Roma Mahala (Gračanica)

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Source:balkanproject.org/roma/gracanica.shtml
The main Mahala lies a few KM southeast of the Serbian Roma Mahala, on the main road. The Mahala extends south on one main dirt track that branches into sub-roads. The Mahala also extends north from the main road for a kilometer or so. The main Mahala is almost entirely Muslim; the Roma there speak Romanes as a first language, and the children do not begin to learn Serbian until the age of 6 or so. A few mixed Roma-Ashkalija families speak Albanian as a first language.

Almost the entire Mahala is unemployed. Many Roma engage in manual labor for Serbs in the fields, while others chop wood or recycle. A few blacksmiths ply their trade in Gracanica, while some other Roma work for UNMIK.

The Roma community leader is Hamit Šerifović.