March 30–April 8, 2011

Presbyterian Women’s

Ten Days of Prayer andThanksgiving for the Roma

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 1

Presbyterian Women’s Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � March 30–April 8, 2011

The International Day of the Roma is cele-brated worldwide each year on April 8 to

raise awareness about the most pressing is-sues for the Roma people and to celebrateRomani culture. In 2011, Presbyterian Womenwill join this celebration and is publishing thisresource, “Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiv-ing for Roma,” to aid in the celebration.

For each of the 10 days, this resource fo-cuses on a different European country, eachwith a Roma presence. A Roma Christian ormission coworker from (or with intimateknowledge of) each country has written aprayer and overview of that country. Each de-votion offers insights into the faith and dailystruggles of the Roma people in a particularcommunity. Learn how they live out theirChristian faith while struggling to become anaccepted (and, perhaps someday, welcomed)part of the larger society. Learn more aboutRoma across Europe and join them in prayeras they work to overcome generationalpoverty and discrimination, and find equal op-portunities for their children.

Remember, prayer is the beginning ofopening hearts and minds to the struggles ofour sisters and brothers. Mohandas Gandhisaid, “Prayer is not an old woman’s idleamusement. Properly understood and applied,it is the most potent instrument of action.”

Three PC(USA) mission coworkershelped organize and create this booklet. Theirinsights arise from their daily work with Romaand with church partners in these Europeancountries. Presbyterian Women is grateful tothese three mission coworkers for their workcoordinating this project, and their ministriesin their respective countries.

Burkhard Paetzold is the PC(USA)’s re-gional liaison for Central and Eastern Europe.He facilitates the PC(USA)’s work with theRoma in that region’s countries. Learn moreabout Burkhard’s work at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/paetzold-burkhard. Burkhard also coordinates theRoma Bridging Group on Mission CrossroadsPC(USA), a social networking tool for buildingeffective and faithful mission work. Join theRoma Bridging Group at http://missioncrossroads.ning.com/group/romapeoplebridginggroup.

Liz and Doug Searles serve as missioncoworkers in Poland through a joint appoint-ment of the PC(USA) and Common GlobalMinistries, a combined witness of the Disci-ples of Christ and the United Church ofChrist. Read a letter from the Searles abouttheir time in Poland at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/searles-douglas-and-elizabeth-20101101.

Presbyterian Connections with Roma

Presbyterian Women traveled to three of the countries mentioned in this prayer guide—Czech Republic, Hungary and Carpath Ukraine—during the 2008 Global Exchange to EasternEurope. Women from Central and Eastern Europe, including Aranka Balogh from Debrecen,Hungary, completed the “exchange” part of the program by attending PW’s 2009 ChurchwideGathering in Louisville, Kentucky. Learn more about the 2009 Global Exchange and the Ro-mani people in the March/April 2009 issue of Horizons. Order this issue, item HZN09210,through Presbyterian Distribution Service, 800/524-2612.

The Spring 2011 issue of Mission Crossroads will include an article by Burkhard Paetzold, thePresbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s regional liaison for Central and Eastern Europe, about his workwith the Roma. Order item 13102-11-001 through Presbyterian Distribution Service, 800/524-2612, or download the magazine at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/magazine.

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Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma

How to use this resource

Plan to begin your “Ten Days of Prayer andThanksgiving for Roma” on March 30. Be-fore that date, share this resource widely inyour church, circle, PW group or prayergroup. Print extra copies to share, or tellothers to download a copy from www.presbyterianwomen.org.

These prayers reflect the societal and re-ligious contexts particular to each country.Some prayers include references to tradi-tions, expectations or beliefs that may bequite different from your own, or perhapseven run counter to your own. In order tohonor the voices and experiences of the

women who wrote the prayers, these in-stances were not altered for the inclusiveand expansive language typically used byPresbyterian Women.

Engage your mind and heart with eachprayer. Listen to the words, but also godeeper than words, connecting with thewriters’ heartfelt joys and concerns. Whenconcluding each meditation, offer your ownprayer, or offer the following prayer forthose who do violence or harm, or whopersecute others:“And today I/we pray fortransformation of the hearts and minds ofall those who seek to persecute others.”

