Trine Skymoen in Jarovnice. (source: Courtesy of Divé Maky)
ON MARCH 11 and 12, Norwegian Ambassador Trine Skymoen met people working for the pilot project Divé Maky – šanca pre rómske talenty z celého Slovenska / Wild Poppies – A chance for Roma talents from all Slovakia which has been run since 2009 by the civic association Pro Donum in the biggest Roma settlement in Slovakia, Jarovnice. She watched a performance by children involved in the project, met Jarovnice mayor Florián Giňa and also witnessed everyday life in a Roma settlement.
Skymoen said, as reported by Pro Donum, that she did not have any expectations, but that the reality struck her. She added that she liked the idea of giving Roma children a chance to show and develop their talents and skills.
In November 2009, an expert jury picked 100 children from the settlement: they had to show their talent, and their willingness to study and develop it; they also qualified for help if their families lacked the money to pay for their studies.
For one year, tutors, teachers and professional artists worked with the selected children and this visit, including the performance, was the climax of the project, which will be assessed by the end of March 2011. It was supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism, the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and Slovakia’s state budget.
