Development Some leading Roma development issues Return to the Development list Between 1996 and 1999, the Agricultural Development Foundation undertook considerable field work in Hungary with a view to ascertaining the principal constraints on Roma development. This work was always cross checked with Roma living in rural regions and, where possible, with people who were not associated with "leadership" or "Roma" organizartions. The ADF split this work into two distinct parts: what is wrong? how can it be solved? Although ADF staff have worked with international economic development organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organizatiosn and the World Bank it was evident tat the problems facing the Roma are different from many underdeveloped situations because of the proactive institutional discrimination leveled against them. This discriminatioin is so severe that funds raised for Roma programme seldom end up benefiting the Roma. The basic cause is endemic racism on the part of members of the public but in particular politicians and staff in government agencies. It is these people who distort the use of aid which is sometimes made available for the Roma. But the battle for Roma development lies in just three principle areas. These wer emphaised in the 1999 Annual report of the European Committee on Romani Emancipation and were reconfiermed by ADF work These are the need for: integrated basic education of adequate standards adult training to compensate for educational denial within the "educational system" effective investment systems to create sustained income for Roma men and women Most other problems which affect the Roma can be solved with these three issues. So a better education, training and work provide a better income with which Roma can buy a better diet, enjoy enhanced health and extend their longevity. Many NGOs have continued to emphasise sociological, linguistic and cultural issues which circulate in academic circles and fill the copious reports concerning the "Roma Problem". Even worse, some international development organizations in true academic tradition see the Roma problem as "multi-faceted" and "complex" and "multi-disciplinary" and so it goes on. This mumbo jumbo creates reports which on occasions are more than 300 pages in length. But are of little practical use. The The ADF was absorbed by SEEL at the beginning of 2003, but Romani development work has continued. During 2003, SEEL showed a range of current publications to normal Roma living in rural regions. In other words SEEL exposed the Roma to the types of documents which are used, in the main, to take decisions concerning the Roma on funding, priorities for action and the like. Most are not written by Roma. SEEL has found that increasingly Roma entirely reject what they consider to be romantic theory of so-called Roma experts. In the main, people living normal Romani lives know clearly that the issue is fundamentally one of racial discrimination but at least, what would help them, now and in the future, is integrated education, training and investment for jobs. It's as simple as that!