Empowering Gypsies and Applied Anthropology

Abstract This work focuses on the case study of the nomad camp of Palermo, in southern Italy, where Roma Cergara and Roma Xoraxane have been living for twenty-five years, in ghetto-like conditions. This camp represents a world outside the city, or rather a confined microcosm, without any interrelationship with the outside world. Moving ethnic minority groups from poverty to social inclusion represents a very difficult challenge. Moreover, since these communities are used to arrange themselves through an economy that is borderline between an underground economy and a subsistence economy, sometimes helped with assistance attitudes of external social actors, the way towards community action is slow and tormented. However, Community Psychology and Applied Anthropology contribute to reach empowerment, in the sense of facilitating the access of Gypsy people to the knowledge and tools of the major society.