Keijo Svart awarded “Adult of the Year” for contributions to Roma youth in Tampere

Keijo Svart, a dedicated youth mentor from Tampere, has been recognized for his significant contributions to the community with the “Adult of the Year” award. With three decades of experience, Svart, who works at Lielahden School, focuses on offering personalized guidance and support to young individuals, including Roma youth, often going as far as picking students up from their homes to encourage school attendance.

Svart has observed notable changes within the Roma community over the years, particularly in three key areas. First, he highlights the increasing number of Roma students now receiving their basic education certificates, a shift from just a few years ago when many did not graduate. This improvement has often required tailored curricula and collaboration among various educational stakeholders. Svart’s ultimate goal is to ensure that all Roma youth are able to pursue a profession, emphasizing their potential if they have the motivation.

The second significant change lies in the involvement of Roma youth in extracurricular activities, where they increasingly engage with both the local majority and immigrant youth. Svart notes their participation in various sports, facilitated by parents who are more actively encouraging their children to join clubs.

However, Svart also addresses a troubling increase in discrimination, particularly in light of recent violent incidents involving Roma men. He asserts that the Roma community unequivocally condemns such actions, yet they contribute to rising prejudices against Roma individuals as a whole. Svart points out the challenges many Roma youth face in securing internships, especially Roma women, and emphasizes the need for more opportunities to enable them to thrive in the workforce.