Plan of activities

The period between the years 1998 and 2003 was a landmark for the existance, plans and accomplished projects of MIRET. The small association in Bystrá evolved into a group of willing, original, open-minded people ready to help with the projects being prepared.

After many years of painful search for a sponsor and hopelessly filling in countless grant applications for the reconstruction of the building that was to be a Roma academy, we gave this idea up and started taking small steps which led us to greater things. We established a few contacts with associations and organizations with a similar focus which had positive influence on our further work. We stand strong facing the obstacles of beurocracy, selfishness and unwillingness and carry on proudly on the journey we have chosen – a journey with a meaning, because it helps many people in solving their daily problems and uneasy situations.

In 2007 MIRET had to interrupt its work due to financial reasons and some of its acitivities had to be restricted.

The year 2011 saw a substantial shift – the first generation of young people with the zeal to actively participate in the project of MIRET. Ida Kelarová contacted Michal Mižigár, Ota Bunda and Jan Dužda, offering them membership in the civic association MIRET. These 3 young people accepted the offer as a great challenge and responsibility.

A new era for MIRET is underway. With Artistic Director Ida Kelarová these young members are gradually shaping the organization themselves. The plan of activities is the consistent accomplishment of tasks that were introduced when forming MIRET. The main goals are:

• help the development and growth of a multicultural society and to prevent ethnic conflicts, introduce the culture and traditions of different ethnicities,
• concentrate on working with children and the youth, help them in finding appropriate role models whom they can identify with, support their education and acceptance of multicultural principles in a comprehensible way so that in the future they may be the ones teaching others,
• support collaborative projects between different ethicities, nations and the majority,
• present Roma culture to the Czech general public, break prejudices, help the Roma emerge from isolation, help them to open themselves to the world around them and find new hope for a peaceful co-existence,

• Support education, creativity and personal growth of talented artists, provide material and spiritual space for their work, the opportunity to confront and debate the work of artists from different countries and cultures and and give them the opportunity to present their work,

• hold charity concerts, provide talented Roma children and children from socially disadvantaged families and childrens homes with financial aid and support,
• hold an annual international music festival Gypsy Celebration at castle Svojanov,
• cultivate and extend cultural education,
• acquire finances to open a Romani academy which would serve as centre for young talented Roma,
• organize concerts where young people, under the guidance of professional artists, will have the opportunity to present Romani culture on a professional level.