Από Μακριά (from far away) is a beautiful new children’s book by Aggeliki Tharlasi. It narrates the tale of Roma girl Ali, her magical voice and how the children of a local town slowly discover the richness of building friendships with people who are different.
The story tackles the thorny issue of how racist attitudes can be transferred to new generations through parents’ own behaviour. In this book unfortunately, the adults only realise what they have done when it is too late.
It is a touching but heartbreaking story which indirectly speaks of the Roma genocide during the Second World War through the haunting Roma anthem Djelem Djelem.
Come with me, Roma from all the world
For the Roma, roads have opened
Now is the time, rise up Roma now,
We will rise high if we act
Djelem djelem
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