杏MAP导航

By Lydia O鈥橩ane

Lunik IX is a district on the outskirts of Ko拧ice, the largest city in eastern Slovakia, which also houses the largest community of Roma, who moved there from other parts of the country.

Life at Lunik IX

There are currently about 4,300 people who live on a housing estate in the area, existing in poor social and hygienic conditions. Many families live with no running water, gas or central heating. The majority who reside here are unemployed and without the necessary educational skills to progress in life. Children barely finish elementary school and become parents very early.

Alexandra Voláková is a volunteer with the Salesian community who work with children and young people from the estate. This summer, she participated in a camp working with children on a number of activities. Before the pandemic, she also met with young Roma girls on a weekly basis.

Engaging with the community 

鈥淲e talked about so many things, about life, about relationships, about Christianity.鈥� The girls have concerns about their future and 鈥渉ow people will accept them,鈥� she said.

However, in a note of optimism, Alexandra stressed that they are very excited for the future and want to broaden their horizons outside Lunik IX. 鈥淭hey want to do something for themselves; they want to find a job, they want to find a husband, they want to find a flat.鈥�

Alexandra recalled that when she was younger, she grew up with pre-conceived notions of Lunik IX. She heard that it was dangerous and you shouldn鈥檛 go there. But Alexandra said that all that changed when she arrived at the housing estate as a volunteer. 鈥淚t was something different,鈥� and something she didn鈥檛 think she would see there.

She noted that in order to engage with the Roma Community you need 鈥渁 heart and a mind鈥� to work with them.  She explained that it鈥檚 not about what you can give them materially, 鈥渋t鈥檚 about your insights.鈥�

Discrimination

Speaking about the discrimination the Roma Community face in the country, Alexandra pointed out, 鈥渢hey don鈥檛 have any opportunity to find jobs鈥� and people discriminate against them because of their culture and the place where they live. She went on to say that when they see someone from their community has been unable to find a job, it discourages others going in search of one.

In the eyes of those outside the community who live in other parts of the city, 鈥渢hey can鈥檛 see the better face of Lunik IX, they see the bad face of it,鈥� she commented.

Papal Guest

As part of his visit to the country, 杏MAP导航 Francis is coming to Lunik IX on Tuesday to meet with the residents here.

Alexandra noted that excitement has grown ahead of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 visit after a somewhat muted initial response. 鈥淭hey see workmen doing repairs and remodeling things in preparation,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or them then, it was something different, it felt like the 杏MAP导航 is going to Lunik IX because of them鈥� but they鈥檙e looking forward to it, they鈥檙e excited.鈥