrust of the non-Gypsy world make the use of this methodology particularly relevant. It should be pointed out for the training of the researchers that this work is multi-disciplinary: Social Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work.

The existing data base (Access) was updated in the case of these organisations and contacts have been widened basically towards the Eastern and Central European countries: Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany...

• The objective of this action is to acquire data from all the organisations and initiatives that are in any way related to intervention with that segment of the Gypsy population affected by the problems of drug dependency and HIV/AIDS.
  
• It has been established that this data bank is an essential tool in arranging for the sharing of information, experiences and know-how among the European organisations that work in this field.
  
• Another goal of this action is to take on new partners and to maintain contacts with collaborating organisations throughout all of the European countries with a view to consolidating the Network, spreading the message regarding its activities and achieving a real sharing of experiences and good practices.

The answers received are used to broaden the data base and the directory which will be continuously updated in the future.

A special effort was made to include organisations that work with Gypsies in Eastern European countries given the size of the Gypsy population there and the fact that some of these countries may soon form part of the European Union.

This action is the consolidation of activities developed within the framework of the previously funded project in the different Gypsy associations and the provision of a framework and a series of instruments that can be generally applied to prevention work with the Gypsy community.

The Program continues to be organised around the "Prevention Workshops for Gypsy Youth" which have been designed by the Asociación Secretariado General Gitano in collaboration with external experts and adapted and presented to the Gypsy associations within the framework of the Program financed by the Government Delegation in 1997.

• Continuity is being provided to those associations that have already implanted the project by conserving the figure of the mediator. In the case of the newly incorporated Gypsy associations, they will be provided with a mediation professional with the necessary training to take responsibility for the implementation and development of the prevention initiatives. These actions will be organised within the following work structure:

• Free Time Actions (Open Classroom): A space open to suggestions; takes responsibility for and develops entertaining activities focused on occupying free time in a creative and "healthy" fashion.

• Structured activities (Modules): A space with more structured activities in which external collaborators, volunteers or other association members sometimes participate. Some examples are: Guitar workshop, Caló classes, football team, computer workshop, percussion instruments workshop…

• Drug abuse prevention workshops: An activity which specifically addresses the use of drugs. Its organisation is based on the material "Workshops for Gypsy youth" and on the activities proposed in the didactic guide for use with the Dikando comic strip.

• Activities are based on five workshops any one of which can be used independently:

  1. What is drug addiction all about?
  2. Alcohol, Hashish and Tobacco
  3. Group Pressure
  4. Self esteem
  5. Values and Gypsy identity

• Each workshop comes with ideas for group activities and are designed for a minimum of three sessions led by an educator.

• Further activities are found in the didactic guide for use with the Dikando comic strip which comes with complementary activities for each one of the seven stories portrayed.

• This proposal offers a total of at least 25 sessions. Between 11 and 17 of these have been developed depending upon the associations. Their duration is approximately one and a half hours and they will be held during the course of an eight month period.

Technical material needed:

• Prevention Workshops for Gypsy Youth
  
• Dikando comic strip
  
• Didactic Guide for use with the Dikando comic strip Dikando

The purpose of this work is basically to consolidate the process already initiated, to strengthen the Association’s role as a socio-educational reference point from which to carry out prevention work and to guarantee the progressive involvement of local and regional governments. Furthermore, the participants are monitored in their scholastic and family environments through the different programs thus reinforcing access and maintenance through training itineraries and through contact with the educational centres they attend.

In this sense the idea is to consolidate the relationship already initiated with the schools which in many cases means carrying out prevention activities in these learning centres themselves and implementing awareness and training actions with the teaching staff.

Intervention program with families (see annex)

This action, complementary to the one described above, is the implementation of a "School for Gypsy Families."

• Beneficiaries: The families of those participating in the prevention program.

• Methodology:

The School for Families is a 10-session course which meets on a weekly basis for two hours and covers the following points:

1. Awareness and understanding of the drug problem.
   
2. Understanding the adolescent mentality.
   
3. Families can do prevention work.
   

• What does doing prevention work imply?
  
• How can we do prevention work?
  
• Who should do the prevention work?
  

1. Our own cultural values protect us: Protection factors against drug abuse.
   
2. Family based prevention strategies.
   

• We can help our sons and daughters to mature.
  
• Stay away from environments that facilitate the use of drugs.
  
• Look for alternatives to drug abuse.
  

1. Some things that everyone should know about drug dependency.
   

• Basic concepts about drugs.
  
• The most commonly consumed drugs and their effects.
  
• Resources available to kick the habit.
  
• Risks associated with drug consumption.
  
  

1. What can we do if someone from our family has a drug problem?
   

• Materials used: The materials developed by the Secretariado General Gitano and financed by the Government Delegation for the National Drug Plan will be used to work with families:
  
• "If drugs worry you…this guide may be of interest" Guide for Gypsy parents and mediators.
  
• "Dikela" booklet: Are you worried about drugs? Well…we as parents can do something about it
  
• Video gram on drug abuse prevention in the Gypsy community "The Stories of Uncle Miguel"
  
• Trainers: The educators have been in charge of implementing the program following a period of training and preparation for family intervention. Support has been provided by association professionals (social workers, psychologists…) and / or municipal technical experts.

