Tajsa.eu – The Genocide of the Roma & the Roma Identity

Tajsa.eu is a web-based collection of 24 video/audio podcasts and educational resources, about the causes and the consequences of the Genocide of the Roma in WWII, the Roma identity building and the self-empowerment of the Roma around Europe.

It aims to encourage debate to further identity building and self-empowerment of the Roma communities in Europe. This new-media series is produced in 12 regions in Europe and is a project produced by Radio La Benevolencija HTF , Terraforming, Radio Patrin and partners.

The genocide of the Roma and Sinti during World War II, also known as Porajmos or Samudaripen, was planned and and carried out by the Nazi Germany and its allies around Europe with the aim to exterminate the Roma and Sinti people.

“Tajsa” is a beautiful Romani word, meaning both yesterday and tomorrow.

Almost 50 years since the glance of the unknown girl in white head scarf, who is fearfully staring out of the wagon, was filmed in Westerbork transit camp, a Dutch journalist managed to identify her as Sinti girl, Settela Steinbach. This became the turning point for the Dutch Sinti and Roma community to finally gain official recognition as victims of Nazi persecution and genocide. There is continuity in persecution of Sinti and Roma – current exclusion and discrimination is linked to the past. Roma were and have always been a substantial part of European cultures and societies.What was life like for Sinti and Roma in the Netherlands before World War II? Can collective trauma in the past be used for self-empowering and boosting of the new strong group identity today?