Grigori Raducan

Name : Grigori Raducan

Age : 23

Profession: Romani NGO leader,” International Relations and foreign languages”
 
Country : Republic of Moldova

Grigori is 23 years old. He works as a leader for a Romani Non-Governmental Organization called “International Relations and Foreign Languages”. What he likes most of his job is the fact that he works in an international environment, and therefore he is constantly in contact with different cultures. His favorite hobby is reading. He speaks romani, Moldavian and English. He is Roma.
 
He moved away from the place he was born and many things changed since then. One of the positive has been that he stopped feeling discriminated and was warmly welcomed by the society that hosted him; he could start a new life there also because people were not aware of his origins. Unfortunately, he also learnt that Roma people are discriminated everywhere.
 
Discrimination is also part of his worst souvenirs of his childhood, that was despite this full of pleasant moments.
 
Grigori describes himself as a young Roma: he feels that “being a Roma is more than a nationality; it is my character, my way of thinking, my mentality etc. I love roma unique culture and mentality”.

Question: How would you explain to a gadgé who Roma are?
GR: We are just a people who are ready to share our values with others and to live in peace and mutual understanding.

Question: What is the most important value in your life, and why?
GR: The most important value for me is the environment in which I live, which depends on many factors.
 
Question: Which, according to you, is the best quality of the Roma?
GR: Roma are very energetic, optimistic people, never fading away-this is the best; unfortunately, many gadgés do not know us and are not interested in approaching our culture.
 
Question: Can you describe your relation with gadgé?
GR: Well, my personal experience is that unfortunately it depends on whether the gadgés know that I am Roma or not. In case they know, the relations are always problematic having no common ground for further dialogue or friendship. That is why, I always try to hide my ethnic origin.
 
Question: What would you do if you suddenly became a rich person
GR: I would certainly try to influence the politics in order to make significant changes for granting a better life to every human being.

Question: What suggestion would you make to European Governments to improve the situation of Roma in Europe?
GR: Just to hear the Voice of Roma! We know better than everybody else which are the problems we face every day, and we can therefore suggest the measures to be undertaken for improving the situation. 
 
Question: What would you like to say to the gadgé who are reading this interview?
GR: Confrontation has never led to the best, being together is the Power and Success!!! Good luck dear friends!!!