Amaro Drom e.V.

Amaro Drom is a intercultural youth self-organization of Roma and non-Roma, which creates space for young people to become active citizens through empowerment, mobilization, self-organization and participation. We believe in the mutual efforts to create trust and mutual respect between Roma and non-Roma youth. Amaro Drom is active in the field of youth work, adult education, social inclusion, art and culture, including non-formal education, empowerment of young women, capacity-building of young adults and youth leaders, and the promotion of volunteering, voluntary service and active citizenship. Recognizing that stigmatization and marginalization constitute the root causes of social exclusion, Amaro Drom creates dialogue on all levels, and raises the awareness of society, media, schools and authorities about stereotypes, antigypsyism and discrimination.

Amaro Drom is member of the national youth organization "djo - Deutscher Jugend in Europa e.V., foundig member of ternYpe - International Roma Youth Network and Phiren Amenca, the network of Roma and non-Roma volunteers and voluntary service organizations.

Since its creation, Amaro Drom has carried out international seminars for young Roma activists and young activists from other backgrounds. The aim of these seminars have been to contribute to the empowerment of Roma and non-Roma youngsters through capacity building, networking, offering them the possibility to learn other EU societies, where they could improve their knowledge on EU countries and their intercultural skills. Regularly once a year we are organizing a international youth meeting were participants ( Roma and non-Roma) from different EU and non EU countries work together, developing European campaigns, doing music, theater and workshops on interculturality.

Amaro Drom has as various national youth groups through which it is attempted to contribute to their better inclusion in education systems and to their empowerment. In the youth groups we offer a space for the youngsters where they can meet and exchange about their experiences. We organize e.g. workshops on Roma History, Roma identity, Antigypsyism, Roma resistance during the Nazi regime, educational opportunities for young people to political and social inclusion and leisure activities. The youngsters have the opportunity to be active in other countries in cooperation with our international partners.

Amaro Drom carries out campaigns against racism and anti-gypsyism and plays a key role in several anti-racist platforms at local, regional and national level.

Amaro Drom has a wide experience organising trainings, seminars and conferences at national

and international level, from developing the concept to coordination and implementation (contents,

logistic and administration). Amaro Drom works with different organizations world wide with a wide range of cultures, languages and so on and we are equipped with tools and sensitivity to work in such an international multi cultural project. The organisation is composed by an international team of volunteers, trainers and office crew. We are working in an office in Berlin which enables us a good work flow within the team, work materials, and contact (internet, phone etc) with our partners world wide. Amaro Drom works with and trains trainers with experience in multi cultural environment and conflict resolution.

From April 2015 to December 2019 the project “Dikhen amen! See us!” was running. Dikhen amen!” has been a nationwide project of Amaro Drom e.V. and was implemented in close cooperation with the regional associations of Amaro Drom e.V. The main goal of "Dikhen amen!" was to train young Roma as workshop teamers. As part of their training, the young people learned methods for empowering young Roma and for raising awareness of racism. At the end of the training, the young people were able to hold workshops themselves. The workshops are aimed at young people in youth clubs, youth self-organizations and associations, as well as in educational institutions.

The yearly highlight of our activities is the National Youth Meeting which taking place in varios federal states.The National Youth Meeting is the largest nationwide gathering over more 100 of young Roma and non-Roma in Germany.

During the 3-day workshops and the partly public evening program, the participants discussing their goals and visions for a society based on solidarity and networked in order to come closer to this vision together.

The National YOuth Meeting is a place of empowerment for young Roma through joint learning, creative processes, the creation of self-determined self-portrayals and, last but not least, a lot of fun.