''Dikh He Na Bister'' is a
project for remembering the atrocities that were done to the Roma community
during the 2WW.
The courses and activities take place in Krakow and
Auschwitz - Poland.
This year, it was the75th anniversary of the Roma
genocide remembrance that took place on 29/07-04/08/2019.
I started our long journey from Resita to Krakow with 2
more volunteers from Nevo, Daniel Grebeldinger and one more journalist from
Resita called Alina Dragomir.
On our way, we were accompanied by more interesting and
friendly youth workers that joined our journey from an association that works
with Nevo with whom I had a lot of fun during our stay in Krakow.
While on the road, Daniel gave us the schedule and
explained to us some basic things about the project and what should we expect
from it, which I'll discuss in more detail.
When we arrived in Krakow we were placed in the hotel
called 'Hotel Studencki Zaczek'', which was a very nice hotel with a night club
on the first floor that we used for socializing with the other volunteers.
''Dikh He Na
Bister''
For ''Dikh He Na Bister'' I can say that it was one of
the most well-organized projects, full of educational courses followed by live
actions and visits in the 2 most notorious concentration camps called Auschwitz
and Birkenau.
About the courses
All of us volunteers were randomly placed in working
groups and were given separate rooms that were our place for discussion, work
and presentations.
We were discussing and given courses about the problems
that the Roma minorities faced in the past and are still facing today.
Also, Roma participants had the right to discuss their
struggles in society and how it is to be a young Roma in this era.
We were also prepared a day before visiting the
concentration camps about some main ethical rules which we had to follow, some
historical facts which we had to analyze and present to the group in pairs and
we also had days where we had the right to express ourself artistically.
Holocaust survivor testimonies
On the second day of our project, we had testimonies of
3 wonderful Roma survivors. One French man that worked as an entertainer in a
circus that managed to escape multiple times from many concentration camps, a
lady from Poland and a retired soldier that served in the soviet red army, who
managed to spare a pleading german soldiers life.
All of them were so amazing and inspiring people who
taught us how powerful and lifechanging tolerance is and how it stops hate and
violence to spread further into the world, for violence can never be conquered
by violence but only through love and forgiveness.
We had one more meeting with Holocaust survivors on the
fifth day of our project for the commemoration day on 2 of August at the Roma
and Sinti Memorial held in Bicheranu.
There were many survivors that fell as victims during
WW2.
They were discussing how they fell under the nazi
ruthless and cruel iron grip and what was done to them in the camps during the
war.
The speeches were translated in many different
languages that were broadcasted to us via radio-frequencies that we could hear
through receivers and headphones.
I can say that the speeches gave me a very powerful
message and an impact on what is going through a war and how we should be
careful not to repeat the same historical mistakes.
And I am really glad that I had the chance to meet all
the wonderful people that survived the immense suffering that war brings.
About the concentration camps
Auschwitz
On the 3d day early in the morning, we departed from
Krakow to visit The notorious concentration camp Auschwitz Including Block 13
on Roma and Sinti.
Each of our groups was given one guide that guided us
on the tour to the camp while explaining historical facts.
The museum was well preserved with a lot of details and
personal belongings from the victims that were hauntingly standing inside as an
expose.
We were guided through all the blocks including the
last remaining gas chamber which was the darkest and most haunting place that I
have ever visited in my life.
The tour guide was very professional and went in a
great dept in explaining the historical facts to us.
Birkenau
This was the biggest concentration camp where victims
were held imprisoned in huge numbers.
We had another guide that gave us an educational tour
through the camp and what was done there.
About Krakow
Krakow is the most beautiful city that I have ever
visited.
Luckily, the main square was very close to our hotel
that gave us a chance for us to visit it often.
The square is filled with unique and majestic medieval
churches, cathedrals, and castles.
The town was always full of tourists that gave us a
chance to meet a lot of wonderful and interesting people.
About the volunteers
I was so lucky to meet a lot of Roma and non-roma from
all around the world with whom I spend a wonderful time in my life.
