"True leaders are not born; they are made." Peter Pollák, young Roma leader.
Poverty and discrimination make life difficult for the Roma
 Peter Pollák, a young Roma leader, wants to see a better life for his people. For Slovakia’s 500,000 Roma live in far worse conditions than members of mainstream society.
Peter grew up in a Roma settlement in the town of Levoèa and continues to live there. He constantly confronts Roma poverty and various forms of prejudice from mainstream society. And although the situation has improved in many ways, much still remains unchanged.
”Homes without water, electricity, heating or food defeat the efforts of Roma children to break out of this vicious cycle by getting an education," he says. "And without proper education they will never find jobs."
Add to that the widespread discrimination they face and the situation becomes even more difficult, he says. And, if nothing is done today, future generations will continue to face the same obstacles.
Training young Roma leaders to take on the challenges faced by their people
 Building on the idea that leaders within the community can help to work for change, the World Bank has been helping train young Roma leaders, including Peter, to improve the lot of their people.
Through a grant of US$278,000 in 2000 to the newly founded Secretariat of the Slovak Government’s Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities, the World Bank has sought to train these young leaders and build capacity within the community. The training has focused on how to work with the Roma and to bridge the gap between them and public officials, media, and the public at large.
A regional office has also been set up in Prešov, a town in the eastern part of the country. "The contacts I made there enabled me to build a bridge that has helped me ever since," recalls Peter.
The grant has also helped the young Roma leaders to learn from the experiences of people who have worked with minorities in the United States. "We shared our experiences, and since then, I have put their advice to good use," explains Peter, adding that he wants to make the investment in him worthwhile by working every day for the well-being of Roma.
Rebuilding Roma shacks in Zehra
 Peter’s involvement with the World Bank took him on a trip through the country with the World Bank’s Vice-President Johannes Linn. They stopped at the village of Žehra where a project was underway to build homes for the poorest Roma who lived in shacks without water, electricity, or sewage.
Although the project was being financed by the Slovak Government and the Žehra municipality, it was about to run out of money. The World Bank stepped in with a US$36,150 grant to buy kitchen units, ranges, flooring, and so on to complete the 40 or so homes being built in the village.
As a result, some 350 Žehra Roma were spared another cold winter in their shacks. "I know these Roma personally. Now at last they live like human beings," says Peter.
Working to change perceptions of the Roma as productive members of society
 Peter continues in his efforts to help his people. He is hopeful that the Europe-wide initiatives that have followed from the 2003 Regional Roma Conference held in Budapest will lead to a brighter future for them. Among these initiatives are the Decade of Roma Inclusion and the Roma Education Fund.
"I want the Roma to go from being a burden in the eyes of people to becoming a productive force in society," he says. "And if the World Bank can continue what it set in motion in Slovakia, I am confident that we will be successful in this struggle.
Certainly getting there will require a lot of effort, and young Roma leaders like Peter will lend a helping hand. Peter emphasizes the importance of education and believes that training and educating young Roma is an investment that pays off, as people go back to their communities and help educate others.
"The young have a responsibility,“ says Peter. "Being a true leader is not easy by any stretch," he adds. " True leaders are not born; they are made." |
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