Union of Roma People “Roma” Was Established In Kakheti

Union of Roma people “Roma” was established in Kakheti region of Georgia. The office of the union is located in the village of Leninovka in Dedoplistskaro district where most Roma people live throughout the region.

The head of the Union Venera Iunenko-Martkopelashvili said the organization was established with the support of the European Center for Minorities Issues. The goal of the organization is to protect the rights of Roma, their education and integration into the society; maintenance of the Roma cultural heritage.

“I want Roma people to be literate and I do not want people to call them “Nasty Gypsies”. 13 children from our village go to the public school in Dedoplistskaro; the rest refused to go; we do not have kindergarten, a shop or a doctor in the village. All in all, we do not have anything,” said Venera Iunenko.

18 Roma families have been living in Leninovka for almost 40 years. Despite poverty, only 4 families are involved in the poverty reduction state program; others do not have birth certificates and IDs.

Kakheti News Center