"HEALTH AND THE GYPSY COMMUNITY"
Final Report
July 2001
2. Pedagogic Project / Project Description
2.1 -
Objectives
2.2 - Activities carried out
1– NETWORK COORDINATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACTIONS
2– SPECIFIC COURSES AND SEMINARS
2.1 – TRAINING COURSE FOR MEDIATORS PARTICIPATING IN DRUG DEPENDENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS (SPAIN)
2.2 – TRAINING COURSES FOR FIELD PROFESSIONALS ON HEALTH CARE INTERVENTION METHODS WITH THE GYPSY POPULATION (SPAIN)
2.3 – TRAINING COURSE: "SOCIAL INTERVENTION, DRUG DEPENDENCY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH" (SPAIN)
2.4- TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS IN INTERVENTION WITH THE GYPSY COMMUNITY IN HEALTH CARE AND DRUG DEPENDENCY (GREECE)
2.5- IN SITU TRAINING VISITS IN SOCIAL INTERVENTION AS WELL AS IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH CARE AND DRUG DEPENDENCY WITH THE GYPSY POPULATION (GREECE)
2.6- MEDIATOR TRAINING SESSIONS PREPARING THEM FOR INTERVENTION ACTIONS IN THE AREA OF DRUG DEPENDENCY AND HEALTH PROMOTION (GREECE)
2.7- MEDIATOR AND FIELD PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS (PORTUGAL)2.8- TRAINING SEMINAR FOR MEDIATORS AND EDUCATORS WORKING IN THE AREA OF DRUG DEPENDENCY (ITALY)
4–
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR IN OPORTO
5–
ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE STATUS OF THE GYPSY
POPULATION WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH, DRUG DEPENDENCY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS
5.1 – INFORMATION SYSTEM ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION OF EUROPE'S GYPSY POPULATION AS REGARDS HEALTH, DRUG DEPENDENCY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS
5.2 – QUALITATIVE RESEARCH INTO THE GYPSY POPULATION'S AWARENESS, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOURS WITH REGARD TO HIV/AIDS
6– UPDATING THE DATA BANK ON INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED WITH GYPSIES
7– THE ROMANO SASTIPEN DRUG DEPENDENCY PREVENTION PROGRAM AIMED AT GYPSY YOUTH
8– PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION OF MATERIALS
8.1 – PRODUCTION AND UPDATE OF THE WEB PAGE
8.2 – TRANSLATION INTO GREEK, ADAPTATION AND PUBLICATION OF THE BOOK: "TAKING ACTION IN THE GYPSY COMMUNITY"
8.3 – PUBLICATION OF THE "SASTIPEN" NEWSLETTER8.4 – ADAPTATION AND TRANSLATION INTO GREEK OF THE "PREVENTION WORKSHOPS FOR GYPSY YOUTH"
8.5– OTHER EDITING OF MATERIALS AND PARTICIPATION IN PUBLICATIONS
9 –OTHER ACTIONS AIMED AT ESTABLISHING AND DISSEMINATING THE NETWORK
9.2
- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO EUROPEAN ORGANISATIONS WORKING WITH THE GYPSY
POPULATION IN THE AREA OF HEALTH AND DRUG ABUSE
9.3 -
OTHER ACTIONS AIMED AT ESTABLISHING AND DISSEMINATING THE NETWORK
3. Assessment and Conclusions / Data collected and generated
3.1 - PROGRESS MADE IN THE PROJECT, RESULTS, EFFECTS, IMPACT
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).
Pedagogic
Project / Project Description
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:
|
Summary table of activities carried out
ACTION |
SITUATION |
RESULTS |
NETWORK COORDINATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACTIONS |
||
Network coordination and empowerment actions |
Three Network Steering Committee coordination meetings were held to deal with issues concerning the Project's internal operations, management, planning and program evaluation. |
|
STANDING WORKING GROUPS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL |
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Working groups in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom and Greece |
To date, consolidated groups are in place in Portugal, France, Italy and Spain. Work has commenced in United Kingdom and Greece. |
Working
groups involved in intervention activities with the Gypsy population are
functioning actively. Close to 3,000 requests for technical assistance have been answered. |
SEMINARS, COURSES, WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING AND SHARING MEETINGS |
||
Specific courses and seminars |
SPAIN
GREECE
PORTUGAL
ITALY
|
Madrid, 28-29 November 2000 and Mollina (Málaga) 31 March, 1-2 April.
