The nationality of Roma has 15 million people around the world. They do not have their own state, and during their history they regularly encountered persecution and discrimination. Including - were subjected to ethnic purges in Nazi Germany.
According to Professor Khriso Pelekani, chairman of the Association of Representatives of the Roma and their friends, approximately 1250 representatives of the gypsy nationality live in the Republic of Cyprus (statistics of the Council of Europe). The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus does not recognize the gypsies with a separate ethnic group, a national-religious community or minority, considering them to the Turkish Turks.
The Association of Representatives of the Roma nationality and their friends are the first organization for gypsies in Cyprus. She aims to inform the public about this ethnic community, their challenges and problems, referring to their cultural and social identity. In Cyprus, the gypsies have long been called the word “Kurpetes/kurbetes”, and their language is called “Kurpetsk” or “Kurbat” (from the Arab “Garib” - “foreigner”). They talk only in the Kurpetsk in a family, related or friendly circle. The language is not protected in any way.
After the opening of the checkpoint on the Green Line in 2003, many representatives of Roma moved from the occupied territories to areas controlled by the government/ They settled in the socially dysfunctional quarters of Limassol and Paphos. Many children from the family of Roma do not graduate from school, still there is not a single representative of this nation who would graduate from the university in Cyprus. To combat this phenomenon of the Ministry of Education in 2015 launched the DRASE program.
In elementary school No. 18 of the Limassolsky district, agios Antonios, children from the family of Roma have the opportunity to learn the Caurpet language in the evening, or, if they consider the Turko-Kipr dialect, to teach him along with other Turks-Queens.
Teaching is led by a teacher from the Turko-Kiro community, which was specially hired by school several years ago. Children from the family of Roma also have the right not to attend classes in religion and history. The school covers their main needs (form, stationery, food).
The text is prepared based on the materials "Filelefteros"
This article was first published in the "Vestnik Cyprus" on April 16, 2024. Part of the information could be outdated.
