Since childhood, Esma Rejepova had to look for earnings.
She walked other people’s dogs, cleaned the houses of wealthy people, carried the goods of merchants.
Having learned the price of hard work, Esma was able to escape from poverty at the expense of her talent.
One day she went to a singing circle, where her vocal abilities were revealed.
Since the age of 9, Esma began composing songs and taking part in competitions.
By the time Esma Rejepova became famous outside her country, she was already more than an artist.
She had over 2000 charity concerts on her account.
The woman actively participated in public and political life.
She carried out small humanitarian missions and even held a position on the city council.
The singer paid a lot of attention to issues related to the improvement of the city.
Esma tried to help orphans.
Obviously, Esma Rejepova’s views were influenced by the discrimination of Gypsies that she encountered in childhood and adolescence.
Being married the couple had no children of their own, but their own descendants were replaced by orphans whom they adopted.
Interestingly, 47 of the 48 adopted children turned out to be Gypsy boys.
There was also one girl — Eleanor.
Esma and Stevo raised five children under their own roof, and provided the rest with a home and a decent education.
There is an explanation for the love of gypsy boys.
The fact is that because of stereotypes in orphanages, little gypsies are almost deprived of chances to get into the family.
It is believed that they are spoiled, too noisy and ill-mannered.
The good deeds for the youngest did not end with the adoption of children.
The singer founded an orphanage in Macedonia. For this, she became known as the “mother of 100 children.”
