The methodology of applying the Roma Political School

• Individual and group mentoring;
• Development of strategies towards impact;
• Development of an electoral campaign strategy;
• Simulation of case studies;
• Academic presentations, theory and practice;
• Simulation of debates;
• Sessions to develop communication, presentation and debating skills;
• Study visits in the field;
• Mentors for each working group.

We anticipated the certification of 21 Roma and non-Roma youngsters after an enriched program consisting of 6 modules of lessons varying from the rule of law and political systems to advocacy and artivism.

We have received 24 (twenty-four) applications from 11 (eleven) locations/municipalities. The young participants come from various educational and professional fields. 2 participants work at the local level as cultural and community mediators (Rrogozhina and Roskovec).

Gender-segregated data – (13) girls, (11) boys. Whereas, in terms of geographic dispersion – most of the applicants are from Tirana (7), Pogradec (3), Elbasan (3) and Korça (2).

The 6 modules were splinted into 27 (seventeen) sessions and 50 (fifty) hours of lecturing.

Over 21 topics were delivered by 16 national and international Roma and non-Roma academics and professionals, coming from extensive experience and contributions in their respective domains.

We launched the first Roma Political School in Albania!

• There were 21 participants from 12 Municipalities and 52% of them are young Rromani girls. The participants had the opportunity to listen to the opening remarks of Mrs Valerie Poppe, project manager from CoE and Roma and Travellers. Moreover, we introduced the participants to the profile of each of the lecturers and the curricula of the Roma Political School. On the other end, the participants engaged proactively. They shared their expectations from the school by highlighting the idea that the school can serve as the environment to seed the foundations of a Roma Political Party.
• The first session of Roma Political School focused on the topic: Roma Identity and History, delivered by Professor Saimir Mile, founder and board member of the French Roma Association La Voix des Rroms. He wittily brought a whole new perspective on this topic triggering critical thinking among the participants on the process that construct or deconstruct identity and history. In the second session, we had the topic delivered by Mr Bledar Taho on Roma Civil Society Organizations in the Region – Contribution and Lessons Learned. Besides the academic presentation, the session included Q&A and reflection on the contribution of Roma and Roma friendly CSO in Albania.
• Last week, students of the Roma Political Schools could listen and engage on three interesting topics. In the first session, Mrs Brisilda Taço delivered a presentation on the Rights and Participation of Minority Groups – the power of community organizing and mobilization. For those that little know about her, Brisilda has extensive experience working with youth and a rich background in activism. She has one more session to cover and the participants have group work regarding freedom to move. In the second session, we had on zoom Mr Deniz Selmani, program manager at the Romalitico institute in Skopje. He covered the topic of Roma emancipation and the history of participation – Milestone Events. The essence of the presentation was on the Romani movement. In the third session, the youngsters could learn and engage in Political Systems, Parties and Culture, delivered by Professor Endri Shabani. Besides the political systems, three are the main ones, and the participants learned the importance of check and balance under a democratic political system.
• In her second session, Mrs. Brisilda Taco delivered a presentation on the power of community organizing and mobilization. She recalled past events in 2012-2015 when advocating and mobilizing the Roma communities in Rruga e Kavajes and Selita. She analyzed and compared the first community mobilizing attempts and the evolving process that sophisticated the Roma movement in Albania. Mr Erjon Xhaibra, a member of the National Minorities Committee in Albania, representing the Roma Minority, focused on his session on the law of the Minorities and the role of the Committee. Most importantly, the session had the political representation perspective. In the last part, we had the second session with Mr. Endri Shabani on the Electoral systems and Albanian elections.
• Two sessions on Roma women emancipation, participation, and change-makers, delivered by Mrs Manjola Veizi, Executive Director of the Roma Women Rights Centre. The session had combined academic presentation with less academic lecturing tools such as exercises, illustrations and work in teams. Also, it tackled the historical perspective and the process of emancipation and participation of Roma women as a crucial aspect for the inclusion of the Roma minority as a whole.
• Mr Bujar Taho LL.M, SJDc Lecturer at the Public Law Department at the Mediterranean University of Albania. The topic was on Rule of Law and Social Justice and even though a session is not enough to cover the basics, Bujar could ignite students’ critical thinking and immerse them in the topic.
• Mr Olsi Sherifi, Journalist and speaker of news in the Rromani language at RTSH-2. His topic and expertise are about the Anti-Roma rhetoric in politics, media, and public opinion. He took the students into a journey of key concepts to practical cases of hate speech and dehumanization of the Roma identity on media.
• “A journey into the anti-Roma rhetoric in literature, art, and pop culture” delivered by Mr Jonathan Lee, Communications Department at the European Roma Rights Centre. The session’s methodology was based on images and photos, which made it enjoyable to follow.
• Mrs Romina Sefa, Executive Director of Qendra per Advokim Social. Her session focused on the topic: Advocacy and lobbying: Tools, technics, and case studies. The participants worked on real-life scenarios.
• Mr Adem Adem Ademi, General Secretary of the EREN – European Roma Equality Network. He delivered a presentation on Leadership: Types and skills required. He also used examples to bring and compare different types of leaders that have brought considerable changes in the global society.
• Three (3) sessions with Ms Simona Torotcoi on Public Policy related topics. During the full day of lecturing, she delivered an interactive and engaging presentation on Good Governance, Policy Cycle, the Ladder of Participation and Influencing the Policies. At the end of the day, the participants worked in teams. They delivered a short presentation on mapping the stakeholders in a given case picked up by them.
• Three sessions were delivered by Mr. Sead Kazanxhiu, Deputy Chairperson at the State Committee of National Minorities and Visual Artist on #artivism. His political activism through art started earlier in 2011 and was developed on the same narrative through 10 years in various expressive formats.
• Mrs Lela Savić, a Rromani journalist from La Converse in Canada. She deliberately presented a presentation on: How do you use your own media to convey your message?
• Mr Saimir Mile, whom we have introduced in the first sessions from the start of the RPS. He was invited again to deliver a presentation on the Roma Genocide, known in the Rromani language as “Samudaripen”.
• At the end of the Roma Political School, we had a special guest lecturer, Ms Shejla Fidani, a Policy Expert at the Regional Cooperation Council – Roma Integration 2020. The youngsters had the opportunity to learn about the mandate of the RCC-Roma Integration 2020 and projects, activities and strategic documents serving the Roma Integration in the Western Balkans.

