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More than 700 children participated in the Fifth Children Roma Festival “Open Heart” that took place in Veliko Turnovo on June 3^rd and 4^th, 2008. The festival was organized by Center “Amalipe” with the support of Veliko Turnovo Municipality and the Council of Europe Information Center – Sofia. Baki Hyuseinov (National Coordinator of the Decade of Roma Inclusion), Lalo Kamenov (Deputy-Chair of the Commission for Protection Against Discrimination), George Krastev (Head of Roma Integration Department within Ethnic and Demographic Issues Directorate), Petar Georgiev (Ministry of Labour and Social Policy), Simeon Blagoev (Ministry of Culture), Roma leaders from Veliko Turnovo region and other Roma activists were guests at the Festival.

The Festival program included diverse types of events. Every one of the participating 37 schools presented its own performance: Roma, Bulgarian and Turkish calendar fests, fairy-tales, songs and dances. Maskarade “The Roma Folklore Characters” raised the spirit of all participant and guests. Performance “Dreams come true” of pupils from Vasil Drumev School of Orliak retold the Roma way from India to Bulgaria. Craft workshops where traditional Roma crafts were presented and special children workshops where participants produced various objects were opened. Madam Kasandra – the Fortune-teller became one of the main attractions.

“Our children will not be the same after this festival – Maria Avramova, teacher from Raino Popovich School of Karlovo said”. “The fairy-tale you create is the first page of a big book that will be published by our followers. Initially with curiosity and after that with respect and interest we try to show to our children (Roma and Bulgarian) that everyone could be unique and interesting. – teachers from Cyril and Methodius School of Malorad (Vratza District) shared.

“In 2003 when together with Amalipe we did the first festival, I was concerned: how the citizens of Veliko Turnovo, a city with not numerous Roma population would accept a Roma festival. –the Mayor of Veliko Turnovo D-r Roumen Rashev said – Now I can say that these fears did not come true. The Children Roma Festival became inseparable part from the cultural program of Veliko Turnovo. It is and example for tolerance and integration.”

“This was the biggest festival we have organized – shared Deyan Kolev, Center Amalipe Chairman – Both in terms of number of participants and quality of the performance it was the biggest. This year every school has attractive Roma costumes prepared within different school projects. Mopreover many schools came on their own expenses that showed they perceived the Festival as something extremely important for the children and their integration.”