Day 1 March 30 Bulgaria

Day 2 March 31 Czech Republic

Day 3 April 1 Albania

Day 4 April 2 Hungary

Day 5 April 3 Portugal

Day 6 April 4 Romania

Day 7 April 5 Russia

Day 8 April 6 Slovakia

Day 9 April 7 Spain

Day 10 April 8 Ukraine

Contents

Spain

PortugalBulgaria

Romania

Hungary

Albania

Slovakia

Czech Rep. Ukraine

Russia

Day One � March 30, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Bulgaria

Culturally diverse, as they are elsewhere in Europe,Roma number 700,000–800,000 in Bulgaria1 and

fall into many groups, both Christian and Muslim. Manyarrived after Roma enslavement was outlawed in1856.2 Forced “repatriations” of Roma from WesternEurope complicate the attempt to find a current figure.

Many, if not most, Roma live in settlements thatsometimes mirror ghetto conditions in the developingworld. Access to clean water, health services, education,employment, adequate housing and a dependable foodsupply continue to challenge many Roma families. Eu-ropean winters are harsh; settlements often are farfrom schools, jobs and grocery stores.

Fewer than 15 percent of Roma teens attend highschool3; many do not complete elementary school.Segregated education continues. Ethnic Bulgarian par-ents often pull their children out of classes with Romastudents. Of children in schools for intellectually dis-abled, Roma comprise over 40 percent.4 They makeup about 65 percent in boarding schools for childrenwith “deviant behavior.”5 Children of Roma who weredeported from elsewhere (France or Germany, mostcommonly) do not speak Bulgarian, creating furtherchallenges for them in Bulgarian schools.

A European Union member since 2007, Bulgariasigned the “Decade of Roma Inclusion” initiative and issubject to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,adopted by the United Nations in 1948. However, a2009 European Commission against Racism and Intol-erance report states that initiatives against racism,though in place, are rarely applied.6

Bulgarian government officials deny racism, stigmati-zation, segregation or lack of basic services to Romanipeople. Yet in late 2010, government heads calledRoma a “nomadic tribe,” and “an incubator for generat-ing crime.” As do others, Bulgarians continue to callRoma “Gypsies”—Tsigane—an ethnic slur (and identi-cal to words for “thief ” or “liar” in many languages).

Read more about Bulgaria and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/bulgaria.

Country profile and prayer prepared by Doug and Liz Searles, mission coworkers in Poland

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 3

Scripture“And do no wrong or violence tothe alien, the orphan, and thewidow, or shed innocent blood inthis place.”

—Jeremiah 22:3b, NRSv

PrayerGod of our going out and our com-ing in, our ever-present comforterand hope, today we thank you forcourageous Romani families andcommunities emerging from coldwinters of deprivation in Europe.Today we especially lift up to yourcare and keeping the Romani peo-ple of Bulgaria as they seek accept-ance, just treatment and peacefulco-existence with their neighbors.Calm fierce storms of hatred andexclusion; heal deep wounds ofseparation and misunderstanding;bring heart’s peace to shatteredhomes, lives and families.

Transforming God, move heartsand minds in Bulgarian communitiesand institutions. Move persecutorstoward actions of hospitality andjustice, and move Romani peopletoward actions of forgiveness andpeace.We ask this in the name ofJesus, in whose eyes there is nei-ther Jew nor Greek, slave nor free.Amen.

Day Two � March 31, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Czech Republic

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 4

There are an estimated 200,000 Roma living in theCzech Republic,1 mostly in northern Bohemia and

Moravia. Most of them live in communities throughoutthe country, but these communities are usuallysegregated from larger society. Most Czech Romawere exterminated in World War II, so the majority of today’s Roma in Czech Republic are those whomigrated from Slovakia since 1945 or or aredescendants of those immigrants.2 Roma women inCzech Republic (and the former Czechoslovakia)have been victims of forced sterilization as recentlyas 2008.3

Roma are frequently excluded from many aspectsof community life. In Ostrava, Roma children make upless than five percent of primary school children, butrepresented 50 percent of the enrollment in schoolsfor children with learning disabilities.4

Low levels of education for Roma limit theiropportunities to participate in the labor market;unemployment for Roma in the Czech Republic isbetween 70 and 90 percent.5 Very often Romanipeople face discrimination, stigmatization or evenviolence from the members of the majority society.They often become lethargic and they experiencefeelings of helplessness and fear. The economic crisesand ongoing economic hardships increase the socialtensions in the present time.

