The Domari Society of Gypsies in Jerusalem
Our Mission
Educational Development
Education is the key for proper human development and for fighting violence, poverty, discrimination and inequality. Dom children have an exceptionally high dropout rate due to the pressures of discrimination and poverty. In the educational establishment, the children are discriminated against because they are Gypsy. At home parents often prefer them to supplement the family income by have the children working or begging in the streets instead of attending school. The child illiteracy rate within the community is 38%.
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Children Tutoring
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The Domari Center is a space for the children that offers tutoring to prevent Dom children from dropping out of school and improving their results. Tutoring classes comprise English, Math and Arabic. The private classes provided not only help the children in school, but also to encourage their motivation to continue studying.
Children's School Supplies
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The Domari Society provides school bags full of supplies for Domari school children—giving first graders basic school necessities along with the valuable sense of confidence of owning something new and valuable. The bags and school supplies help children begin school without the stigma of old or non-existent supplies.
Economic Empowerment
As much as 43% of Dom women have not received formal education and are prevented from development from within and outside the community. We provide these women with working skills that make them more competitive in finding work and earning an income, helping them to support their families financially and also head towards gender equality.
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Women's Catering Course
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The Domari Society offers women the possibility to acquire cooking and catering skills with the help of a professional chef. The catering course was offered for the first time in 2005 and we always try to raise funds to enable the program regularly. Our goal is to give women the ability to successfully seek employment or to open their own business in the field of catering and service. The women acquire practical cooking skills, learn new recipes, get trained in business management and learn about health and nutrition.
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Women's Hairdressing Course
In the past, the Domari Society provided women with the opportunity to become empowered through a six-month hairdressing course. The course consisted of hands-on training sessions and additional sessions of empowerment training. With new skills, the participants have an opportunity to increase their income and raise their standard of living. Many of the fifteen women who completed the course in 2006 are already taking advantage of this new skill and conduct their businesses from the Center.
Women's Handicraft Initiative
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In addition to providing space for community events and education, the Domari Center also houses an extensive gift shop, selling many unique and beautiful handicrafts made by women from the community. Among the most popular items are hand-crafted jewelry and embroidered fabrics. Many visitors comment on the striking colors and designs, both traditional and modern. Also available are baby quilts and blankets, a Domari cookbook, pillows, and painted pottery.
Small Business Course
Envisioning sustainable economic empowerment, the Domari Center offered a small business course which took place two times a week for four months and which taught skills necessary for starting and running an independent business. The course was geared towards individuals already working in the service industry and includes accounting, operations management, marketing, and technical expertise. Our small business course aligned with our other courses by teaching the Dom how to use their newly-acquired skills to achieve economic independnece.
Cultural Preservation
We offer a space for the community to meet, exchange and live out their traditions. This is essential for preserving the Domari culture, which is at risk of marginalization.
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Handicrafts
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The handicraft initiative increases international awareness of the Jerusalem Gypsy community through the sale of the items. The colors, designs, and ornaments used to craft items such as pillows, jewelry, and bags are a strong representation of Gypsy cultural heritage, while being a form of economic empowerment for the woman who produce them.
Domari Language
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Because of increased cultural assimilation in this generation, much of the traditional spoken language is lost. The class was taught by an elderly member of the community, and provides an opportunity for the children to forge a connection with their cultural, linguistic heritage in hopes that it will not disappear.
Fostering Cultural Pride
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In a society where Gypsies are degraded, it is vital to keep Domari culture alive through its people. The community center houses a variety of activities that intentionally keep Domari traditions alive. Community dinners with traditional Gypsy food are held at the center and often live music and dance follow. Additionally, the Domari Society has compiled a cookbook of Gypsy recipes and a book about Domari history entitled The Dom of Jerusalem (both of these publications are available for purchase at the Center).
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