Gypsy Dreams

 Mrs. Gulyas, Natasa

According to the last Hungarian referendum (2001) less than two hundred thousand citizens claimed themselves to be Gypsies. However, a monitoring in 1994 showed that in the eyes of the non-Gypsies, five percent of the population is considered to be of a gypsy origin, and according to some Gypsy intellectuals, this number can reach a million. This diversity came from the fact that lots of Gypsies tend to disclaim their origin.
The reason is that as a Gypsy one faces a couple of difficulties on a daily basis; in the family, in the kindergarten, in the school, in the workplace, even in the shop or on the streets.
Racial discrimination is a common thing in the region. No matter how well educated (or uneducated) a Gypsy person is, he/she doesn't have the chance to get a job. Why is it so?
Because we humans often are willing to judge by skin color, race, age or gender. For how long do we, gypsies have to wait for the Hungarian society to recognise that we also can work, raise children, assure normal life conditions like anybody else? Our children go to kindergarten from the age of three. When they finish school we encourage them to continue their studies, with success in many cases. There are more and more qualified Gypsy children.
But what happens after their suceccful graduation? What can we say to them after their first job interviews, when they are told that 'The job is fulfilled.' or 'There are no jobs to apply for.'? We try to console them, 'Don't worry, next time you will be luckier' but we know that there is little chance for them to get a job they studied for. Then they often have to ask for an entrant grant. And this is the worst when someone educated has to ask for unemployment benefit as a beginner. At this point they will think about how differently they imagined the future when they applied for the desired school.
They imagined that they work every day, that they are able to provide comfort for their families, raise their children among fair conditions. Then they realize that it will remain a dream...
And we reached the point when we Gypsies can't do better without the help of the society. Only the hope remains that the time will come when there won't be a 'wall' between people and we will be regarded as valuable as anyone else.