<p>The Roma people have been living in the European continent for centuries. Yet, they still face rampant discrimination, racism, significantly fewer opportunities for integration, and more often than not, a background of poverty and exclusion. Still, their contribution to the European cultural tapestry is as enormous as it is neglected and unacknowledged. </p><p>In this episode, we had the pleasure of talking with Avraam Goutzeloudis, actor in the “Romáland” performance, a theatrical journey across Greece’s contemporary history through the perspective of Roma people, and Eleni Tsetsekou, head of the Roma and Travellers division of the Council of Europe.</p><p>In our chat we explored subjects such as what it’s like to grow up Roma in contemporary Greece, the relationship of the Roma culture with modern European society, the systemic obstacles faced by Roma people in their rocky and tumultuous life paths, as well as the transformative power of art - especially theatre - to change hearts and minds, raise awareness, and connect people through the power of empathy and the transmission of lived, personal experience. </p><p><strong>Sponsored and published by:</strong></p><p>📰 <a href="https://katoikos.world/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠katoikos.world⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> 📰</p><p>🏛️ <a href="https://www.foggs.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠FOGGS ⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>🏛️ </p><p><em>The opinions expressed in this podcast by the host(s) and/or guest(s) do not in any way represent the official positions of FOGGS, katoikos.world, or any other affiliated organization.</em></p>