Read more about Czech Republic and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/czech-republic.

Learn more about Karen Moritz’s work as a missioncoworker there at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/moritz-karen.

Country profile by Marta Doubravová, Diakonia in vsetín

Prayer by Soňa Kandračová, Roma woman from vsetín

Translated by Eva Grollová, Diakonia in Prague, withassistance from Karen Moritz, mission coworker in Prague

Scripture“. . . Let us love, not in word orspeech, but in truth and action. Andby this we will know that we arefrom the truth and will reassureour hearts before him wheneverour hearts condemn us; for God isgreater than our hearts, and heknows everything.”

—1 John 3:18–20, NRSv

PrayerI praise you, Jesus. Lead us to thosepaths you want us to walk. I prayfor Roma people, that they wouldbow before you. I pray for Roma,that they would stop playing gamingmachines. Descend upon them,make them free of those machines.May they find their way to you. Ipray for loan sharks. Nothing isimpossible for you. Stop their tricksthat they would stop preying onpoor people. You said, “Foreveryone, who knocks, the doorwill be opened.” And I pray for thegovernment—you see, o Lord, howthey curtail our social benefits andhow our living costs are sky-high. Iput the government in your hands. I put our church into your hands, aswell as our pastor and our praise.Thanks to you we know the truthand we are changed for the better.Bless them. Thank you. Amen.

Day Three � April 1, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Albania

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 5

Since 1990, Albania has experienced severeeconomic recession, resulting in widespread

poverty and the deterioration of public buildings,including schools. Political instability has meant that thestate has largely neglected the Roma population. Thisneglect is exemplified by the absence of efforts todevelop policy directed toward the Roma minorityduring the post-Communist period.

As in other countries, it is difficult to offer a reliablenumber for the Roma population in Albania. Currentestimates range from 80,000 to 150,000.1 Today, someRoma are settled, but others migrate for seasonalwork in the country or abroad.

While school is compulsory in Albania, a highpercentage of Roma youth do not attend schools.Contributing factors include failure to register migrants,discrimination against Roma and closing of decayingschool buildings. Very few Roma attend preschoolclasses because of prohibitive costs, problems ofaccessibility and high rates of female unemployment.Officials appear unwilling to enforce compulsoryeducation among Roma and can only levy fines thatthe Roma cannot pay. Where Roma do attend schoolswith other Albanians, lack of materials and teachersnegate constitutional rights to education.Nongovernmental efforts to help Roma childreninclude Romani summer camps, curriculumdevelopment and vocational-skills training fordisadvantaged young people.

Country profile by Burkhard Paetzold

Prayer by Margarita, a Roma woman from Albania

Scripture “I am the LORD; I act with steadfastlove, justice, and righteousness inthe earth, for in these things Idelight, says the LORD.”

—Jeremiah 9:24b, NRSv

PrayerWe pray to our Lord, Jesus Christ,for Roma people: Our Father, whoart in heaven, hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come, thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven. Give usthis day our daily bread, and forgiveus our trespasses, as we forgivethose who trespass against us; andlead us not into temptation, butdeliver us from evil. Amen!

God save the Roma people andprotect them from anger, hunger,illness, earthquake, flooding, fire,attack, inner fight and unexpecteddeath. Lord, have mercy on us, for inyou we have put our trust; be notexceedingly angry with us, norremember our many iniquities; butlook upon us now as theCompassionate, and deliver us fromour enemies. For you are our God,and we your people; we are all thework of your hands, and upon yourname we have now called. Now andforever and to the ages of ages,amen.

Day Four � April 2, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Hungary

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 6

Roma account for roughly seven percent of theHungarian population, with an average estimate of

700,000 people (figures range from 400,000 to1,000,000 Roma).1 They are culturally and linguisticallydiverse, but most are native Hungarian speakers. Romalive throughout Hungary concentrated in poorerregions, more than half in the countryside.2

Researchers note that Roma employment has beenbelow 20 percent consistently since 1993. Especially inthe north of the country where nearly 100 percent ofthe population is Roma, there is virtually totalunemployment.3

Extensive educational disadvantages, poverty,deteriorating living conditions and poor health have acumulative negative effect on educationalopportunities for Roma children. A survey in 1993–19944 found that fewer than three percent of Romacompleted grammar school and that most Roma insecondary education went to vocational schools.5

Roma participation in higher education is estimated atless than 0.1 per cent.6 Currently just three percent ofchildren in Hungary are involved in remedial education.In 1993, the percent of Roma in remedial educationwas disproportionately high, at 43 percent.7 Otherstudies report that Roma children make up as much as90 percent of enrollment in special schools.8 Both thestate and nongovernmental organizations in Hungaryhave been active in efforts to reform the educationalsystem, promote minority rights and support Romacommunities.