• Up to 25 (twenty-five) applications from Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Vlore, Berat, Pogradec, Korça, and Gjirokaster, graduated or are in process of graduation in BA and MA level.
• We have received 24 (twenty-four) applications from 11 (eleven) locations/municipalities. The young participants come from a variety of educational and professional fields such as professional (VET) schools, BA and MA in process of graduation or graduates. Additionally, 2 of them work at the local level as cultural and community mediators (Rrogozhina and Roskovec).
• In terms of gender-segregated data, most of the applicants (13) are girls, while (11) are boys. Whereas, in terms of geographic distribution, most of the applicants are from Tirana (7), Pogradec (3), Elbasan (3) and Korça (2).

1. Provided lecturing sessions and coaching to young Roma to bring Roma constituencies closer to the local and national level political and policy-making activities.
2. Provided lecturing sessions to bring young Roma closer to the European decision-making bodies, while promoting their direct and active participation and interaction with the public administration, as well as encouraging and boosting their presence in the public sphere.
3. Provided 6 (six) modules, each module 6 – 10 hours of lecturing that encompasses formal and non-formal education tools, varying from academic presentations to learning through movies and documentaries, and games.
4. Prepared one (1) policy brief with recommendations on the relevance and necessity of the political representation of Roma by the Roma at the local and national level.
5. Provided sessions that built a sense of community cohesion, and cultivated motivation and leadership skills to get further involved and bring about positive transformations of their constituencies.
6. Provided sessions of Roma identity, and have a clear awareness and understanding of the importance of political participation. Also, cultivate the awareness of the necessity for more efficient collective representation of their communities.
7. Created 5 (five) teams’ that will work on specific and tangible assignments such as a simulation of an electoral campaign, academic presentation of a topic and debate, communication strategies, policy brief, and advocacy campaigns.

