Roma Culture Days are being held from April 18 to 28 and the event was organised by the Association of Roma in the Republic of Croatia "KALI SARA", the Office of MP Veljko Kajtazi and the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Zagreb, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of nurturing cultural diversity and intangible cultural heritage of the Roma.
MP Kajtazi pointed out that they wanted to send a different message and present a different image of the Roma to the majority population of the county.
"I believe that with this kind of an exhibition we will reduce prejudices against the Roma in Međimurje County," said Kajtazi, adding that in Međimurje County, as well as in other counties in Croatia, they will continue to work on stronger emphasis on the Roma cultural heritage.
He expressed satisfaction that the Roma Educational and Cultural Center, together with the Association of Roma in the Republic of Croatia "KALI SARA", organises the arrival of children from 1st to 4th grade to the Association, announcing a tour program of the Roma memorial center Uštica, near Jasenovac for the children in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
"We cannot abolish prejudice and discrimination, but we can certainly reduce it," said Kajtazi.
The mayor of Čakovec, Ljerka Cividini, said that the City of Čakovec is open to everyone, including its minorities, stressing that she believes that the people of Međimurje and the people of Čakovec have accepted Roma very well.
The exhibition "Traces of Roma culture - deserving among us" contains 71 portrait photographs of individuals of the Roma origin who have left a mark on the community with their work, while the exhibition "Love the Roma - messages of hate in Croatian streets" deals with messages of hatred, stigmatization and racism in public areas with the aim showing that graffiti can also send messages of mutual respect.