57 mediators participated. Held in Madrid on 14-16 March 2001. 47 participants from 19 entities
25 people participated between May 2000 and May 2001
9 training sessions aimed at mediators, field professionals and entities that deal with the Gypsy population. 30 people attended
|
THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR IN OPORTO |
||
The Sastipen Network's most relevant trans-national exchange action |
Nearly 250 participants. The magazine "Ciganos.pt" was presented and the meeting's workshop conclusions were published in the first issue |
Held in Oporto (Portugal) 10-11 May 2001 |
INFORMATION SYSTEM ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION OF GYPSIES IN EUROPE WITH REGARD TO DRUG DEPENDENCY AND OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL HEALTH |
||
Development of an information and observation system on the health situation of Europe's Gypsy population |
|
The
information systems has been developed and the first report of results
will be made available on the WEB page Field work completed. The final report will be presented to the Spanish National AIDS Plan in October 2001 |
UPKEEP OF THE DATA BANK ON INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED WITH GYPSIES |
||
Management of the data bank update |
The process of update and contact continues with a view to further establishing the Network |
Update initiatives taken this year have focused mostly on the Eastern European countries |
THE GYPSY POPULATION PREVENTION PROGRAM "ROMANO SASTIPEN" |
||
The "Romanó Sastipen" Program |
The program is consolidated in Spain and in Greece |
In Spain, intervention has taken place in 13 cities and collaboration has been established with an approximately equal number of Gypsy associations. 420 people benefited In Greece, tailored materials have been distributed for the development of this Program through approximately 150 entities |
PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION OF MATERIALS |
||
Production of the internet WEB page
Translation into Greek and publication of the book "Actuar con la comunidad gitana" (Taking action in the Gypsy Community) Edición de la Newsletter "Sastipen" Translation into Greek and publication of the "Prevention Workshops for Gypsy Youth" Drafting of the final report on Network activities to be made available at the Project's WEB page along with other relevant reports Participation in different publications |
The
internet WEB page is on line and updated.
http://www.asgg.org/sastipen
This material has been translated and published
Currently drafted and now being translated for internet display
|
Approximately
5,000 site visitors
Published and distributed to 150 entities
Published and distributed to 150 entities
|
OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN IN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF THE NETWORK |
||
Project partner's participation in projects, workshops and meetings with other European networks and other Network establishment and dissemination actions |
|
11 December 2000 Final Project report drafted in December 2000
Assistance has been provided to approximately 3,000 entities throughout the Network's partner countries as well as in other European countries 60 people participated
|
1– NETWORK COORDINATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACTIONS
2–
SPECIFIC COURSES AND SEMINARS
2.1 – TRAINING COURSE FOR MEDIATORS PARTICIPATING IN DRUG DEPENDENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS (SPAIN)
DATE AND PLACE | Madrid, 28 and 29 November 2000 |
BENEFICIARIES |
Mediators/educators involved in drug dependency prevention programs with Gypsy children and youth |
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
17 people from 14 entities |
INTRODUCTION
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:
WORK AGENDA
28 November 2000
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
2.2 TRAINING COURSES FOR FIELD PROFESSIONALS ON HEALTH CARE INTERVENTION METHODS WITH THE GYPSY POPULATION (SPAIN)
Courses held: Training was done by the ASGG on health promotion and the prevention of drug dependency through the following courses:
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:
This training was co-financed, supported and disseminated by the Spanish Labour and Social Affairs Ministry
2.3 TRAINING COURSE: "SOCIAL INTERVENTION, DRUG DEPENDENCY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH" (SPAIN)
DATE AND PLACE |
Madrid 14-16 March 2001. Hotel Praga. |
BENEFICIARIES |
Social intervention mediators, educators and field professionals who, from within their associations, are developing or are going to develop actions related to intervention in the area of health and drug dependency. |
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
47 |
Introduction
This course was born in the wake of a need to train a range of different intervention agents in order that efficient drug dependency prevention and care, HIV/AIDS efforts and work in the field of general health be carried out by local entities. In order to accomplish this the unification of criteria, experience sharing and the provision of tools to those that are in contact with this reality through local organisations is fundamental. It is also very important to train mediators to analyse their own professional efforts from a critical perspective.
GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES
STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE/PROGRAM
Course content structure was as follows:
14 march
16.30: Participant registration and distribution of documentation.
17.00: Opening session:
18.00: Key-note speech: Intervention in Community Health.
Blanca Tejero. Clinical Psychologist, Training specialist in health care issues.
19.00: Debate.
15 March
09.30: ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION: FAMILY HEALTH
Pepa Calderón. Midwife at the Campo de la Paloma Health Centre in Madrid.
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.
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:
16 March
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.
12,30: Closing act: Mr. Carlos Alvarez Vara. Responsible for external relations for the Autonomous Community of Madrid’s Anti-drug Agency.
METHODOLOGY
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.
CONCLUSIONS OF THE TRAINING COURSE
The most significant conclusions were:
Aspects that could be improved
Aspects that could be improved
- There was not enough time to take full advantage of the course contents.
- More group dynamics and workshops.
- The need for more group work was felt.
- More time was needed to delve deeper into the topics presented.