Module	Topics	Lecturer/trainer
1.    Political parties and elections;	1.1. Political systems, parties, and culture 1.2. Electoral campaigns, public speaking, and public debate 1.3. Electoral systems and Albanian elections’ 1.4. Roma political participation: past and future	Mr Endri Shabani – Political parties and elections Political systems, parties, and culture; Electoral campaigns, public speaking, and public debate; Electoral systems and Albanian elections’
2.    Roma Political Movement	2.1. Roma identity and history; 2.2. Samudaripen, Roma Holocaust (never again) 2.3. Roma emancipation, and history of participation (milestone events) 2.4. Roma civil society organizations in the region (contribution and lessons learned) 2.5. Rights and participation of minority groups	Mr. Bledar Taho – Roma civil society organizations in the region – Contribution and lessons learned. Mr. Deniz Selmani – Roma emancipation, and history of participation. Milestone events. Mr. Saimir Mile – Roma identity and history Samudaripen, Roma Holocaust (never again) (TBC)
3.    Leadership and active citizenship	1.1. Type of leadership, types, and skills required (contemporary leadership, are leaders naturally born?) 1.2. The power of community organizing and mobilization 1.3. Advocacy and lobbying (tools, technics, and case studies) 1.4. Artivism, activism through art and culture 1.5. Roma women emancipation, participation, and change-makers	Mrs. Brisilda Taco – Rights and participation of minority groups: The power of community organizing and mobilization. Mrs. Manjola Veizi – Roma women emancipation, participation and change makers Mrs. Romina Sefa – Advocacy and lobbying. Tools, technics, and case studies. Mr. Erjon Xhaibra – The State Committee of Minorities Mr. Sead Kazanxhiu – Artivism, activism through art and culture Mr. Adem Ademi – Leadership: Types and skills required.
4.    Democratic systems, and rule of law	4.1.  A short journey to parliamentary and presidential systems 4.2.  What does it mean rule of law, social justice, rule of justice? 4.3.  Check and balance a constitutional concept 4.4.  Decentralization of public administration 4.5.  Regional Cooperation Council – Roma Integration 2020. Accession to the EU of Western Balkans	Mr. Bujar Taho – Rule of Law and Social Justice. Mr. Endri Shabani – Check and balance a constitutional concept; Mr. Shejla Fidani (TBC) – Accession to the EU of Western Balkans Mr. Suad Skenderi – Roma political participation: past and future
5.    Anti-Roma rhetoric	5.1.  Anti-Roma rhetoric in politics, media, and public opinion 5.2.  Digital Media Activism: How do you use your own media to convey your message? 5.3.  Racism, hate speech, and hate crimes; A journey into the anti-Roma rhetoric in literature, art, and pop culture	Mr. Jonathan Lee – A journey into the anti-Roma rhetoric in literature, art, and pop-culture Mr. Olsi Sherifi – Anti-Roma rhetoric in politics, media, and public opinion; Mrs. Lela Savic – Digital Media Activism; Ms. Judit Ignaz – Racism, hate speech, and hate crimes
6.    Policies and development, (sustainable development, and good governance)	6.1.  Law and Public Policy 6.2.  Policy cycle, from concept to termination, repetition, and evaluation 6.3.  Good Governance, Policy Cycle, the Ladder of Participation and Influencing the Policies 6.4.  Influencing Public Policies – the Art of changing what we think is harmful	Ms. Simona Torotcoi;

• 24 (twenty-four) applications received from 11 (eleven) locations/municipalities. The young participants come from various educational and professional fields. 2 participants work at the local level as cultural and community mediators (Rrogozhina and Roskovec).
• Gender-segregated data – (13) girls, (11) boys. Whereas, in terms of geographic dispersion – most of the applicants are from Tirana (7), Pogradec (3), Elbasan (3) and Korça (2).
• The 6 modules were splinted into 27 (seventeen) sessions and 50 (fifty) hours of lecturing.
• Over 21 topics were delivered by 16 national and international Roma and non-Roma academics and professionals, coming from extensive experience and contributions in their respective domains.
• 25 (fourteen) evaluation forms for each of the lecturers/sessions.
• 21 Roma and non-Roma youngsters received a certificate of attendance after an enriched program consisting of 6 modules of lessons varying from the rule of law and political systems to advocacy and artivism.
• 16 (sixteen) publications on the social networks, out of which 2 (two) videos for the promo and closing of the project.
• 1 study visit in the field at Ish-Pjeshkorja, Berat Municipality.
• 5 groups working under the supervision of a mentor.

