【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2010年4月8日羅馬慈幼總部訊】─ 四月八日為國際吉普賽人日，旨在強調歧視所帶來的挑戰，並邀請人們克服心中的偏見，同時鼓勵歐洲各國當局，投放更多人力物力，破除歐洲社會對吉普賽人這一最大少數族裔群體的排斥。

歐洲目前有超過一千萬吉普賽人居住，他們受到歧視、貧窮及社會排斥的困擾，有時更無法享有教育、就業、保健及住屋等基本權益。歐盟部長理事會主席卡米瑞及歐洲理事會議員大會主席 Mevlüt Çavuþoðlu 作出聲明說：「這種情況不能接受，我們不能對此漠不關心。」

歐洲議會最近發起「夠了！」運動，旨在讓人們更關心吉普賽人的生命、文化及語言，以對抗偏見和標籤。歐盟並於西班牙科爾多瓦召開第二次有關吉普賽人的峰會，當中作出了強烈訴求，就是運用歐洲共同體基金，透過提供基本所需的「就職途徑、無障礙教育、住屋及足夠的保健服務」，扶助吉普賽人融入社會和經濟。

吉普賽人群體遍佈差不多所有歐洲國家，人數如下：西班牙（六十五萬）、羅馬尼亞（五十三萬五千）、土耳其及法國（兩國均有五十萬）、保加利亞（三十七萬）、匈牙利（二十萬五千）、希臘（二十萬）、意大利（十三萬）及塞爾維亞（十萬八千）。

慈幼會把本年慈幼傳教日的主旨，定為向這旅居民族提供教育及福傳，並以「我與你們同行」這口號，為一切作號召。

斯洛伐克 Lunik IX 區科希策群體的網站 (http://www.lunik9.sk/)，特別為此而開設了資訊欄目。慈幼會捷克共和國會省(http://www.sdb.cz/domisal-2010-salesiani-dona-boska-na-ceste-s-romy/)，亦發出類似的號召，每隔兩星期便出版有關鮑思高神子服務吉普賽人的文章。

匈牙利 Kazinckacika 亦為一所學校暨宿舍的學生，籌備了一些文化活動。當地於二零零八年十月，設立了一所職業訓練學校，慈幼會士全情投入，為當地貧苦學生投供教育服務。學生之中吉普賽人佔六成，學校為吉普賽人提供了與他人共同生活的經驗，好像一同學習、遊戲、祈禱，鼓勵他們融入社會。Kazinckacika 的慈幼會士，正忙於籌建一所聖堂，作為教育福傳工作發展其中一環。

International Day for Gypsies

 (ANS – Roma – RMG , 8 April 2010 ) –International Day for Gypsies which is celebrated today 8 April, highlights the challenges of discrimination and invites people to overcome their prejudices and European authorities to put more effort into overcoming the social exclusion of the largest ethnic minority in the continent.

There are over 10 million gypsies living in Europe who often suffer from discrimination, poverty and social exclusion. In some cases access to basic rights are not ensured such as education, employment, health-care and housing. “It is an unacceptable situation, in face of which we cannot remain indifferent,” declared the President of the Council of Ministers of the European Commission Micheline Calmy-Rey, and the President of the European Parliamentary Assembly, Mevlüt Çavuþoðlu.

The Council of Europe has launched campaign “Dosta!” (Enough!), aimed at making people more aware of the life, culture and language of the gypsies in order to combat prejudice and stereotyping. During the second summit of the European Union on the gypsies being held today and tomorrow in Cordova, Spain, a strong appeal has been made to use Community funds to assist  the socio-economic integration of the gypsies by acting to facilitate essential “access to employment, to a non-segregated education, to housing and adequate health services.”

These communities present in almost all European countries have large numbers as follows: Spain (650,000), Romania (535,000), Turkey and France (both 500,000), Bulgaria (370,000), Hungary (205,000), Greece (200,000), Italy (130,000) and Serbia (108,000mila).

The Salesian Congregation has devoted this year’s Salesian Missions Day to the  educational and evangelising promotion of travelling peoples. “I am with you” is the slogan for all the various initiatives.

In Slovakia the web site of the Košice community, in the Lunik IX district, has opened a information section on the subject. A similar initiative is being promoted by the Salesians in the Czech Republic Province. Every fortnight the Province site is publishing articles about the involvement of the Sons of Don Bosco with the gypsies.

At Kazinckacika, in Hungary, some cultural events are planned for today for the students in the school and hostel. Here, where in October 2008 a vocational training school was opened, the Salesians devote themselves completely  to the education of the local poor children. The school, in which 60% of the students are gypsies provides an experience of gypsies and others living together; sharing studies, games, prayers encourages integration into society. The Salesians in Kazinckacika are now busy planning and building  a church as part of the development of the work of  education and evangelisation.