Social Inclusion and Diversity in the Axis of Social Sustainability: A Study on Roma Women Benefiting from the Gallipoli SODAM Project

Social sustainability, which focuses on human and societal well-being, encompasses values such as rights and freedoms, equal opportunities, social inclusion, quality of life, diversity, democracy, and governance. Based on these values, this study examines social inclusion and its related concepts of diversity and intercultural communication. Disadvantaged groups in society, such as people with disabilities, refugees, and minorities, fall within the scope of social sustainability. In this study, one of these groups, the Roma, has been chosen as the focus of analysis. The aim of this study is to examine the initiatives undertaken for the Roma community by both public and private institutions, as well as societal responses, within the framework of competence, equal opportunities, discrimination, inclusion, the preservation of cultural diversity, and intercultural communication. Using the in-depth interview technique, a qualitative research method, data were collected from Roma women benefiting from the Social Support and Solidarity Centers (SODAM) project implemented by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. The interviews, conducted through semi-structured questions, were analyzed using the MAXQDA20 content analysis software. The findings reveal that, although the Roma have equal rights in accessing public services such as education, security, and healthcare, they continue to live at the lowest income levels, receive insufficient support, and face discrimination within society. However, in terms of cultural transmission and communication, it was observed that they generally do not experience significant problems and, in some cases, even receive support.