"We can rely on each other." A conversation with Marlon Ferenc about the "We Are on the Long Way" Summer School and his desire to motivate others.

The "We Are on the Long Way" summer school is an opportunity for young Roma to meet, spend time together, and learn more about Romani history, culture, and ways to stand up against antigypsyism. Marlon attended as a participant last year, and this year he returned as an assistant. He is only entering his fourth year of high school after the summer break, yet he is already moderating events and getting involved in other projects supporting Romani youth. In this interview, he talks about his experiences at the summer school and the value he sees in these types of activities.

‍Did you think about wanting to be involved in the summer school in future years even during your first time there?

Jana (program lecturer and methodologist) mentioned that it might be international next year and that one of us could help out. So, from that moment on, I pestered Jana every month: "Is it happening? Is it happening?" I also made sure to tell my friends—fellow scholarship recipients from the Romea organization—who then ended up going.

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How did they like it?

From what I heard, they refreshed some things they already knew but also learned something new. Most importantly, they learned in a way that didn't involve sitting through a lecture while someone just poured information into their heads. It was much more interactive. It was also great that it was international. We were able to meet people from other parts of the world and other cultures.

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What was it like meeting young people from other countries?

There were people from India living in Germany. Also from Yemen and Poland. About half of them were Roma, and there was even someone of Jewish descent... So it was a real mix. They learned something about us, and we learned something about them. We discovered, for example, that there are many similarities between their Indian language and the Romani language. And even though they weren't Roma, they were people who face racism every day, so we shared similar experiences.

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It seems like your first year at the summer school really motivated you to stay active; you're involved in so many things now...

I definitely wanted to try the organizational side of things. The first time I was there as a participant, and now as an assistant. It’s a completely different experience. I think it really opened my eyes to certain things. Now I can see behind the curtain. And since my first time at the summer school, I’ve moderated about three or four events through Slovo 21. I really enjoyed that. I was also an assistant at Khamoro. And now we’re planning our own cultural event, too.

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What kind?

It all started with a project at the Summer School. Participants from all countries had to plan an event within a certain budget that would actually take place. They came up with a Roma talent show. I might even get to host it, which I think would be great. It’s a chance for talented people who usually stay in the shadows to shine. Maybe they’re too shy to enter other competitions.

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How would you describe your role as an assistant at this year's Summer School?

Before the Summer School started, we had several meetings to go over the program. Everyone shared ideas on how to improve things. The organizers were also open to our feedback based on our experience as participants last year—like what bored us, what we really enjoyed, and what we should add. We came up with various icebreakers and activities to bring the participants together so everyone could get to know each other and feel great. That’s the foundation; if they don’t feel comfortable, they won’t learn much. For example, Sára and I organized a game of "Riskuj!" for the evening program.

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Now that you’ve had the chance to observe the participants as an assistant, did you notice how they experienced the program or if they started thinking about certain things differently?

I think everyone took something away from it. The most important thing, I believe, is realizing that we can all do our small part to change how people view us as Roma. There’s no need to say that nothing will ever change or that you’re on your own. I think the Summer School helped us all realize that we aren’t alone and that we can rely on each other.

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The Summer School also includes a debate on antigypsyism and how to stand up to it in everyday life. Did the Summer School teach you anything new in that regard?

 What I took away most is that antigypsyism is racism directed at Roma. It’s essentially the spreading of hatred or hateful comments, which is a big issue on platforms like Facebook. There are projects that focus specifically on reporting these hateful comments. I was involved in something like that at the Romea organization, where I tracked hateful comments and wrote reports on them. There have even been cases where people went to prison for their hateful comments. There are simply more tools and ways to fight antigypsyism now—like contacting an organization, telling people you know, or even just posting about it. The main thing is not to be afraid to speak up and make it known. Because antigypsyism is real, even if the state pretends it isn’t.

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What else are you working on or planning to do?

Starting in September, I’m beginning work on a project with Slovo 21. I’ll be mentoring children. I’ll have a group of about five kids from socially excluded areas, and I’ll be passing on my experience to them. I’ll help them prepare for entrance exams, teach them about antigypsyism and Roma traditions, or maybe take them to an exhibition. I’ll basically be their mentor. So, if they need something, they can turn to me and say, "I'm failing math," and my job will be to help them find a tutor. People who don't know how things work just need someone to guide them. If I hadn't been involved with Slovo 21 or Romea, I wouldn't know a lot of things either. You don't learn this in school, and you won't see it on TV. It’s good to have someone you trust and can turn to, because it’s really all about trust. And I think that’s my path—to motivate others.