Read more about Hungary and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/hungary.Learn more about Joe and Kathy Angi’s work as missioncoworkers at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/angi-kathleen-and-joseph.

Country profile by Burkhard Paetzold

Prayer by Aranka Balogh, Roma woman in Debrecen

Scripture“Do not neglect to show hospitalityto strangers, for by doing that somehave entertained angels withoutknowing it.”

—Hebrews 13:2, NRSv

PrayerMy beloved Heavenly Father inJesus Christ, I bless you and praiseyou for my every day. I am reallythankful that you are with me, andyou will not forsake me. Thank youfor Jesus Christ, your only Son, whowas sacrificed on the cross for us,whose death and resurrectiondemolished the whole of the sinswhich separated us from you.

I know you are Lord of all andyou are Lord of death and illness.You showed your power when youresurrected Lazarus and the deadgirl, and healed the blind and thelame and those who suffered fromleprosy. I glorify you, that you curedme as well! I’m really thankful that Icould have the possibility to pray toyou for those who suffered fromillness, for the orphans, for thewidows. Bless them in the Lord.Give the hungry food, cure thosewho are fighting illnesses, andcomfort those who are bereaved orhave broken hearts.

Oh, my Lord, make us be able toforgive those who hurt us, as youforgave on the cross your offenders.I bless and praise your holy andprecious name, blessed by everytongue! In Jesus’ name, listen to myprayer. Amen.

Day Five � April 3, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Portugal

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 7

Settled in Portugal since the fifteenth century, Romahave faced and continue to face fierce persecution.

They now number roughly 55,000 in Portugal,1 mostlyof the Iberian Kale group. In Portugal, Roma are calledby the pejorative Ciganos, echoing the designation ofthe fourteenth-century Franciscan monk whodescribed them as atsinganoi (“untouchable,” in KoineGreek).

They are concentrated in the south andsoutheastern parts of the country and are settled inimportant urban centers. Most are unassimilated, livingseparately from the rest of the population in primitiveconditions. They are the most marginalized, rejectedand discriminated against of any Portuguese ethnicgroups. Roma experience difficulties gaining access tojobs, adequate housing, education and social services,including police protection. Some earn money byselling clothes or costume jewelry on the sidewalk orin stalls. In places where they cannot survive by theseenterprises, unassimilated Roma may engage in illegalactivities to provide for their families.

Since the late 1990s, public housing (bairros sociais)has begun to be available for the Portuguese poor,including Romani people. And yet, in mid-2010, theEuropean Committee of Social Rights registered acomplaint against Portugal on the basis of five years ofcontinuous monitoring, finding failures to meetobligations to protect Roma from poverty and socialexclusion, especially in the areas of housing, utilities,segregation and practical access to legal help andredress.2

Read about Bob and Keiko Butterfield’s experience asmission coworkers in Portugal at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/butterfield-bob-and-keiko.

Country profile and prayer by Doug and Liz Searles,mission coworkers in Poland

Scripture“Blessed are those who arepersecuted for righteousness’ sake,for theirs is the kingdom ofheaven.”

—Matthew 5:10, NRSv

PrayerGod of all peoples, races and places,we thank you for the gift of hopeand the promise of peace withjustice, held out to all, especially tothose who are poor in means,health or spirit. Today we especiallylift up to your care and keeping theRomani people of Portugal. Movethose in power to provide for thepoor—to provide adequatehousing, utilities, education andpolice protection. Move neighborsin their communities to reach outa hand of welcome and assistance.Bring down the walls of hatred,racism and neglect.

