A quick catch-up with news before we return
Dear friends,
This summer has been very eventful over here and we wanted to take a moment to share recent & upcoming developments with you before we swing back into a steady rhythm with The Sky and Earth Know.
Personal news
We got officially married on June 24! It was a small and joyful courthouse wedding followed by a celebration at home.
Community and fundraising news
After the demolition of the mahala in April, the homeless families survived rain, heat, injuries and illnesses, until they were gradually placed in temporary housing near the demolition site. Currently, about 4 people are left homeless. The ones in temporary housing are not safe by any means because the initiative committee in the neighborhood is continuing the pressure to remove all Roma.
With the fundraiser we launched in May, we helped in 3 ways:
We both a wheelchair for a disabled elderly man placed in social housing.
We both materials for the repair of the two rooms where a family of five was placed in social housing. The rooms were black with mold and in an unlivable condition and with the raised funds the family was able to repair them both.
We bought food and medicine for several of the displaced families on an ad-hoc basis
You can read more details on the page of the fundraiser here.
The battle continues now on the administrative level for the community as a whole. And for us personally, we will continue to raise awareness and share stories with authenticity, as our own way to fight the attempts of erasure.
Creative news
In the past few months we expanded our vision a little bit.
We added a new element to our YouTube channel: Balkan Romani dancing videos, dance-offs, and tutorials.
We started developing a book series and published our first e-book When the Truth Does Not Sound True. The next book is in the works.
Now, we are also returning to our regular rhythm with The Sky and Earth Know and will publish here every week. One article every Wednesday except for the last Wednesday of the month, which will be reserved for a translated Romani song.
Here is what we are preparing for you.
Next week (August 26): A translated Romani song.
September: A three-part series on the topic of betrayal and forgiveness in Romani culture.
September 3: “Why the Roma forgive each other the unforgivable”
We will explore a couple of real-life “unforgivable” events in our community and whether and how they were forgiven by the offended party.
September 10: “An old Romani quarrel is never really old”
The other side of the coin when we talk about forgiveness: this piece will explore the grudge as debt in Romani culture and the code of how and when the debt gets called in.
September 17: “The realpolitik of forgiveness in Romani life”
We will tie it all up with a deep dive into: Why some people are forgiven and others not? Which transgressions are forgivable and which are not? How much of the “getting along” is putting up a facade and how much is soul-deep forgiveness?
September 24: A new translated Romani song.
Thank you
We are very grateful to you, dear readers, for staying with us while we were re-calibrating this summer.
Now let’s begin the new chapter in our journey together through the world of the Roma.
Love,
Pepi and Martina Mustafovi
what a beautiful galbi skirt!