I've been enjoying your posts immensely! I've learned a lot about Roma culture from you. I'm an American storyteller and though I've lived in Bulgaria twice (1983-84, преди промените, and 2015), I never had much contact with Roma. A couple of years ago, a non-Roma friend who works with Съдружение ЛАРГО in Kyustendil invited me to do a storytelling project with a group of Roma youth. I met with them a couple of times on Zoom. The larger project hasn't worked out yet, but maybe it will in the next few years. I speak Bulgarian and a little Turkish but no Romany (yet).
It was a proposal for a Fulbright scholarship, to do a five-month project called "Roma Stories, Roma Storytellers: Amplifying Bulgarian Roma Stories". The plan was to work with the youth at LARGO Association in Kyustendil. Here's what I wrote as my objective:
"I propose to work with volunteers at LARGO Association, a Bulgarian Roma non-governmental organization based in the city of Kyustendil. LARGO stands for Liberal Alternative for Roma Civic Union. This organization seeks to improve the social situation of the Roma. I aim to help the group create “story circles,” storytelling clubs where participants learn to tell stories based on personal experiences and folktales. I propose forming circles for three age groups: age 12-16, age16-22, and adults, in Kyustendil and nearby Roma communities. LARGO staff and I expect approximately 45 active participants. The culminating event will be the Roma Storytelling Festival, in which the storytellers perform their stories for the public.
LARGO has a preschool where these volunteers provide support daily. I will also teach
participants how to tell stories to young children, and how to use puppets, as an added benefit to the organization."
Срещнах се с няколко младежи от ЛАРГО чрез Zoom и разказахме лични истории--най-много смешни истории. Казаха ми че после, младежите искали да продължават и да играят игри за разказване. Наистина знам, че Ромите вече са прекрасни разказвачи--проекта беше да амплификираме гласите им, не да дойда като накакъв спасител (ужас!).
Много съжалявам, че проектът не беше приет от Комисия Фулбрайт. Може би идеята просто не беше още зряла!
Please forgive any mistakes in my Bulgarian. I speak much better than I write!
Wow, this project sounds amazing. I hope some day soon your vision for it finds real support. The Romani are truly fantastic storytellers, we are working on an article on this topic actually! And your Bulgarian is perfect :)
I've been enjoying your posts immensely! I've learned a lot about Roma culture from you. I'm an American storyteller and though I've lived in Bulgaria twice (1983-84, преди промените, and 2015), I never had much contact with Roma. A couple of years ago, a non-Roma friend who works with Съдружение ЛАРГО in Kyustendil invited me to do a storytelling project with a group of Roma youth. I met with them a couple of times on Zoom. The larger project hasn't worked out yet, but maybe it will in the next few years. I speak Bulgarian and a little Turkish but no Romany (yet).
I'd love to know more about this project! Thank you for reading our stories and for your interest in the beautiful Roma world!
It was a proposal for a Fulbright scholarship, to do a five-month project called "Roma Stories, Roma Storytellers: Amplifying Bulgarian Roma Stories". The plan was to work with the youth at LARGO Association in Kyustendil. Here's what I wrote as my objective:
"I propose to work with volunteers at LARGO Association, a Bulgarian Roma non-governmental organization based in the city of Kyustendil. LARGO stands for Liberal Alternative for Roma Civic Union. This organization seeks to improve the social situation of the Roma. I aim to help the group create “story circles,” storytelling clubs where participants learn to tell stories based on personal experiences and folktales. I propose forming circles for three age groups: age 12-16, age16-22, and adults, in Kyustendil and nearby Roma communities. LARGO staff and I expect approximately 45 active participants. The culminating event will be the Roma Storytelling Festival, in which the storytellers perform their stories for the public.
LARGO has a preschool where these volunteers provide support daily. I will also teach
participants how to tell stories to young children, and how to use puppets, as an added benefit to the organization."
Срещнах се с няколко младежи от ЛАРГО чрез Zoom и разказахме лични истории--най-много смешни истории. Казаха ми че после, младежите искали да продължават и да играят игри за разказване. Наистина знам, че Ромите вече са прекрасни разказвачи--проекта беше да амплификираме гласите им, не да дойда като накакъв спасител (ужас!).
Много съжалявам, че проектът не беше приет от Комисия Фулбрайт. Може би идеята просто не беше още зряла!
Please forgive any mistakes in my Bulgarian. I speak much better than I write!
Oops, just unsubscribed by mistake! I resubscribed immediately.
Wow, this project sounds amazing. I hope some day soon your vision for it finds real support. The Romani are truly fantastic storytellers, we are working on an article on this topic actually! And your Bulgarian is perfect :)
If I do get to do this project, or one like it, I will have a much better cultural understanding thanks to your posts!
Браво! We're happy and grateful for your support.