Few people take into account that success is the realization of set goals and that it is measured and stated differently. Patriarchal upbringing and socially acceptable behaviors impose a rigid notion of success, defining it as something that must be tangible, physically feel it or see its value with your own eyes, which is in your wallet and bank account, and get social affirmation based on all that.

However, success is not just about the material or just one aspect of life. Above all, it has a spiritual value, demands the best from us and gives us strength and motivation to overcome the obstacles we encounter and be an example to others.

Success has no gender or nationality.

That it is possible to become a successful entrepreneur and activist in her community from a beneficiary of financial social assistance; that it is possible to be a non-Roma woman in the Roma community, married to a Roma, to raise and educate children; that it is possible to travel from place to place, live in a truck and run an amusement park with the family, watch other children enjoy the charms of an amusement park and have the desire and will to be in a school desk in every place for at least a few days and work on their education; that it is possible to live and work in a small community and help others, in their kitchen and from their groceries to prepare meals for the most vulnerable; that it is possible to overcome stigma and prejudice in the classroom, move forward and selflessly share your talent; that it is possible to sew protective masks for the hearing impaired; that it is possible to have a different starting position, better conditions for education, and yet work for years to improve the education of Roma children in the informal settlement and follow generation after generation, guide them and be an example; that it is possible to work with children in the mud and be in a significant position, a small group of successful Roma women would tell you.

Limited by epidemiological measures, weather and living conditions, we gathered a small group of women and heard their stories. Stories that inspire and motivate, stories that send a clear message to all those young Roma women, but also non-Roma women, who fight against or suffer various challenges to the right to education, success, life, choice, opinion and attitudes.

The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization, with the financial support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is preparing a short documentary about successful Roma women from various places in Serbia, which are part of the project "Development and mobilization of the Roma community - a step forward."

A forerun of film premiere is planned for the early February 2021. Please follow our website and social media for more details.

Photo credit: Siniša Muratović, civic activist and member of the "Assosciation for the development of the Roma in teh Municipality of Osečina".