Between 8,000 and 15,000 tziganes attended the annual Convention promoted by the “Life and Light” association of the tzigane evangelical Mission of France, which represents some 100,000 French gipsies. This year’s Convention, held in the disused aerodrome of Malbouhans (France) from 27 to 31 August, did not draw the usual 20-30,000 nomads of previous conventions “due to the fact that they were busily involved in the grape-harvesting and other harvests held earlier this year due to the summer heatwave”, explain the organisers. Representatives of the “nomads present in Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and England also participated in the meeting declared the secretary of the Mission, Wasso Ferret and this provided us with the opportunity to organise more effectively our common commitment to the evangelization of gipsies in the countries of eastern Europe and in Spain”. “We are witnessing an extraordinary revival in Russia he continued ; there, we have specific radio and television programmes for Romanies”. The meeting, during which (as is the tradition) numerous baptisms by immersion took place, devoted particular attention to young tziganes and the dangers to which they are most exposed: drugs, theft, alcoholism. “Meeting together makes us feel more united and strong”, commented the 18-year-old Jessica.
