VoRAE

NGO VoRAE

SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ROMA, ASHKALI AND EGYPTIANS

For a truly multi-ethnic and multicultural society in Kosovo, where members of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities are treated as equals by the state and the wider society. Where they have access to the same opportunities as everyone else and where members of these communities are aware of their rights and responsibilities and are empowered to exercise those rights. A Kosovo where these communities have decent employment in both the public and private sectors, working with dignity to provide for their families. Where they have access to and benefit from quality public infrastructure, and where services are available and accessible locally. A Kosovo where health outcomes improve, and life expectancy for members of these communities increases. A Kosovo where women from these communities are less oppressed and underrepresented in education, employment, and other areas of life. Where women from these communities are more economically and politically empowered.

Our Major Causes

All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.
- Orison Swett Marden

Employment

Employment plays an important role in fostering integration in societies, as it functions not only as a source of monetary income, but also as a tool of social inclusion. Our goals are to address the lack of enforcement of employment quotas in the public sector by advocating for an institutional mechanism for their implementation as well as to invest in the skills of young Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians to become more competitive in the labor market.

Anti-Gypsyism

Antigypsyism has proven to be a formidable barrier to efforts to improve the life chances and living standards for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, with many facing discrimination, harassment and hate crime because of their ethnic origin. Our goal is to addressed it institutionally, among service providers and in the public sector and, at the same time empower the communities to recognize practices, deal with their fears and overcome their passivity.

Education

Better education means higher qualifications and improved chances of gainful employment, helping lift people out of poverty. Our goal is that all Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children complete at least primary education by advocating for and offering services on non-discriminatory access to quality education, supplementary after-school support, quality early childhood education whereby ensuring that the diverse needs of students are meet.

Policy Dialogue

This element focuses on influencing actions to ensure that the mainstreaming actions based on tested and successful models of integration are fully absorbed into Government policy. By influencing, motivating and guiding the direction of public sector reform around the subject of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian inclusion institutions are expected to make financial commitment and budgetary allocations for the implementation of those policies.

Women Empowerment

Young Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian women face challenges every single day. Apart from sharing their communities' struggles, they systematically face multiple discrimination simply by the virtue of being female and a member of the community. Investing in young women’s leadership is essential for social change, for the development of these communities and ensuring the rights of these women, which is one of our main goals.

Housing

Housing is among the key challenges to achieving full equality for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians. Our goals are therefore to improve legislation for spatial planning and house legalization for vulnerable groups and to develop a governmental strategy addressing their housing challenges. It must put an end to housing segregation and consequently improve the housing conditions of these community by developing an affordable housing model.

NGO "Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians"

The Non-Governmental Organization 'Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians' has a mission to support the mentioned communities through direct interventions in the ares of education, employment, housing as well as through advocacy and representation before the local and international governmental institutions and agencies.