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''Once upon a time, there was a princess in the Roma ghetto. Society's racism and discrimination trapped her in the slum. Nevertheless, a brave prince tried to free her from the clutches of poverty and place the world at her feet.'' A dream that many girls in the Roma settlements probably have.

The girl from this fairy tale lives in Trebišov, one of the largest Roma ghettos in Slovakia. Around 7,000 people live here under precarious conditions in cobbled-together barracks or run-down tenements. Most apartments have no sewage system, no showers, no toilets and no kitchen. There is one single well for all residents. Trebišov, in eastern Slovakia, is one of around 800 settlements that exist, according to the 2019 Atlas of Roma Communities.

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Around 450,000 Roma live in Slovakia. At around ten percent, they are the largest minority in the country. But already children have a difficult start. According to a 2022 study by the European Union, 2/3 of Roma children go to schools where only Roma are taught. The girl from the fairy tale also attends an all-Roma school in the settlement. The children often speak Romani, the language of the Roma, with their parents at home. Since there are no kindergartens for them, their Slovak language is often poor when they start school. They are enrolled in special schools that only Roma attend. The school material in nine years corresponds to the content that Slovak children learn in four years. Because of this, attending secondary school is almost impossible.

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Discrimination and poor access to education prevent young Roma from breaking the vicious circle of poverty. According to the Slovak Interior Ministry, 48 percent of Roma are unemployed. Mostly they get day labour jobs. They have no regular routine and no hope for improvement. These prospects make life difficult to bear. Hopelessness has led many young people to become addicted to alcohol or drugs. No population group in Europe has to live in more inhumane conditions. On average, they die ten years earlier than other Slovaks.

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Hugh Cookson
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have some sympathy but frankly if the community won't help itself to start clearing at least some debris away and initiating change, that community needs to have a long hard look at itself and stop expecting the 'authorities' for their misfortune.

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The bitter truth for the girls in the Trebišov Roma ghetto is that most princesses do not have a high school diploma, they have their first child before they are of age, they never leave the settlement and struggle to survive their entire lives.

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Cubone
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clothes are kept as clean as possible. Just watch the shoes

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Cubone
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A Hodge podge of buildings and material. I hate these photos

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Cubone
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine yourself in this situation. How does your judgement feel? It's their choice." His?!?

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Cubone
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is this acceptable to the state? I'm so sorry for these people

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Cubone
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think she's likely younger. Her kids will be 30ish, when she's 45ish

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Cubone
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are Americans on this site (I'm an American) who complain about people talking down on trailer parks. And they are ok with this visual representation of what children and adults live in

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Ritzhoneey
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hugh, i can't reply to your comment but your lack of empathy and general compassion for others is disgusting.. maybe your brain needs looking at here

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Cee Grant
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their tolerance for all the c**p on the ground makes me really depressed for them.

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