Gracious God, you have theheart of a generous Father and aloving Mother. Hear the cry ofyour children, the Roma people inPortugal, and see their need. Theylive with so many difficulties. Theyare a people afflicted andacquainted with grief: a livingprolongation of the Servant ofYahweh. By your grace, a few havebecome fully Portuguese, but manymore just barely survive on themargins of society. Give us,gracious God, the hope andstrength to work for a Portugal inwhich all people may live in yourpeace and with your justice.

Bring your peace to hearts andminds, and bring your justice to thehalls of power and privilege, inPortugal and in all the world. Allthis we ask in the name of Jesus,Prince of Peace.

Amen.

Day Six � April 4, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Romania

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 8

In the 2002 Romanian census, 535,140 people(roughly 2.5 percent of the total population)

reported themselves to be Roma. Today, estimates are1,200,000–2,500,00—just over eight percent of thetotal population.1 The figures vary widely becausemany Roma do not declare their ethnicity in thecensus, and are undocumented.

Roma have been living within the territory ofpresent-day Romania since the fourteenth century.Most Roma lived in slavery until their liberation in 1856.The late 1800s and early 1900s marked a period ofsome integration into larger society for Roma, but Nazipolicies spread to Romania in the 1940s, ending theperiod of acceptance. In 1942, dictator Ion Antonescudeported more than 25,000 Roma to Transnistria (aregion of the USSR occupied by Romania during WorldWar II) where at least 11,000 died.2

Although the persecution of Roma ended as a policyafter 1945, their social situation has not improvedsubstantially. Roma became a scapegoat for Romania’sincreasing poverty. They disproportionately live in povertythemselves—79 percent , as opposed to 31 percent ofthe country at large.3 A 2009 EU report found that whileRoma in Romania reported lower levels of discriminationthan did Roma in other European countries, thepercentage who reported discrimination based on ethnicor immigrant origin widespread was 42 percent.4

Today, Romanian Roma are not of one monolithicculture—they speak a variety of languages, practice arange of trades and live in many parts of Romania inboth cities and small villages. Over the last few yearsRoma from Romania migrated to Spain, Italy, andFrance, and forced evictions form France have becomea contentious political issue.

Read more about Romania and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/romania.Learn more about Mary Ferris’s work as mission coworkerat http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/ferris-mary.

Country profile by Mary Ferris, mission coworker inRomania

Prayer by Natalia Miron, Roma woman in Tulcea

Scripture“Do not worry about anything, butin everything by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving letyour requests be made known toGod. And the peace of God, whichsurpasses all understanding, willguard your hearts and your mindsin Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:6–7, NRSv

PrayerDear God, please bless me and myfamily and send the Holy Spiritupon us. You are our mother andfather and our only hope. We havebeen running around from door todoor and still we couldn’t find anysolution or answer so we put allour trust in you. Please God giveme healing for my child and helpme put up four walls. I put all mytrust in you for I am living amidstgarbage right now. Please help meout of this trouble and help us loveyou more than we do now. PleaseGod take care of Mary and Ancaand everybody else who is thinkingof us. Thank you, God. Amen.

Scripture“And Jesus came and said to them,‘All authority in heaven and onearth has been given to me. Gotherefore and make disciples of allnations, baptizing them in the nameof the Father and of the Son and ofthe Holy Spirit, and teaching themto obey everything that I havecommanded you. And remember, Iam with you always, to the end ofthe age.’”

—Matthew 28:18–20, NRSv

PrayerGracious God, I pray for Pastor Andrej

Beskorovainiy, for his congregation in Kursk,for the women and men who have

recently come to Christ,for Roma Christian communities in

other regions,for the children’s camp in the

summer of 2011, andfor upcoming leadership seminars.May God’s many blessings be

showered upon this pastor ashe continues to minister to theRoma in Russia.

Amen.

Day Seven � April 5, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Russia

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 9

The number of Roma in Russia varies very widely, withestimates ranging from 450,000 to 1,200,000.1 While

there are a few very wealthy Roma, most live in poverty,subject to discrimination by the government and by theirneighbors. Many adult Roma, especially women, arefunctionally illiterate, and many Roma children attendschool only occasionally, if at all. In a society where havingthe correct identification and residence documents is aprerequisite for access to housing, health care andeducation, many Roma are undocumented.

