A ROMANI Gypsy who feels like marginalised is calling for change as she aims to fight racist stereotypes in the UK.
Charmaine Abdul-Karim, from Nantwich in Cheshire, is on a mission to to break down misconceptions she says exist about her community.
The Pride of Romani event aims to bring together the gypsy community, police, the council and schools[/caption]
Charmaine wants others to celebrate the rich history of her culture[/caption]
Pride of Romani held its launch event at Nantwich Civic Hall[/caption]
She recently organised the first Pride of Romani event aimed to encourage gypsies to take pride in their heritage while engaging with wider Cheshire population.
Charmaine is focused on making improvements in the area by shining a light of the rich history – which can be traced by to the 12th century in some families – of gypsies in the area and the perception of her people by working alongside council, schools and police.
The group is also focused on work with young people to ensure they feel empowered, while eliminating negativity.
The traveller mum-of-two said: “We’re not asking permission to be part of the community – we are part of the community.
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“We want to change things – change legislation, the narrative in the story and we can do that because we have a group now of gypsy people, powerful gypsy women, who really want to change things for the next generation.
“It’s very important to get the ball rolling, particularly with some of the legislation that’s gone through recently.”
She credits the council for being “absolutely amazing” and has felt they have had an inclusive attitude throughout the process so far.
By working together, she hopes to create something that will change the lives of her children.
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Charmaine said: “We’re not that stereotype. You may have had a bad experience with a gypsy or traveller but that doesn’t mean that we’re all that way.
“We have a group of strong women who want to change things. We need to change things for our children and to create something that’s amazing – to teach that history of indigenous people.
“I can not say those words enough – indigenous people. We have been here since the 12th century. We want our children to be proud of our heritage and culture – that’s why we’re called Pride of Romani.”
She has been forced to pull her kids out of three different schools over alleged racist abuse.
Charmaine, a member of the Romany gypsy community in her hometown of Nantwich, Cheshire, said she and her family have been “very distressed” by the “abhorrent” way they have been treated.
She previously said: “My children have had to leave three schools as a result of racist bullying.
“One headteacher even did a social services evaluation without my knowledge which was very distressing.
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“Another situation involved an ambulance being called.
“The school staff were more interested in telling paramedics that my family were ‘travellers’ rather than helping.”
She wants schools to be given cultural compliance training and the local authority to encourage integration[/caption]
The Romany Gypsy from Nantwich says her children have had to leave three schools due to racist abuse[/caption]