Evaluation: Very positive feedback has been received because the activity has proven to be very motivating for Gypsy families that have found a favourable climate for sharing and training as well as for learning and reinforcing the different prevention messages. This activity has provided training for one of the most important prevention agents: the family.

Greece

In Greece, the adaptation and publication of the "Prevention Workshops for Gypsy Youth" marked the start of intervention work with Gypsy minors and youth with respect to drug abuse prevention and health intervention.

The full dimensions of the project will be developed during the course of 2001 and 2002

The following material has been included in the WEB page:

• The information contained in the brochure
  
• Framework Document material
  
• Information on Network activities
  
• Information on seminars and workshops
  
• Information on other interesting activities
  
• Information provided by the partners
  
• The Newsletter

The reports produced by the Network have been included in this issue (except in English which is being translated).

There has been participation in a number of different publications and documents (See annexes)

• Issue Number 14 of the Magazine Etudes Tsiganes, entitled "Tsiganes et Santé: de nouveaux risques?" The different Sastipen Network partners published their drug abuse intervention experiences in this publication and the Sastipen Network was introduced.
  
• Participation in the article: "The perception of AIDS in the Gypsy Community, how to intervene" published in the book: Prevention of HIV/AIDS in the case of immigrants and ethnic minorities published by the Spanish National AIDS Plan (Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs)

• Participation through a presentation made by T3E at the 8^th Summer University entitled "Cultures and Dependency"
  

On 29-30 June and 1 July 2000, the 3TE organised the 8^th edition of its Summer University in Palma de Mallorca entitled "Cultures and Dependency." The members of the Sastipen Network Steering Committee participated in those workshops and also made a technical presentation entitled: The Gypsy population and drug abuse: needs, priorities and intervention strategies.

The program and the presentation appear in the annexes.

• Project: "Mapping Available Information on Social Exclusion and Drugs, Focusing on "Minorities" across 15 EU Member States"

The ASGG in Spain, the REAPN in Portugal and the 3TE (UK) participated together with other European organisations in the research project entitled "Mapping Available Information on Social Exclusion and Drugs, Focusing on "Minorities" across 15 EU Member States," financed by the EMCDDA and promoted by the T3E (UK).

The drafting of the Project’s final report was completed in December 2000.

• Project: "Gypsy Communities: representations and dynamics of exclusion and integration" in partnership with the Centre for Research and Sociological Studies of the Institute for Work Sciences and Business (Portugal) from December 1999 to March 2001.
  
• Project: "The identification of good practices to fight discriminatory practices waged against Europe’s Gypsy population" promoted by the ASGG along with 5 European countries (Spain, France, Holland, Portugal, Ireland)
  
• Project: "Targeting Roma-Gypsies in Inclusion Programmes" (B3-4114 – preparatory actions for the fight against and prevention of social exclusion) promoted by the ASGG with participation from 45 European country partners (Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, France and Belgium) from January 2000 to April 2001.

• Project: "New Directions: the socio-economic integration of ethnic minorities" promoted by the Moura Town Hall (Portugal).
  

Project: "Ser criança" promoted by the Olho Vivo association in Braga and funded by the Portuguese Labour and Solidarity Ministry.

Both the Network’s Technical Secretariat as well as the headquarters of the different partner countries have answered approximately 3,000 requests made by entities and private individuals regarding the object of the Sastipen Network. Most of these request were made via e-mail after having consulted the WEB page.

Other communication channels were: the distribution of Sastipen Network publications, the publication of documents on intervention methodologies with Gypsies, Workshops, Meetings, Seminars, etc.

The greatest number of demands were for specially adapted methodology and materials, specific documentation and help in the development of projects. Requests were also received from the media regarding the purpose of this Network as well as other specialised networks or projects.

• Contacts were made at all of the meetings described in the section above.
  
• A mailing of Network brochures was made to the partner countries (Spain, France, Portugal, United Kingdom, Greece and Italy) and they were distributed at the meetings and training sessions.
  
• Technical assistance was provided to European entities and to private individuals on the situation of the Gypsy population with respect to health and drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.
  
• The Sastipen Network was introduced at a number of different national and trans-national meetings.
  
• There has been collaboration with different national and European publications regarding drug abuse and HIV/AIDS or health issues as they relate to the Gypsy population. We also appear (the Network as well as some of its members) in European directories and data bases on this subject.
  
• Contacts were made to increase the number of partners.
  
• Network information was distributed to organisations in Central and Eastern European countries.
  
• Contacts have been maintained with European organisations such as the Council of Europe’s Migration and Rom/Gypsy Division for the preparation of a Work Seminar on the Health of Gypsies in Europe.
  

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT IN SLOVAKIA

In 1999 in Slovakia the ASGG initiated a new line of work for the Association related to cooperation with Eastern European countries, future European Community members and, as is the case with Spain, countries with a significant Gypsy population. In the year 2001 work will continue in Slovakia and will expand to include Hungary and the Czech Republic as well. Although some of the actions are beyond the bounds of this project’s period of execution, the results that the Sastipen Network’s intervention has had there are reflected both in the development of activities as well as in the preliminary preparation and consultation stages.

