Roma Education Fund

Un spațiu pentru învățare, dezvoltare și oportunități | Centrul CERC își deschide porțile la Zizin, jud. Brașov

Posted on June 25, 2026 by admin3

Comunicat de presă, 25 iunie 2026 

Fundația Roma Education Fund (REF) Romania anunță lansarea proiectului „Centrul pentru Educație Remedială și Complementară (CERC) – Cod SMIS 339122”, cofinanțat prin Fondul Social European Plus (FSE+) în cadrul Programului Educație și Ocupare (PEO). Cu o valoare totală de 3.087.608,88 lei și o durată de implementare de 24 de luni (martie 2026 – februarie 2028), proiectul va fi derulat în comuna Zizin, județul Brașov, și are ca scop extinderea accesului la servicii educaționale de calitate și creșterea participării școlare în rândul copiilor romi din comunități aflate în situații de vulnerabilitate.

Obiectivul proiectului

Obiectivul general al proiectului îl reprezintă creșterea accesului și a participării la educație pentru copiii romi din comunități marginalizate din județul Brașov, prin furnizarea unui pachet integrat de servicii educaționale, de consiliere, mentorat și formare. Prin activitățile sale, inițiativa urmărește îmbunătățirea rezultatelor școlare, dezvoltarea competențelor socio-emoționale și digitale ale elevilor, consolidarea capacității profesionale a cadrelor didactice și reducerea riscului de abandon școlar, inclusiv în cazul copiilor proveniți din familii afectate de migrația economică.

Conceptul CERC își propune să sprijine dezvoltarea competențelor de viață esențiale și a abilităților relevante pentru economia viitorului în rândul copiilor și adulților romi din comunități marginalizate, contribuind la integrarea lor socială și economică și la creșterea oportunităților de dezvoltare personală și profesională. Programul oferă activități educaționale de calitate, incluzive și relevante din punct de vedere cultural, care completează și consolidează educația formală. Printr-o abordare multidisciplinară, participanții beneficiază de experiențe de învățare non-formală și informală ce stimulează dezvoltarea personală, întăresc identitatea culturală și încurajează colaborarea între generații.

Totodată, CERC – Zizin combină activitățile de sprijin educațional cu dezvoltarea competențelor digitale, integrarea tehnologiei și explorarea expresiei artistice, oferind un mediu favorabil dezvoltării gândirii critice, creativității, comunicării și rezilienței. Proiectul promovează un ecosistem educațional incluziv, relevant și sustenabil, capabil să răspundă nevoilor actuale ale comunității și să genereze efecte pozitive pe termen lung asupra dezvoltării individuale și comunitare.

„La Zizin am întâlnit copii curioși, inteligenți și dornici să învețe. Ceea ce le lipsește nu este potențialul, ci accesul la oportunități care să le permită să și-l valorifice pe deplin. Prin Centrul de Educație Complementară ne propunem să construim exact acest cadru: un spațiu sigur și stimulativ, în care fiecare copil să fie sprijinit să își descopere aptitudinile, să își dezvolte încrederea în sine și să își atingă potențialul. Investiția constantă în educația unui copil înseamnă, în esență, investiția într-un viitor mai bun pentru întreaga comunitate”, a declarat Monica Călin, director de programe REF Romania.

Proiectul este destinat următorului grup țintă:

• 200 de elevi romi, dintre care 120 din ciclul primar și 80 din ciclul gimnazial;
• 20 de cadre didactice participante la programe de formare și mentorat;
• 10 mentori romi implicați în activitățile de sprijin educațional;
• minimum 10 părinți sau tutori, în special ai copiilor cu părinți plecați la muncă în străinătate.

Principalele activități ale proiectului

1. Sprijin educațional și recuperarea decalajelor de învățare. Elevii vor participa la activități remediale și grupuri de studiu menite să consolideze competențele fundamentale și să susțină progresul școlar. Pentru elevii din clasele terminale vor fi organizate sesiuni suplimentare de pregătire.

2. Consiliere psihologică și dezvoltare personală. Participanții vor beneficia de servicii de consiliere psihologică și vocațională, orientare educațională și profesională, educație financiară și educație pentru sănătate.

3. Educație STEAM – Activitățile de robotică, tehnologie, arte vizuale, muzică și meșteșuguri vor crea contexte de învățare experiențială și interdisciplinară, contribuind la dezvoltarea creativității, a competențelor digitale, a gândirii critice și a încrederii în sine.

4. Mentorat și orientare educațională. Elevii aflați în risc de abandon școlar vor beneficia de mentorat și sprijin personalizat pentru consolidarea motivației, dezvoltarea unor obiceiuri eficiente de învățare și planificarea traseului educațional.

5. Mentorat pentru cadrele didactice – Cadrele didactice vor participa la sesiuni de mentorat pedagogic și programe de dezvoltare profesională continuă.

