Anna Várnai (51); Pécs, Hungary
She is the leader of a successful organization, which is helping poor Roma women for 15 years now.
Anna Várnai, the daughter of a coal-miner and a housewife was born in a small village in 1966.
Even though her father disabled at a young age, he tried his best to maintain and develop the well-being of his family; a wife and 8 children. In furtherance to do so, he was constantly working, was engaged in farming, and created small craft-works he could sell later on. Seeing a wider range of opportunities, and better chances for prosperity, Várnai’s father found it essential, that his children live and study in a bigger city. As the family grew, it progressed via renovating and reselling their houses, therefore Várnai lived in a number of different settlements before accomplishing her education.
“I was in a lucky situation, since both of my parents insisted to the education of their children, and they tried to further it in a playful way. For example, when we learnt how to read, they claimed that they cannot see that well anymore, therefore we had to read out the newspapers loudly (…) At the end, such small things helped me a lot, and resulted in me, having a lot better understanding on the world, than most of the Gypsy kids in my age had.”
As Várnai said, it was clear for her from the really beginning, that she would like to work with people. Therefore, she organized her studies and career life accordingly. Charmed by the independent subsistence, she took a job in the catering industry, worked as a monger, and later on, she started her own cleaning company. Occupations, in which her income was highly dependent on her ability to communicate well, and to emphasise with the costumers. Nonetheless her activity today is highly distinct from the above-mentioned fields, these experiences were essential in order to acquire organizational and leadership skills, which are applied in her project today.
“Meanwhile – being familiar with the activism of my friends – I was more and more attracted by the idea, of how I could help Gypsies and poor people. In a different way, with different tools and different aims from the organizations I used to know at that time.”
Várnai’s experiences with programs, which aim to help Roma seem to be controversial. On the one hand, there are programs, which do not have enough sources. Therefore, they are condemned to stop their activities before their effect would be extended. On the other hand, there are the programs, which have plenty of financial resources, but still fail to reach the poor, leaving nothing, but disappointment behind.
As her helping activities created a tension even in her personal life, at the age of 35, Várnai had to make a decision. Seeing her well-being secured, as well as the future of her children, she decided for activism as the focus of her life. Success in this field requires a whole person, the acceptance of possible financial deprivation, and the lack of time. “On the contrary, it is still not a sacrifice, since it is the result of a conscious decision, and the small successes give you strength to go on, even if the situation does not look that bright at the moment. Often times, this job is not easy at all.”
It has been 15 years now, that she made this decision, and she is planning to continue her activities, improve the services her organization provides. There are no times, when helping the poor would be unnecessary.
“Do not be afraid of Gypsies. Get to know them, so the fear, which is the result of the difference in cultures can disappear.”
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