Six centuries of history (A25-EN)

This activity focuses on the general stigmatization of the Roma people and particularly on the general anti-gypsyism of the political discourse. Our purpose is to show that Roma have been also European citizens for six centuries.

Anti-Gypsyism, Roma people, History, Cultural heritage

• To learn the origin of the Roma people in Europe
• Know the circumstances that lead people to move from one territory to another
• To demonstrate that all countries and people have a history of territorial displacement and diverse relationships with other people.

Any group of people, both with homogeneous and diverse characteristics. Not more than 6 people to promote dialogue and discussion

We will start the activity by asking the participants where they come from (town, city, country). If their family has always lived there, where they came from, how long, and how many generations live there. Then we will ask whether they know anything about the history of the Gypsy people: when they arrived in each country, where they came from, why they travelled from one place to another. We try to produce a process of identification that arouses interest in others and, consequently, the possibility of challenging stereotypes.

paper and pen to draw a map

experiential learning, discussion.

If the group is not very active o they are very young, the facilitator will ask each of the participants:

Where were you born?

Where was your father born? And your mother?

and your paternal grandparents? and the maternal ones?

Or, you can ask them to draw their family tree

Generalitat de Catalunya.   (2010). Museu virtual del Poble Gitano a Catalunya.  from https://www.museuvirtualgitano.cat/

UMA, Teresa Vera

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