The thesis explores the experiences of young Roma men and women as they navigate between two daily environments; the school environment and the out-of-school environment. Within the school setting, the emphasis is on their experiences with teachers and their non-Roma peers. When researching experiences in the out-of-school environment, I discussed topics related to non-Roma peers and the media with the interviewees. A key aspect of the research are the prejudice and stereotypes expressed by non-Roma individuals. The majority of the interviewees participating in the research are between 12 and 20 years old. Therefore, based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the fact that this is an ethnic minority that has historically been in a continuously disadvantaged position, I decided to carry out an ethical assessment of the research. The Ethics Committee of the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Work, approved the application. In addressing the topic, I first discuss the situation of Roma in Slovenia and present their legal status. After reviewing the literature, I focused on the dimensions of racism against Roma, introduced the concepts of prejudice and stereotypes they face, as well as the concept of antigypsyism. Moreover, I explored the potential for culturally competent social work as an opportunity for meaningful co-creation. The thesis includes an analysis of the media portrayal of Roma and the topic of Roma in the educational process. In developing the research problem, I formulated six research questions and conducted qualitative research. I collected the experiences of young Roma men and women through focus groups. The data collection tool I developed was a set of guidelines used to support the focus group discussions. I used non-probability sampling; specifically a convenience sample. The research method was oral, group-based, and conducted in a single session. The collected data were processed and analyzed using qualitative methods. The findings are presented in the Results chapter, while the Discussion chapter provides answers to the research questions, connects them to the theoretical framework, critically evaluates the methodology, and includes information on how the research findings were returned to the community. The research results were shared with the young Roma partipants, who had the opportunity to provide feedback on the accuracy and relevance of the findings. The results showed that young Roma experience a range of interactions with non-Roma individuals both inside and outside of the school environment, ranging from positive and mixed to negative. Based on their school experiences, they perceive the attitudes of non-Roma individuals as more negative, whereas, in the out-of-school context, these attitudes are perceived as more positives. Prejudice and stereotypes toward the Roma remain present in today's society. In the conclusion, I formulated key findings and provided suggestions for possible practical measures and further research. Throughout the entire process, I perceived the research not only as a contribution for the Roma community but also as an opportunity to demonstrate an example of good practice in working with Roma.
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