- Health care mediation should have been developed further.
- More time should have been set aside for experience sharing.
- The need was expressed for more training opportunities such as this one.
Positive aspects
- The course was well organised.
- Participatory methodology.
- A global framework for health intervention with Gypsies was acquired.
- New methodologies and intervention strategies were acquired, highlighting the interest and
enthusiastic reaction to the "snowball" methodology.
- Experience sharing received a very positive evaluation.
- Training in drug dependency.
- Learning regarding Gypsy cultural values.
- Identification of the needs and priorities regarding intervention in this area.
- A broad perspective of what is being done with Gypsies in the field of health care throughout Spain was acquired; learning related to different realities and experiences.
- Intercultural learning.
- Clarification of conceptual aspects and their ties and applicability to the present reality.
- It was useful in providing motivation for daily work.
- Group work in the workshops.
On balance the course was very positive and the objectives envisioned were met. This type of training initiative is particularly useful when it comes to gaining awareness of other experiences, unifying intervention criteria and then providing technical support and advice in situ for the health care mediators and promoting and fostering the subsequent implementation of initiatives. Contact has been maintained throughout the whole year with the different projects, providing support through specific training and consultation on intervention.
2.4- TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS IN INTERVENTION WITH THE GYPSY COMMUNITY IN HEALTH CARE AND DRUG DEPENDENCY (GREECE)
Date: 24–27 October 2000
Venue: KEPIT classroom facilities (Athens–Greece)
Beneficiaries: 25 field professionals working with the Gypsy population through public institutions (town halls) or through NGOs.
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:
2.5- IN SITU TRAINING VISITS IN SOCIAL INTERVENTION AS WELL AS IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH CARE AND DRUG DEPENDENCY WITH THE GYPSY POPULATION (GREECE)
DATE AND PLACE | Athens, 26 - 28 April 2001 |
BENEFICIARIES |
Mediators/educators working in drug dependency prevention programs and health care intervention in different European countries |
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
15 mediators from 3 countries |
The objectives of this in situ mediator training and exchange meeting were:
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.
2.6- MEDIATOR TRAINING SESSIONS PREPARING THEM FOR INTERVENTION ACTIONS IN THE AREA OF DRUG DEPENDENCY AND HEALTH PROMOTION (GREECE)
In the framework of the Sastipen Network and of intervention projects financed by national public entities, EFXINI POLI has developed training sessions for Gypsy mediators that work with small groups on health care issues. The objective of this action was to train those mediators that work on a professional basis in the area of health care with a view to making their work more fruitful. Twenty-five mediators have been trained and this activity was developed thanks to the involvement of visiting health care professionals (public health care workers from different Greek cities).
2.7- MEDIATOR AND FIELD PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS (PORTUGAL)
Nine working sessions were held on
different aspects related to intervention with the Gypsy population. The SINA
group in Portugal (national working group created within the framework of the
Sastipen Network) has had a very important empowering effect on the treatment of
problems within Portugal’s Gypsy population. In this sense, the work has
extended beyond drug dependency intervention and has dealt with other relevant
issues such as housing, education, employment, etc.
Training sessions were held on the
following dates:
15 June 2000
20 June 2000
5 September 2000
12 October 2000
9 November 2000
6 February 2001
7 March 2001
15 March 2001
24 April 2001
The methodology of these training sessions
is participatory; a framework document was presented on each one of the subjects
dealt with and served as a basis for debate and the drafting of a consensus
document.
A summary of all of this information will be published in the first issue of the magazine "Ciganos.pt" which will be edited within the framework of the next project.
2.8- TRAINING SEMINAR FOR MEDIATORS AND EDUCATORS WORKING IN THE AREA OF DRUG DEPENDENCY (ITALY)
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.
3– NATIONAL WORKING GROUPS
The working groups are developing in a consolidated way in Portugal (GRUPO SINA), France (Commission Santé UNISAT), Italy (the CNCA working group on Gypsies), Spain (inter-institutional working group on health and drug dependency) and Greece.
Periodical meetings are held in all of these countries and national coordination, planning, action development and Sastipen Network representation and dissemination actions are implemented in all of them.
SPAIN
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 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:
The following entities are members of the working group:
ITALY
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 6 national working group meetings were held in those cities which are home to the greatest number of Gypsies.
These cities were Komotini (Thraki prefecture), Volos (Thessalia prefecture) and Salonica (central Macedonia).
The objective of these meetings was to share experiences and come up with a definition for a common intervention methodology.
Within the framework of these meetings, particular attention was paid to the importance of adapting specially tailored intervention materials and their use by the mediators.
FRANCE
The French working group was developed within the framework of the "Commission Santé".
