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Gatali and Altini |
Marriages
are great and joyous events for the Roma, signifying the extension of
a family. Marriages mark a change in the position of the couple by
providing fully rights and obligations. For this reason they are
accompanied with great celebrations.
In
Roma culture children are used to get married in a young age. The
appropriate age to get married in the Roma culture for girls is 9 to
12 and for the boys is 13 to 15 years old. Another Roma interesting
fact is that the Roma girls are promised
as brides since they are 4 or 5 years old, for a different amount of
money.
The
legal minimum age for marriage in Albania is 16, but ADRA have
noticed that the practice of school-age marriages remains common in
the Roma community, and the authorities normally turn a blind eye.
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Roma children in traditional Albanian costumes |
ADRA
Albania through “REFLECT’ project is working to raise the
awareness of the Roma parents about the phenomenon of young
marriages. It has been more than 3 years that ADRA is working with
the Roma community in Fushe Kruja and now we can see a light of
change. The Roma are more aware of the problems that bring young
marriages for their children’s. A Roma a parent expresses in this
way for this phenomenon “As a father I know what is good for my
kids. There are some laws that have to be respected. We Roma have a
tradition to marry our children when minors".
Through
ADRA trainings about early marriages and pregnancies the Roma girls
and parents are reacting about this issue. This is a great success
that the “REFLECT” project has achieved. A story of success is
the Roma weeding that was organized on
21th of September in the Roma community of Fushe Kruja. The bride and
the groom are two beneficiaries of REFLECT project. Adelina Gatali is
17 years old and she has been attending “REFLECT’ project since
its beginning. Even the groom Altini (18 years old) has been a
regular attendee of this project.
They
invited ADRA’s staff on this special day. All the Roma present in
the wedding expressed their happiness that ADRA staff took part in
this event because for them it was the first time that non Roma
people were present to celebrate with them. The bride and the groom
were the only ones that were not laughing and enjoying because
according to Roma culture they have to give the perception of someone
who have left the childhood behind and is matured.
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ADRA staff with the bridal couple |
The
customs and rituals of the marriage vary from one Roma community to
another. The special thing in this weeding was that all the Roma
children wore traditional Albanian clothes, very unusual for the Roma
culture.
Music
was the most important part of the celebration. The Roma are talented
to dance beautify under the music and for them music signify “Life”.
It
was very impressive for ADRA staff to see personally this beautiful
part of the Roma culture.
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