My dreams

My dream is to finish my doctoral dissertation before I reach the retirement age. In my research, I particularly want to find out how Roma culture fares in relationships in which only one party is a Roma. I hope that my research counters the received wisdom that such relationships supposedly destroy the culture.

Another dream of mine is that my dissertation would open the door so that many others would dare to study the Roma and their culture by using the Roma themselves as sources of data. On the whole, I hope that my academic activities set an example for other Roma so that they dare to study and live in Finland together with the majority population as well as many other nationalities.

The University of Helsinki really has opened its doors to everyone now. I have a vision of Roma women in their traditional clothing studying here and of young Roma men graduating as lawyers and teachers.

My third dream relates to my family. I hope that my three daughters and two sons have a change, should they so wish, to study and work in exactly the field that interests them the most.

By Written by Henry Hedman and Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta (ed.). Translated by Olli Silvennoinen.

Henry Hedman

Henry Matti Vihtori Hedman
Born March 8, 1952, Riihimäki

Master of Religion Education 1994, Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia (B.C.)
Studies for a Bachelor of Theology in 1977–1978, Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas
Vocational qualification in business and administration 1971, Riihimäki Business College

University Instructor, Romani and Roma culture, University of Helsinki
Musician, non-fiction author, theologist and translator
Researcher, Centre for the Languages of Finland 2002–2012
Executive manager, Romano Missio ry 1996–2000

Publications, research projects and other academic activities (linkiksi: http://tuhat.halvi.helsinki.fi/portal/en/person/hmhedma)

Awards and memberships in organizations
Advisory board on Roma Affairs, member 1986-, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, member of the Committee, appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland 2012-
Member of MG-S-Rom, a Council of Europe Group of Specialists 2002–2010
Awarded for work on materials and education in Romani by the National Board of Education and the Advisory Board on Roma Affairs, 2010
Person of the year in Riihimäki, 2001

Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by Olli Silvennoinen