Many Roma live in isolated settlements on theoutskirts of cities and towns, in housing that issubstandard. Many suffer from drug and alcoholaddictions. Because of lack of education, problems withdocuments, and blatant discrimination, most Roma findit very difficult to find work. Some are employed asvendors in markets, others are forced to resort tofortune-telling, begging or even to crime, perpetuatingnegative stereotypes.

Women and girls have a particularly difficult time—many Roma girls are married as teenagers, becomingvirtual servants in the home of the husband’s family.Domestic violence is common, and there iswidespread indifference to it.

Although most Roma identify themselves asbelonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, many, ifnot most, have no regular contact with the church.Andrej Beskorovainiy, the only ethnic Roma pastorordained in the Baptist church, works tirelessly to bringGod’s saving message to his people. He ministers tohis own congregation in the city of Kursk, and travelsregularly to other communities to support groups ofbelievers there, leading worship and evangelizing, andorganizing children’s camps and seminars for theleaders of Roma churches and groups.

Read more about Russia and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/russia. Learnmore about Ellen and Al Smith’s work as missioncoworkers at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/smith-alan-and-ellen-20100721.

Country profile by Ellen and Al Smith, mission coworkersin Russia; prayer by Larisa Beskorovainiy

Day Eight � April 6, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Slovakia

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 10

When Slovakia became a separate country fromCzechoslovakia in 1992, it maintained the

previous country’s Declaration of Basic Human Rightsand Freedoms, which allowed residents to freelydeclare themselves as members of a distinct minorityin the census. A 2001 census in Slovakia counted89,920 Roma, but current estimates are 400,000–600,000.1 After Hungarians, Roma are the secondlargest Slovakian minority,2 making up roughly ninepercent of the population.3

A combined high birth rate for Roma (4.2 childrenper Roma family versus 1.5 children per non-Romafamily) and a shorter life expectancy (12 years shorterthan non-Roma) have created a young Romapopulation—nearly 30 percent of the population wasbetween 0 and 18 years old in 1995.4

Many Roma are bilingual or even trilingual, but ifchildren cannot speak Slovak, they often are placed inschools for children with mental disabilities. Segregationor exclusion that begins at kindergarten age continuesthroughout the children’s schooling.

Unemployment is rampant for Slovakian Roma—according to CNN, more than 80 percent of Romawere unemployed in 2004,5 compared to 15 percentfor the country at large.6 Given the obstacles Romaface in receiving education and finding work, they sufferfrom higher rates of poverty, illiteracy and health issues.

Large numbers of Roma live in settlements ofmakeshift houses with no utilities and no facilities, in ruralcommunities or at the edge of towns. Some of thesettlements are on river banks, subject to regularflooding, as the one near Svinia, Eastern Slovakia. Others,like Rudnany, were built on dumping grounds containingcontaminants such as mercury and arsenic. Hunger anddiscrimination led to unrest in Roma communities in2004. The Roma Union of Slovakia continues to lobby forrights and benefits for Roma. Housing projects and laborprograms have eased conditions in some areas.

Read more about Slovakia and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/slovakia.

Country profile by Burkhard Paetzhold; prayer by EmaBuzove, a Roma woman from Hlinné

Scripture“Put away from you all bitternessand wrath and anger and wranglingand slander, together with allmalice, and be kind to one another,tenderhearted, forgiving oneanother, as God in Christ hasforgiven you.”

—Ephesians 4:31–32, NRSv

PrayerDear Lord Jesus,Please fill us with your Spirit so thatwe will have harmony in ourmarriages. Please help us to besubmissive to our husbands, andour husbands to be considerate ofus. Please enable us to forgive oneanother. Please help us to agreewith our husbands concerning howwe raise our children. Please helpus to teach them about you. Pleasehelp us to restrain from unwisespending and be content. Pleasehelp us to always seek you first.Thank you for what you have doneand are doing, even when we donot see you at work. Amen.

