Roma community artist Marie Balogova, an ordinary woman with a genetic eye defect, held her first ever solo exhibition on Saturday 21 marking mark Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Her exhibition titled ‘Her, who sees differently’ explores themes of identity, faith and inner world through abstract paintings. This is an insight into the event through photography and the words of the artist herself.

Benjamin Kritikos, exploring why there’s such a pressing need for local solutions powered by the people most affected by them, spoke with people from Community Renewal Trust Rom Romeha (‘For Roma, By Roma’), to find out how they are tackling health inequalities and improving the quality of life for the neighbourhoods Roma community.

International Roma Day in April saw a host of events and activities take place around Govanhill. Melanie Goldberg writes on a striking exhibition and a celebration of this historic culture, in the face of online backlash.

Continuing our regular feature series Style Icon, we caught up local singer Jana to talk about her fashion inspirations.

For many members of the Govanhill Roma Youth Project, the Global Day of Action during COP26 was their first time attending such a large protest. One participant, 16 year-old Natalia Balogova, shares her experience of the march.

In Eastern Europe, racism and scapegoating are common problems for Roma people, Europe’s largest minority. According to Glasgow resident, Marek Balog, this has been exacerbated during the current pandemic, with many stories of blatant discrimination. Marek works for Community Renewal on their Local Conversations - Roma Govanhill project, and spoke about how he has been delivering food parcels alongside other members of the Roma community.