There are some changes in the calendar of sessions mostly due to the postponement of the sessions from some of the lecturers.

• Saimir Mile, was invited to cover the topic on “Samudaripen – Roma Holocaust”.
• Deniz Selmani, Program Manager at Romalitico, covered the topic on Roma emancipation and history of participation (Milestone events) based on the suggestion of Mr. Suad Skenderi who was initially invited to deliver the topic. However, we will invite him to cover the topic of Roma political participation: past and future.
• Blendi Ceka, lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana, did not confirm, probably due to lack of time and other engagements he might have.
• However, we have invited one of the colleagues from the Regional Cooperation Council Roma 2020. It was also a kind offer from them to provide to our students 1-2 sessions.
• On November 13, Mrs Lela Savic and Ms. Judit Ignaz were not able to deliver their respective sessions. Thus, we have arranged the sessions with Mr. Ademi Ademi and Mrs. Romina Sefa, both of them had missed their respective sessions.
• We are planning and willing to extend the project without extra cost extension until December in order to cover the remaining topics with the lecturers: Saimir Mile, Suad Skenderi, RCC Roma 2020, Judit Ignaz, Lela Savic, and Sead Kazanxhiu.
• Also, we need to attend the Council Meeting of the Municipality of Elbasan and organize the five (5) teams of participants to engage in practical exercises after the Roma Political School.
• We could manage to organize the study visit at any of the Municipality Councils as planned due to the dynamic of time and activities. However, the participants could visit, under the facilitation of Mr. Sead Kazanxhiu, the State Committee of Minorities.
• We organized five (5) teams to work on practical assignments under the supervision of the mentors.
• Lastly, we could not manage to organize the session with Ms. Judit Ignaz regarding the hate crimes topic due to a logistic miscalculation.

TEAM WORK-ROMA POLITICAL SCHOOL
TOPIC / ASSIGNMENT	Team leader	Members	Mentors
The simulation of an electoral campaign for the Roma running at the Municipality Council.	Raxhi Rakipi		Mr. Tahir Batalli
The social housing scheme for vulnerable Roma families.	Ervina Ziba		Mrs. Brisilda Taço
Intersectional discrimination against Roma women.	Anisa Majko		Mrs. Manjola Veizi
Hate speech in media affecting the Roma minority	Nikolino Ademi		Mr. Olsi Sherifi
The Roma civil society organizations, challenges and their development in years	Helga Çela		Mr. Bledar Taho

• The State Committee on National Minorities is an advisory body under the Prime Minister office. Besides inviting two Roma members as lecturers in the Roma Political School (Mr. Sead Kazanxhiu and Mr. Erion Xhaibra), they invited and organized a visit for the cohort of young participants.
• The Regional Cooperation Council offered to deliver a presentation session to the RPS cohort. It was not initially planned by Roma Versitas Albania, but it was a highly relevant session for the cohort to receive information on the agenda of the RCC-Roma Integration 2020 at the regional level.
• National and Local Civil Society organization (Rromano Kham, Institute of Romani Culture in Albania, The Centre for Social Advocacy, Roma Women Rights Centre). Trainers from the sector of Roma-led civil society organizations were a strong component of the Roma Political School in a multilevel dimension. First of all, the lecturers from the CSO’s sector brought a unique experience from the work, including also political narratives. Moreover, they represent a window of opportunity for the participants to build networking for future political engagement and support from the Roma-led CSO sector.
• Roma International lecturers/trainers it is another strong component of the Roma Political School. Their contribution was multilayer too. Not only brought unique experience in their field of expertise but also an international experience and critical thinking topics.
• Lastly, the Council of Europe Office in Tirana provided their support and availability for assistance at any time.

25 (fourteen) evaluation forms for each of the lecturers/sessions. After each session, the participants received the link of evaluation via a WhatsApp group. In general, the evaluation from the participant was positive, and it varies from good to excellent.

Several of them asked through the evaluation form if they needed more lessons from the lecturers or to receive information more on certain topics, such as the Roma holocaust, the power of community organizing, the policy cycle, and the election systems. (In a pdf format, there are 19 evaluation graphs for 17 lecturers. Two of them had the second session on a separate day).

Below is an example of an evaluation form sent to the students in English. However, all the evaluation forms are in the Albanian language.