Educating Igor

Al Jazeera , one of the largest news organizations with 80 bureaus around the world, premiered a documentary Educating Igor  on November 1st, 2015The documentary was directed by Sylvia Stevens from the Faction Films Production  as part of Al Jazeera’s flagship observational documentary strand, Witness.  Witness is an inspiring documentary series that brings world issues into focus through compelling human stories. Igor’s story reveals difficult period of his personal struggle and his strong commitment to achieving a brighter future. As a Roma from Slovakia, he believes that education may be the only hope for changing the future of his community.

We have known Igor since 2007 when ETP Slovakia started to provide services to marginalized Roma living in the Budulovská ghetto within the framework of the project Bridging Communities in Central and Eastern Slovakia and subsequently within the framework of the project Community on Its Way to Prosperity . At first, Igor was a client who soon, thanks to his determination and passion, became involved in work of ETP. Similarly, his sister Irma, who is also portrayed in the documentary, was our staff member between 2008 and 2015.

We are very proud of individuals like Igor who have found the strength to make change despite harsh life circumstances and have become community role models. However, to achieve Igor’s dream and ensure further enhancement of Roma inclusion, more comprehensive community development initiatives that seek to bring about systemic social change are needed in Slovakia and throughout Europe.