DATE AND PLACE | Oporto, (Porto Palacio hotel) 10 - 11 May 2001 |
BENEFICIARIES |
Field professionals from different entities (public and private) that work with the Gypsy population. Field professionals and members of Gypsy associations and entities. People working with the Gypsy population in different European countries. |
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
250 |
Assessment of the meeting
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:
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.
5.1- NFORMATION SYSTEM ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION OF EUROPE’S GYPSY POPULATION AS REGARDS HEALTH, DRUG DEPENDENCY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS
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.
Methodology
The collaboration of an external entity specialised in social intervention (CRITERIA Evaluation Group) that is developing the system is being called upon for the implementation of this activity due to the need for specific technical know-how. It will then be applied in the Network’s partner countries through human resource teams comprised of the standing working groups and afterwards in the rest of the European Union countries.
The process was designed in three phases:
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:
In order to continue with the development of the information system we have set up the following actions:
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.
5.2 – QUALITATIVE RESEARCH INTO THE GYPSY POPULATION’S AWARENESS, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOURS WITH REGARD TO HIV/AIDS
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.
Work objectives
Methodology
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.
6– UPDATING THE DATA BANK ON INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED WITH GYPSIES
6.1 - DATA BANK ON PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND DRUG DEPENDENCY AND HIV/AIDS INTERVENTION WITHIN EUROPE’S GYPSY POPULATION
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...
Objectives
Methodology and Actions implemented
The Project’s collaborating organisations in each country provide data regarding Gypsy organisations, drug centres, social services and other institutions.
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.
7– THE ROMANO SASTIPEN DRUG DEPENDENCY PREVENTION PROGRAM AIMED AT GYPSY YOUTH
SPAIN
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.
Methodology:
- What is drug addiction all about?
- Alcohol, Hashish and Tobacco
- Group Pressure
- Self esteem
- Values and Gypsy identity
Technical material needed:
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."
The School for Families is a 10-session course which meets on a weekly basis for two hours and covers the following points:
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.
OTHER COUNTRIES
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
8– PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION OF MATERIALS
The following material has been included in the WEB page:
The reports produced by the Network have been included in this issue (except in English which is being translated).
8.2- Translation into Greek, adaptation and publication of the book: "Taking Action in the Gypsy Community"
The book, "Taking Action in the Gypsy Community" was translated into Greek and published (see annex) and has been distributed to 150 public and private Greek organisations that work in the field of drug abuse and / or with the Gypsy population.
The adaptation, translation and publication of materials in the different countries is an activity which meets the objective of transferring experiences and good practices, of working in partnership with the different European organisations that comprise the Sastipen Network and of adapting methodology in mainstream intervention to specific population groups.
8.3 – Publication of the "Sastipen" Newsletter
A new issue of the "Sastipen" Newsletter has been published with summary information on the most relevant actions and accomplishments that have taken place this year.
This document is published in five languages and distributed throughout 17 European countries.
8.4 – Adaptation and translation into Greek of the "Prevention Workshops for Gypsy Youth"
The document has been adapted, translated, published and distributed to 150 social, public and private entities that work with Gypsy people.
As was the case with the book "Taking Action in the Gypsy Community", the adaptation, translation and publication of materials (in this case the Workshops…) in the different countries is an activity that meets the objective of transferring experiences and good practices, of working in partnership with the different European organisations that comprise the Sastipen Network and of adapting methodology in mainstream intervention to specific population groups. In this sense the Sastipen Network is promoting advancement in the transfer and exchange of methodologies with the Gypsy population throughout the whole of Europe.
As was mentioned above, this publication has allowed for the implementation of a prevention program aimed at Gypsy youth in Greece through the direct intervention work being carried out by Efxini Poli.
8.5– Other editing of materials and participation in publications
There has been participation in a number of different
publications and documents (See annexes)
9– OTHER ACTIONS AIMED AT ESTABLISHING AND DISSEMINATING THE NETWORK
On 29-30 June and 1 July 2000, the 3TE organised the 8th 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.
Participation in a number of different European intervention and promotion
projects aimed at the Gypsy population
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: "Ser criança" promoted by the Olho Vivo association in Braga and funded by the Portuguese Labour and Solidarity Ministry.
9.2 – Technical assistance provided to European organisations working with the Gypsy population in the area of health and drug abuse
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.
9.3
– Other actions aimed at establishing
and disseminating the Network
The following activities were engaged in:
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.
3. Assessment and Conclusions
/ Data collected and generated
3.1 - Progress made in the Project, results, effects, impact:
As a result of the work that we are doing through this Project on the phenomenon
of drugs and AIDS in the Gypsy community, we can point to a series of advances
made with respect to the initial situation and some difficulties and limitations:
Among the challenges that lie ahead in this project we can include the
implementation of those actions that are yet to be developed or those that are
still in the initial stages of development or those for which there is a high
demand but especially those that imply taking steps towards the achievement of
the defined objectives. It would be profitable to continue to delve further into
the following aspects: