“DOSTA!, Get Over the prejudice, Meet the Roma”.

About 150 pupils from the Kumanovo primary and secondary schools, today, together created and expressed themselves artistically and thus sent a message that they are against discrimination. This activity was realized through the campaign of the National Roma Centrum, titled “Enough, overcome prejudice, get to know the Roma”.

“Students are “fighting” against discrimination by drawing on t-shirts by writing quotes, slogans, followed by recording creative video against discrimination”, said the Project Coordinator, Mr. Irfan Martez from NRC.

The campaign is taking place for the third consecutive year with the support of the Council of Europe and the campaign “DOSTA”. Previously, there were workshops organized where the officials from the office of the Ombudsman through lectures, examples and interactive workshops educated the pupils how to overcome the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. Discrimination exists not only towards members of different ethnic communities, but, according to Mr. Martez, it is fairly common among the very pupils who in the interactive workshops have cited examples of discrimination on various grounds.

The Executive Director of NRC, Mr. Ashmet Elezovski, stated that these creative works of the children from various ethnic communities can only contribute to overcome differences, all with the aim of building better future for the citizens of multiethnic Kumanovo.

He added that the state and communal institutions joined this campaign as well, but it is very important that the pupils and mentors took part, because, overcoming stereotypes, prejudices and crucially, the fight against discrimination should begin at the earliest age.