SİROMA Project Promotion Meeting
The “Technical Assistance Project for Supporting Social Inclusion in Areas with High Roma Population – SİROMA” Promotion Meeting was held on 24 May 2017 at the Ankara Sheraton Hotel.
The event brought together Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policies Mehmet Ersoy, Deputy Minister of Health Ahmet Baha Öğütken, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education Yusuf Büyük, Chairwoman of the Committee on Equality of Opportunity for Women and Men and Kocaeli MP Radiye Sezer Katırcıoğlu, Tekirdağ MP Ayşe Doğan, Konya MP Hüsniye Erdoğan, deputy governors, district governors, provincial directors, representatives of NGOs, many bureaucrats, and members of the Roma community. The meeting also featured the award ceremony of the photography contest titled “Our Diversity is Our Wealth, Our Unity is Our Future.”
“Every Citizen is Equal and Integral”
In his opening speech, Deputy Minister Mehmet Ersoy emphasized the government’s commitment to equality and inclusion, stating: “Every citizen living in this land is our essential and first-class citizen. It is our duty to ensure that all citizens benefit from the state’s opportunities equally and fairly.” He also expressed his hope that the goals outlined in the Roma Strategy Document would be fully achieved in the near future.
Raising Awareness on Health and Education
Deputy Minister of Health Ahmet Baha Öğütken underlined the project’s contribution to promoting health awareness and healthy living habits within Roma communities. He noted that through training sessions and personal care kit distributions, many Roma citizens were reached, saying: “Under the health component of the project, awareness-raising activities are being conducted, and personal hygiene kits are prepared and distributed to both adults and children.”
Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education Yusuf Büyük highlighted the inter-ministerial cooperation within the project, describing it as “a model coordination effort for three major ministries.” He emphasized the importance of ensuring access to and continuity in education, adding: “This project, which aims to enhance the welfare of our Roma citizens, is indispensable to us. We wish to contribute to their development as good individuals and responsible citizens.”
EU Delegation Emphasizes Support for Inclusion
EU Deputy Head of Mission Simona Gatti reiterated the European Union’s strong support for the SİROMA Project, stressing its importance in advancing social inclusion. Additionally, Dr. Muhammet Örnek, Director General for Family and Community Services and Senior Operations Manager of the project, delivered a presentation covering the project’s background, objectives, activities, and outcomes.
Photography Contest: “Our Diversity is Our Wealth”
The meeting concluded with the award ceremony of the photography competition titled “Our Diversity is Our Wealth, Our Unity is Our Future.” Prizes were presented by deputy ministers, undersecretaries, and members of parliament to the winners: Turan Topalar (1st place), Alev Özcan (2nd place), Emine Toprak (3rd place), and the recipients of the exhibition awards. The contest highlighted the cultural richness, unity, and diversity of Roma communities across Türkiye.
