Women of Drosero Association ELPIDA/HOPE"
As the President of a Cultural and Educational Association founded in the
Greek Region of Thrace in 2006 by Roma women, I would like to share with
you one example of civil society actions in Greece.
Our Association named "ELPIDA/HOPE" was set up with the purpose of
creating a network for Roma women in Thrace where the Muslim Minority in
Greece resides. Roma women is a substantial percentage of this Minority.
Our vision is to promote the social inclusion of Roma in Thrace and in Greek
society in general, inform our members and friends about national and EU
projects in Greece designed to create better living conditions for the Roma.
We also often advocate the claims of the Roma component of the Greek
Muslim Minority to the Greek Authorities.
Our Association has achieved a lot in our field of action. Namely, education
and creative employment of children, elimination of domestic violence cases,
improvement of the infrastructure of the important Roma settlement in
Drosero/Xanthi and networking with other Roma associations NGOs and
Organisations in Greece and abroad.
Our experience is that official Greek authorities have never stood in the way
of our Association. On the contrary, they engage with us for finding effective
solutions to our problems and for implementing the National Roma Social
Inclusion Strategies.
Being particularly interested in the development of the region of Thrace, we
welcome the Report of the Parliamentary Committee for the Strategic
Development of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace issued in 2021 and we are
looking forward to the implementation of its core findings.