Lawyer aims to boost Roma's education opportunities
"The most important thing for my community, the Roma, is education," says Redzep Ali Cupi.
Redzep, 24, is right to be worried about Roma education in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Thirty-three per cent of Roma have failed to complete primary education, according to the country's 2005 Report on the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.
The lack of schooling stems from a number of interlinked factors such as deprived economic conditions, linguistic disadvantages, prejudice against Roma, lack of motivation and failure to enforce laws on obligatory education. Without an adequate education, opportunities for employment and integration into broader society are limited.
But the young lawyer sees improvement ahead. He believes the country's current political process of decentralization, which officially began in June 2005, may make all the difference.
He also sees signs of progress within the Roma community: "During the past 10 years, it has put a lot of effort into raising public awareness to increase the number of educated Roma."
Decentralization: key to change
Decentralization is giving local self-government ever more power to address citizens' needs. "Through decentralization, smaller ethnic communities finally have a chance to participate directly in local decision-making, allowing them to solve issues such as education."
He also believes that the State should bolster its efforts to work with civil society to increase the level of education and employment rates among Roma.
Redzep has taken his views about the importance of a good education to heart. He is about to graduate from the Law Faculty in Skopje and hopes to pursue postgraduate studies in law abroad. After that, he plans to return and use his professional skills at home.
"Armed with knowledge and skills, one has power," Redzep says. "This power should be shared with the rest of the community to establish a good quality of life and harmony among all members.
Teaching the law
Redzep is already using his knowledge and skills to improve the situation of Roma. At "Arka", a non-governmental organization that promotes Roma's rights, he assists them in obtaining their personal identification documents.
He is also an assistant trainer for a project financed by the OSCE Mission to Skopje aimed at improving the professional capacity of the councillors of Suto Orizari, the only municipality in Europe where Roma are the majority. He teaches them about the laws relevant to local governance that should be guiding their everyday work.
"Because of my ethnic background and the energy I have, I decided to get involved in capacity-building. My goal is to pave the way towards a society of well-being - for my community and for all others," Redzep says.
Changing perceptions
Ramadan Berat, who as a Senior Assistant on Roma Issues with the OSCE Mission is charged with the project's implementation, is happy Redzep is participating.
"What Roma need most to compensate for their low social status is to increase the interaction of Roma individuals with the institutions of mainstream society," he says. "The involvement of people such as Redzep Ali Cupi will generate change. Roma community members will become creators of policy instead of the objects of policy-making.
"After the successful completion of his studies, Redzep will be the model of inclusion that brings together Roma and non-Roma to discuss, articulate, defend and negotiate their opinions and interests."
Redzep believes that young people full of energy and enthusiasm can make society progress, while the experience of older people can offer priceless assistance. "If one could create a synergy between the skills and the knowledge of young people and the experience of their elders, no one would feel neglected in society."