MUNDI ROMANI – The World through Roma Eyes
Project
With the financial support of the Open Society Institute
www.mundiromani.com

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION: September 20, 2009

Following an agreement with the Open Society Institute, the Budapest-based Romedia Foundation is announcing a 2009 Call for applications for internships for young Roma civil society professionals.

MUNDI ROMANI project

Roma film maker Katalin Barsony travels the world to give a voice to the voiceless through a vision and celebration of a people who have always been misunderstood and kept out of the public eye. With the determined refusal of being defined by the fear and suspiscion of others, she takes us on a colorful and always surprising journey around the world as it looks like through the eyes of the Roma.

There are at least 12 million Roma scattered throughout the world. Despite being Europe’s largest minority, the Roma have been voiceless for centuries. As a people and as a culture, the Roma have been and continue to be misrepresented, mythologized, stereotyped, scapegoated and persecuted. There is an incredibly rich culture we never got to know, a whole world of traditions and values, another viewpoint from which we are not used to see our world, its troubles as well as its beauty. Because throughout time and throughout the world, the Roma have never been heard. With thorough investigation and through admiration for the untold stories, Mundi Romani, a documentary series co-produced by Duna Television Hungary and the Romedia Foundation, explores the world of the Roma from Kosovo to Spain through Romania, France, Macedonia or Israel.

The Internship has the following main objectives:
• To give Roma interns an idea of the audiovisual tools at our disposal to bring the voice of Roma around the world to large audiences, thus challenging stereotypes and working on the development of a common, positive and constructive Romani identity;

• To provide them with working experience in a major mainstream television channel (Duna Television – Hungary) – take part in the work of a professional television team, learn scripting, editing and producing on a basic level;

• To provide them with an insight into the situation of Roma around Europe and the world;

• To enable them to enrich and put into practice the knowledge they have acquired during their studies or professional careers.

Profile of interns:
• Nationals of any state who are of Roma origin;
• Fluency in oral and written English, good knowledge of Romanes is an asset;
• Good knowledge of international and regional challenges related to Roma;
• Experience in civil society work and/or human rights lobbying;
• Experience in journalism/media work is an asset;
• Basic computer literacy (Word, Excel).

Time frame:

Three-month internship (possibility to extend to six months)
Starting date: October 1, 2009

Note: Candidates should only apply if they seriously intend to take up the offer of an internship at the Romedia Foundation. Notification of withdrawal from the program after selection is unacceptable as it precludes others from this opportunity and is a source of inconvenience to both Open Society Institute and the Romedia Foundation.

Working conditions:

• Health and accident insurance is compulsory and must be obtained by the selected intern before the start of the internship. The OSI grant will include the costs of the health and accident insurance for 6 months;

• Relevant infrastructure (office space, computer etc.) will be provided by the Romedia Foundation;

Job description:

- Project drafting
- Internet research on Roma issues
- Communication with civil society and media partners
- Organization of filming in any location: getting and keeping in touch with local contacts, travel and accomodation arrangements, filming permits, etc.
- Film scripting
- Romanes or Hungarian to English translation
- Basic accounting tasks (budget drafting, financial reporting to donors)
- Administrative tasks

Practical information:

* Trainees must hold upon their arrival proper permit/visa in relation to their country of origin as required by the Hungarian authorities for 6-month tourist stay.
* Accommodation expenses are included in the Open Society Institute grant. The stagiaires must arrange accommodation themselves, however OSI might assist the interns in finding suitable accommodation. The Romedia Foundation will provide them with basic information and guidance at the beginning of the stage.

The internship grant:

Financial assistance for the internship is provided by the Open Society Institute. The 6-month internship grant covers:

* Travel expenses to and from Budapest will be arranged by OSI/RPP (using the cheapest available means of transportation). Actual travel expenses will be covered by the OSI up to a maximum of 600 Euro.
* Accommodation, subsistence, health and accident insurance: 6000 Euro (1200 Euro/month).

Note: The Romedia Foundation is not involved in budget management or in making the relevant payments in relation to this programme.

Application:

Please send your application (CV and motivation letter) by e-mail by September 20, 2009.
E-mail: katalin.barsony@mundiromani.com
CC: rpp@osi.hu

List of obligatory application documents:

- Europass CV
You can download the Europass CV template at: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/img/dynamic/c1344/type.FileContent.fil...
- Motivation letter

The Romédia Foundation is a public benefit organisation founded in 1992, based in Budapest, Hungary.
Its objective is the fostering and dissemination of minority cultures with special emphasis on Roma. The organisation’s priorities include education, youth, lobbying and advocacy for policy-making, self-representation through empowerment activities such as conferences, research publication, art and history, exhibitions etc. By using an inter-related system of cultural tools (films, books, exhibitions, conferences, summer camps, researches, etc.), the primary endeavour of the Foundation is to reduce and/or eradicate prejudice, present facts and information, as well as strengthen solidarity by using the method of catharsis and empathy. The organisation aims to generate the impetus of the development of Romani intellectuals and urges participation of Roma in public life. By creating educational supplements it contributes to the positive subsistence of identity and tolerance.

Duna Television is a Hungarian public satellite television channel. It was the first station which broadcast programs for and news about the Hungarian minority around the world. In 1999 the institution was awarded the Camera Prize by UNESCO, given to “the world’s best cultural television”.