Day Nine � April 7, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Spain

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 11

Spain is currently home to an estimated 725,000Roma.1 While the Roma initially were welcomed to

Spain in the early 1400s, by the late 1400s, legislationand public sentiment became anti-Roma. In 1749, theRoma population of Spain was rounded up andinterned in camps or expelled from the country. Theircaptivity lasted 16 years.2 Harsh treatment of Romacontinued, and reached another particularly cruel peakunder Francisco Franco in the 1930s. During Franco’sreign, Roma could not work, access health care, orassemble in groups of more than four people, even forfamily celebrations.3

More recently, however, anti-Roma laws have beenrepealed and Spain is being held up as a model for thefair treatment and integration of Roma into largersociety. Spanish culture reflects a Roma influence,including flamenco dancing, which originated with theRoma. Nearly half of Spanish Roma own homes, nearlyall have health care and close to 75 percent have aregular income.4 Although only 30 percent of Spain’sRoma children finish elementary school, nearly allchildren at least start and 85 percent of the Romapopulation is literate—thanks to programs that allowaccess to social services after enrolling children inschool.5

Read more about Spain and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/spain.

Country profile and prayer by Liz and Doug Searles,mission coworkers in Poland

Scripture“I have said this to you, so that inme you may have peace. In theworld you face persecution. Buttake courage; I have conquered theworld!”

—John 16:33, NRSv

Prayer God of all our journeys and ourever-present hope, today we thankyou for courageous Romani familiesand communities emerging fromcold winters everywhere in Europe.Today we especially lift up to yourcare the Roma of Spain, as theyleave behind the terrors andrepressions of the past and journeytoward restoration and integration.Comfort those who mourn, healdeep hurts, help children and adultshold onto their best hopes anddreams. Continue to make yourtransforming presence known inRomani lives and communities inSpain and in all your world. All thiswe ask in the name of God, ourcreator, redeemer and sustainer.Amen.

Day Ten � April 8, 2011

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Ukraine

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 12

Estimates of the number of Roma in Ukraine varywidely, between 120,000 and 400,000, but an

average estimate is 260,000.1 Approximately 30,000live in Transcarpathia, the westernmost part of Ukraine,mainly in ghettos near towns with Hungarianminorities.2

Most Roma settlements consist of houses that arelittle more than shacks without clean running water orelectricity. These slum areas often are walled off fromthe surrounding town. Some settlements—like the onein Beregszasz with 6,000 Romani inhabitants—haveonly a few pumps for drinking water. Tuberculosis andother contagious diseases are widespread. Childrenfrom these camps are not accepted in the publicschools, either because they do not speak Ukrainian orbecause they are discriminated against. Illiteracy andhigh unemployment follow. Many Roma girls becomemothers by age 14, thus ending any continuation ofeducation. Without education both women and menfind it difficult to find employment.

The Reformed Church of Carpath Ukraine hasreached out to the Roma community, and presentlythere are nine village churches. Some house Romapreschools. The church also has a leadership programamong the Roma. Church members and Roma leadershave developed programs to train Roma for somejobs. A Roma mission center provides a summercamping program for children and young

Read more about Ukraine and the PC(USA) athttp://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/ukraine.Learn more about Nadia Ayoub’s work as a missioncoworker at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/ayoub-nadia.

Country profile by Burkhard Paetzold

Prayer by Livia Tomes, mission worker in Ukraine

Scripture“And hope does not disappoint us,because God’s love has beenpoured into our hearts throughthe Holy Spirit that has been givento us.”

—Romans 5:5, NRSv

Prayer Gracious God, please hear ourprayers for the Roma mission. Thegoal of the mission among theRoma people is to teach God’sword. Bless the two families whoare praying for a new opportunityto talk with fellow Roma about thegospel and answer their prayers.Empower the Gyuszi family fromSzernye and the Béla family fromNagydobrony to share the GoodNews. Grant that the Roma hearthis message from the Romamission workers who are livingamong them and teaching themevery day. Open the hearts ofRoma villagers who belong to nochurch, to hear the messagestaught. By your grace, guide thosewho seek places for the missionworkers and their families to liveamong those in the villages. Helpthem to find and prepare housingfor the families who are sharingGod’s word of life. We pray in thestrong name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bulgaria

1. Council of Europe, Roma and Travellers Division,Roma statistics, www.coe.int/t/dg3/romatravellers/default_en.asp.

2. The Associated Press, “Romania sets holiday to markend of Gypsy slavery,” Washington Post, March 11,2011, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/11/AR2011031101538.html.

3. Open Society Institute, “Monitoring Education forRoma: A Statistical Baseline for Central, Eastern, andSouth Eastern Europe,” 2006, 3, www.soros.org/initiatives/roma/articles_publications/publications/monitoring_20061218/monitoring_20061218.pdf.