The project entitled: "Technical Assistance for policies concerning Gypsies in Slovakia and the Transfer of Good Practices" is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional – AECI) and is carried out in collaboration with the Slovakian Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights, Minorities and Regional Development.

The initiatives developed during the course of the first project (1999-2000) set the stage for closer collaboration between the two countries on a subject that is becoming ever more relevant in Europe – that of the social integration of the Gypsy minority; a minority that, in the case of Slovakia, accounts for over 8% of the country’s total population. That is why with this second project (2000-2001) the proposal was to strengthen these lines of action that have been implemented to date while delving deeper into the training of field professionals and working for greater dissemination while at the same time concentrating efforts in actions related to the transfer of know-how that tend to have a multiplying effect.

A third axis of the project is that of facilitating contact with and the incorporation of Slovakian entities into the arena of the European Union’s social policies, fostering connections with the networks which the ASGG participates in and which operate within the framework of the EU thus allowing for participation in the development of trans-national programs. The fact is that in some of the projects that the ASGG has presented recently, Slovakian entities are already involved as project partners (SOCRATES, European Commission Equal Opportunities Framework Program). Slovakian entities working in the health field have also participated in activities being developed by the Sastipen Network over the past year. These entities have incorporated their experiences with Gypsies in meetings and seminars and have benefited from the experience and contacts that the Network has to offer them.

As part of the activities envisioned within the framework of the project for the year 2001 and within the scope of the transfer of good practices, two Training Seminars on Good Practices with Gypsies in Spain and in Slovakia were held on 14-15 and on 16-17 May in two different cities in Slovakia. The first was held in Kosice in the eastern part of the country and the second in Rimavská Sobota in the south of Slovakia, the two areas where the greatest concentration of Gypsies can be found in that country.

The seminars were aimed at those responsible for local and regional projects related to Gypsies and the objective was to provide examples of good practices of work with Gypsies in Spain, to become familiar with the Slovakian situation and to share experiences. Both seminars were practical in nature and were based on case studies of real intervention with Gypsies with the presentation of concrete experiences and discussion on subjects related to the promotion of the Gypsy community.

Five work areas were selected for the debate: education, housing, community development, employment and women / health. For each one of these areas a Spanish and Slovakian expert were on hand and presented their work and experience leaving time for participation and debate among all of the participants. At the conclusion of the seminar, the participants evaluated the content and the seminar’s most relevant aspects and analysed which was most likely to be successfully applied in their entity or municipality. Conclusions were then drafted.

In the case of both seminars, participation was over the expected 25 people which meant that a wide range of social agents working with the Gypsy population were represented: local and regional governments, employment offices and health centres, schools, social entities, Gypsy associations, etc. The Gypsy community was also very well represented, especially in the case of women and young people, a fact which bears witness to the great number of associations that comprise the Gypsy associative movement in Slovakia and the protagonism that these two population groups are acquiring. In the case of the ASGG, five workers went to Slovakia to participate in the seminars and to make their good practices presentation. There were also representatives from the Slovakian Government’s Office of the Plenipotentiary for Gypsy Affairs who also took part in the organisation and selection of seminar participants.

The meeting was an opportunity to compare action taken with Gypsies in the two countries and to enter into debate on the different ways to focus the work. Spain provided the added value of its experience, know-how and good practices given that it has more experience in the social promotion of Gypsies and Slovakia showed its interest in recognising the Gypsy community as a minority group, in its participation in politics and in the defence of its cultural identity.

Also within the framework of actions related to the transfer of good practices, four study visits were organised between 20 May and 17 June for members of the Slovakian administration who worked for one week each in Madrid. Four different fields of work were selected: education, health, employment and community development, one for each participant and for each week of work.

Those who participated in the visits, medium level officials within the Slovakian public administration, had the opportunity to make direct contact and familiarise themselves with the functioning of programs that the Spanish government focuses on the Gypsy population and the different levels of government (national, regional and local, the relations that the different administrations have established with social entities or associations that develop the projects, contact with the beneficiaries, etc. In addition to ASGG activities and projects, the program included a visit to other associations that also work with Gypsies or with other underprivileged groups.

The second part of the project ends in November and two actions are planned that are yet to be implemented. On the one hand there is a publication with orientation and directives for intervention with Gypsies which came about as a result of the conclusions reached at the training seminars, the study visits and our work and experience both in Spain and in Slovakia. It will be published in Spanish, English and Slovakian and will then be widely distributed to government administrations, social entities and institutions. And finally a Round Table Discussion will be organised in Bratislava in November on social policies affecting Gypsies. A publication will be presented on that occasion and will be aimed at key policy makers, high-ranking government officials and representatives of entities that finance projects related to the Gypsy people. This action is also within the framework of the objective to develop a series of support and technical assistance actions aimed at Slovakian institutions that work with Gypsies or take decisions related to them with a view to strengthening and orienting social policies in this area. The Round Table Discussion will allow for the creation of a forum for discussion and debate on intervention strategies with the Gypsy population in the two countries.