Volunteers Wanted to Challenge Digital Antigypsyism

07 September 2020

The ERRC is looking for Roma Rights Defenders from Albania, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine to be engaged in a volunteering position focused on Challenging Digital Antigypsyism.

Applications have now closed for Turkey and Albania. The deadline for applying for this position in Serbia or Ukraine is October 10th. Contact your National Volunteers Coordinator if you are interested in applying or to ask any other questions you may have! You can find the contact details of the National Volunteers Coordinators at the bottom of the page.

Name of the position: (Online) Roma Rights Defender 

Who does the ERRC need?

• For this volunteering position we are interested in volunteers who have some knowledge of the issues commonly facing Roma in the following countries: Albania, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
• “Internet people” - those who spend a lot of time online, who are passionate about fighting hate speech, and who would be interested in volunteering their time to fight antigypsyism online and create a digital community around this activity.
• The ERRC welcomes Roma and non-Roma volunteers. It is advantageous to be familiar with some of the common human rights issues facing Romani communities, as well as some of the common racist stereotypes which are frequently used against Roma. However, we welcome people who are open to gaining experience in this field too. 

How is the work within this position organized?

The ERRC operates largely as a virtual office. This also being a digital position, volunteers may be based anywhere in the world providing they have an internet connection, although knowledge of Roma issues in European countries is a must, as well as the ability to speak the language of the target country.

Each target country has a National Volunteers Coordinator who will be the main contact for the national volunteers. Each national coordinator is under direct supervision of the ERRC’s team in charge of this program.

Adequate training for this position will be provided, as well as additional opportunities to learn new skills, gain expertise and take part in ERRC volunteer activities.

This is an unpaid position. However, in some cases (agreed prior with the ERRC), expenses incurred in relation to the voluntary work, such as travel expenses, refreshment for meetings etc. may be covered by the ERRC.

Description of the volunteer’s responsibilities:

National Roma Rights Defenders’ main activities and responsibilities will be:

• Engaging with online reporting tools on social media platforms to report comments or content which display anti-Roma hate speech and go against the content guidelines for the social media platform;
• Making records of reported content as agreed with the National Volunteers Coordinator.
• Estimated volunteering time is 2-3 hours per week. It is an expected commitment of at least 3 months. The working language is the national language of the target country (Albanian, Serbian, Turkish, or Ukrainian).
• Other possible responsibilities related to this position you will find out from your National Volunteers Coordinator.

What can you expect from the ERRC?

• Training on recognizing hate speech and other forms of discriminatory rhetoric targeting Roma.
• Training on topics you consider important – either related to human rights or issues important for the functioning of your team.
• Mentoring from ERRC professionals.
• Support in realization of your initiatives

Benefits of the volunteering for the ERRC

• Being part of a leading international Roma rights organization in Europe. 
• International experience.
• Growth in the field of human rights and experience which you can put on your CV.
• Being part of a group of like-minded people.
• Opportunity  to travel to events organized by the ERRC (during Covid-19 pandemic, only within the national borders, but when this crisis is gone, there will be international events for our volunteers).
• Opportunity to travel and participate in events organized by other Roma or human rights organizations; to participate in youth trainings, exchanges etc.

If you are interested in this position, contact your National Volunteers Coordinator for your country.

Albania:
Roxhers Lufta (luftaroxhers@gmail.com)

Turkey: 
Ebru Ertas (ebru92ertas@gmail.com)
Serkan Baysak (serkanbaysak89@gmail.com)

Serbia:
Milena Cuk (milena.cuk@errc.org) 

Ukraine:
Natali Tomenko (natali.tomenko1994@gmail.com)