Janetta Daniyova, 37, Roma activist, Ghent
A social activist and entrepreneur, she lends here voice and support to those who need it.
Janetta moved from Slovakia to Belgium with her family in 1996. She decided right then to grasp every opportunity she would get, and to build up a new life in Belgium. From the start on, Janetta proved to be very venturous. She took Dutch classes in adult education and learned the language by reading books and watching the news. She learned how to work with the computer and took an e-learning class in Administrative Law. At the same time, she assisted several Rom families in her neighbourhood.
After a critical letter of hers appeared in the newspaper, she was approached by the local Social Welfare organisation. From then on, she would be a spokeswoman for the Romani. She helped her family and others to obtain a residency permit.
With her experience in social work for Romani families, Janetta decided to quit her job at the factory, and got a degree as an experience expert in poverty and social exclusion. With this degree, she was able to work in special youth care. Still looking for a way to support Romani in particular, she started working for the Flemish Agency for Poverty and Exclusion, where she specialised in themes concerning Romani and child poverty. In order to further specialize in this domain, she started a Bachelor in Family Studies and Psychology in Ghent.
Ever since, she has worked as an experience expert for other governmental services, such as the Public Planning Service for Social Integration. At the moment, she is a teacher and mentor for experience experts in poverty and exclusion.
After office hours, Janetta is also a social activist. In 2014, she was a candidate for Flemish Parliament for the Workers’ Party of Belgium. She has started a movement that fights for the rights of the Roma people.
“We need to keep fighting against poverty, social exclusion, discrimination and racism. This is also the core activity of my job, as I am an experience expert for several government services. But also after working hours, I lend my voice to the more vulnerable in our society. Mutual respect and finding the courage to face the unfamiliar, that’s what my life is all about”.
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