Going to the theater for the first time
2017-06-30
On the eve of 1 of June 2017, the international children’s day parents and children from Plovdiv’s neighborhood of Stolipinovo visited together a puppet theatre show staged in the hall of Lilia kindergarten. For most of them this was the first visit to a theatrical performance.
In general, Roma people from the neighborhood of Stolipinovo live an isolated life and leave their area once in a while. Therefore, part of the activities implemented under the ZOV project in Plovdiv aim at overcoming this segregated way of life. Through visiting cultural events such as theatres, puppet show, opera and concerts, staged not only in the Roma neighborhood but also outside its borders, Roma parents and their children are expected to gradually overcome the constraints imposed by life in ethnically encapsulated environment.
Within the framework of the ZOV programme, a celebration of the International Day of Roma People has been organized on the 8th of April at the building of Nayden Gerov primary school. The students performed in front of their parents, teachers, people from the neighborhood and the media. For the locals the event has become a true celebration of their Roma identity.
A total of 170 children and parents participated in the empowerment initiatives such as the puppet theatre show and the celebration of the International Roma Day organized under the project.