Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

Transcript of the presentation by Tafilj Dubova at the 31^st Belgrade Ignite “My Society Loves Differences” (27 April 2015, Mixer House, Belgrade)

Many memories tie me to Kosovo, because that’s where I spent 14 years and completed the IV grade of primary school. I grew up without parents, living with my grandma and grandpa, and I had to grow up fast to earn enough to support the family.

My family did not really support me in going to school and educating myself, so I enrolled in school on my own. When I saw that I felt good in school and had company, I also enrolled my sister and we completed IV grade there. (…)

Due to the conflicts experienced by my family in Kosovo, in 2008 we had to move to Belgrade. Because of family difficulties, I had to be placed in the “Moša Pijade” home for children without parental care. That’s when I enrolled in the “Branko Pešić” school, completing the remaining four grades of primary school in six months.

Upon completing primary school, I wanted to go to Medical School, because I dreamed of it ever since I was a child. But, having completed evening school, I had no choice and had to enrol in the secondary vocational school on Kanarevo brdo, and that school helped me a lot and encouraged me to move further. I was student of the generation at that school.

When I grew a bit stronger and learned the Serbian language, I enrolled extraordinarily in the School of Catering and Tourism, completing III years, and when I realised I wanted to move on to a faculty, I also completed IV grade.

I have been a volunteer since I was 16, also working at the Centre for Interactive Pedagogy, the research team of the project “Support to Young Roma on their Way from Education to Independence and Employment”. I used those earnings to pay for tuition and exams. I would also like to thank (…) for a scholarship of 8,000, that helped me in not working too much while getting an education.

I am still living at the home for children without parental care and studying at the Faculty for Special Education and Rehabilitation.