4. Open Society Institute, “Equal Access to QualityEducation for Roma, Vol. 1” (EU Monitoring andAdvocacy Program (EUMAP), 2007), 47, www.soros.org/initiatives/roma/articles_publications/publications/equal_20070329/2roma_20070329.pdf, accessedMarch 17, 2011.

5. Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Social-PedagogicalBoarding Schools and Correctional Boarding Schools(Sofia: BHC, 2001), 391–392.

6. European Commission against Racism andIntolerance, “ECRI Report on Bulgaria,” February 24,2009, 8, http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/BGR-CbC-IV-2009-002-ENG.pdf.

Czech Republic

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

2. Save the Children Fund, Denied a Future? The Right toEducation of Roma/Gypsy and Traveller Children, Vol 2(London: Save the Children, 2001), 5,www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/54_2317.htm,accessed March 17, 2011.

3. Rob Cameron, “PM expresses regret over Romasterilization but activists say practice continues”(Czech Republic: Radio Praha, November 24, 2009),www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/pm-expresses-regret-over-roma-sterilization-but-activists-say-practice-continues.

4. Denied a Future?, Vol 2, 34.

5. Ibid., 31.

Albania

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

Hungary

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

2. Denied a Future?,Vol 2, 114.

3. Marton Dunai, “Factbox: Eastern Europe’s RomaPeople” (Thomson Reuters, August 12, 2009),www.reuters.com/article/2009/08/13/us-friction-easteurope-roma-facts-idUSTRE57C04G20090813?sp=true, accessed March 17, 2011.

4. Since Hungary’s 1993 embrace of minority rights, ithas not been possible to publish data on educationalaccess and attainment by ethnicity.

5. Denied a Future?,Vol 2, 121.

6. Ibid., 121.

7. Ibid., 123.

8. Ibid., 123–124.

Portugal

1. Council of Europe, Roma and Travellers Division,Roma statistics, www.coe.int/t/dg3/romatravellers/default_en.asp.

2. “Portugal Brought Before European Tribunal For RomaHousing Situation,” Indigenous Peoples Issues andResources, May 12, 2010, http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5189:portugal-brought-before-european-tribunal-for-roma-housing-situation&catid=56:europe-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=78, accessed March 18,2011.

Romania

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

2. Viorel Achim, ed., The Romanian Gypsies During theHolocaust: Documents of Deportation (Bucharest:Editura Enciclopedică, 2004)

3. Denied a Future?, Vol. 1, 309.

4. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights,“European Union Minorities and DiscriminationSurvey, Data in Focus Report: The Roma” (2009), 7,http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=3938&langId=en, accessed March 18, 2011.

Presbyterian Women’s

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Notes

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 13

Russia

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

Slovakia

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

2. The World Factbook 2011 (Washington: U.S. CentralIntelligence Agency, 2011), https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lo.html,accessed March 18, 2011.

3. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

4. Denied a Future?, Vol. 2, 172.

5. Fionnuala Sweeney, “Slovakia seeks help on Romaissue,” CNN International, April 16, 2004,http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/14/eu.slovakia.roma, accessed March 18, 2011.

5. Index Mundi, “Slovakia Unemployment Rate,” March11, 2010; data attributed to The World Factbook(Washington: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 2010),www.indexmundi.com/slovakia/unemployment_rate.html, accessed March 17, 2011.

Spain

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

2. Council of Europe, “The Great ‘Gypsy’ Round-up inSpain,” Factsheets on Roma, project Education ofRoma Children in Europe, no publication date,http://romafacts.uni-graz.at/index.php/history/state-policies-integration-forced-assimilation-deportation/the-great-gypsy-round-up-in-spain, accessed March 18,2011.

3. Andres Calas, “Spain’s Tolerance for Gypsies: A Model for Europe?” Time, September 16, 2010,www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2019316,00.html, accessed March 18, 2011.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

Ukraine

1. Council of Europe, Roma statistics.

2. Yaroslaw Latsko, “On Hungarian Roma inTranscarpathia,” Romani Yag, April 20, 2005,www.romaniyag.org/en/?what=paper&number=70,accessed March 18, 2011.

Presbyterian Women’s

Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma � Notes

Copyright 2011, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.www.presbyterianwomen.org � 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 14