Vol. 10 No. 2 (2019)
Studies

Importance of Community Development for Target Groups of Roma Origin

Published 01-08-2019

Keywords

  • community development,
  • gypsy communities,
  • intercultural communication,
  • integration

Abstract

Community is a widely used concept that can convey different meanings: a group of people; quality; interest; localism; collective creation; feeling, intention; the ability to cooperate; a common set of values, ideas; belonging to ethnic and cultural values; an economic system; or even belonging to a national, state, political community.
Ever since man has existed, there has been a community, and over this time the term itself has integrated a broad variety of meanings.
The process of community development can create the conditions for economic and social progress for the whole community, with its active participation, drawing as much as possible on the community's own initiatives. In this process, emphasis is placed on democratic processes, voluntary cooperation, self-organization, self-help, the election of leaders and education as defined by the UN.
We cannot define a standard of Roma culture in the traditional sense as there are several groups with different customs and traditions. Community development is an opportunity for the integration of Roma communities and disadvantaged settlements.