For as long as I can remember, I’ve been taught to acknowledge that the freedoms Americans enjoy are not universal and to be grateful for the lifestyle I am able to live in the U.S. In countries across the globe, different people groups suffer from restricted freedoms. There are a few specific parts of the world that come to mind when I think of communities with limited rights, and admittedly the Czech Republic has never been one of those. Yet, the Roma community in Czechia faces massive discrimination and segregation.

The Romani people are the Czech Republic’s largest ethnic minority group. Romani wondered from their place of origin in India starting in the 9th century, eventually making their way into the Czech Republic over 600 years ago. They are commonly referred to as gypsies, mistakenly labeled by the rest of the country with many of the negative characteristics associated with such people. Essentially, the Roma community currently faces real social loathing to the point of segregation and poverty throughout Czechia.

Once a year, however, the Romani community bands together for a summer festival, which features a lively parade. Dozens of (mostly female) Roma donned festive garb as they twirl down the streets near Old Town Square today, accompanied by male musicians and a swarm of tourists. The parade was comprised of a broad age spectrum, though children made up a significant percentage. The parade and festival as a whole aimed to remind the rest of the country that the Romani are a legitimate part of society that deserves respect, despite the civil struggles they endure daily.

Pictured above are two young girls seated in a hired horse-drawn carriage that swooped in to lead the parade about halfway through the procession. They spent their whole ride smiling for an enchanted audience, twirling their skirts and posing for photos. As the front of the parade, they served as the precious face of the Romani people and their fight for social equality. Their innocent yet stunning presence struck me as I followed them through the streets. They have likely already faced obstacles that I will never have to, and yet there was something universal in their childlike beauty. Each of those girls was a sister and a daughter, just like me.