6. Intervenții personalizate pentru elevii aflați în situații de risc. Elevii care se confruntă cu dificultăți educaționale semnificative vor beneficia de măsuri individualizate care combină mentoratul, consilierea și acompanierea educațională.

7. Consiliere și educație parentală. Programul contribuie la consolidarea rolului părinților ca parteneri activi în educația copiilor, oferindu-le instrumente practice și resurse pentru susținerea procesului de învățare.

Prin implementarea proiectului, REF Romania își propune să contribuie la:

• diminuarea fenomenului de abandon școlar și la creșterea performanțelor educaționale prin implicarea a 200 de elevi în activități remediale și programe extracurriculare;
• îmbunătățirea calității procesului educațional prin formarea și sprijinirea a 20 de cadre didactice în adoptarea unor metode de predare moderne, incluzive și centrate pe elev;
• susținerea parcursului școlar al elevilor și sporirea oportunităților acestora de a-și continua studiile;
• consolidarea implicării familiei în educația copiilor prin activități de informare, consiliere și sprijin adresate părinților și reprezentanților legali;
• pregătirea unui grup de 10 mentori romi care să ofere îndrumare educațională, sprijin constant și exemple pozitive pentru elevii din comunitate.

Conceptul CERC pornește de la convingerea că performanța educațională poate fi atinsă în orice comunitate atunci când copiii beneficiază de intervenții de calitate și oportunități autentice de învățare.

Rezultate așteptate

• 200 de elevi beneficiari ai serviciilor educaționale și complementare;
• 130 de elevi care își vor îmbunătăți rezultatele școlare și nivelul de educație;
• 20 de cadre didactice participante la programe de formare și mentorat;
• 10 mentori romi implicați în implementarea proiectului;
• minimum 10 părinți sau tutori beneficiari ai activităților de educație parentală;
• distribuirea a 400 de pachete cu rechizite și materiale educaționale;
• organizarea a trei evenimente cultural-artistice;
• 30 de elevi participanți la cursuri cultural-artistice;
• 40 de elevi implicați în activități de dezvoltare personală și educație culturală;
• minimum 20 de elevi beneficiari ai programului de sprijin individualizat;
• 20 de elevi participanți la tabere tematice de robotică și IT;
• acordarea a 20 de subvenții pentru inițiative educaționale dezvoltate în școlile participante.

De asemenea, proiectul va contribui la:

• stimularea incluziunii școlare și a participării active a elevilor romi la procesul educațional;
• reducerea riscului de părăsire timpurie a școlii și menținerea elevilor în sistemul de învățământ;
• dezvoltarea și consolidarea rolului familiei ca partener esențial în educația și sprijinirea copiilor;
• promovarea coeziunii sociale la nivelul comunității și combaterea prejudecăților și stereotipurilor care afectează incluziunea socială.

Pe termen lung, proiectul urmărește să demonstreze că succesul educațional poate fi atins în orice comunitate atunci când copiii beneficiază de sprijin adecvat, standarde ridicate și oportunități relevante de dezvoltare. Dincolo de rezultatele individuale, inițiativa contribuie la validarea și extinderea unui model educațional scalabil, capabil să ofere răspunsuri sustenabile la provocările cu care se confruntă comunitățile vulnerabile.

În concordanță cu misiunea sa de a contribui la construirea rezilienței comunităților rome prin educație, ocupare și leadership, Roma Education Fund dezvoltă, pilotează și validează modele inovatoare de intervenție care susțin performanța educațională, facilitează participarea pe piața muncii și contribuie la formarea unei noi generații de lideri romi.

***

Pentru detalii suplimentare referitoare la implementarea și activitățile proiectului „Centrul pentru Educație Remedială și Complementară (CERC) – Cod SMIS 339122”, cofinanțat de Fondul Social European Plus (FSE+) în cadrul Programului Educație și Ocupare (PEO), persoana de contact este Mihnea Antila, manager de proiect, disponibil la adresa de e-mail: mihnea.antila@roma.education

REF Strengthens Partnership with the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality in Serbia

Posted on June 24, 2026 by admin3

The Roma Education Fund Serbia has formalized its cooperation with the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality through the signing of a Cooperation Agreement and its accession to the Partnership for Equality initiative.

The agreement builds on years of collaboration aimed at expanding opportunities for Roma youth through education, skills development, career guidance, internships, and employment pathways. Both institutions share a commitment to fostering a society in which all individuals can exercise their rights and participate fully in education, employment, and public life without discrimination

Over the past years, cooperation between REF and the Commissioner has developed through internship programs, support for education, professional development, and the empowerment of young Roma women and men. Through joint activities, special attention has been dedicated to raising awareness about human rights, protection against discrimination, and available institutional support mechanisms.

“Roma Education Fund believes that education, employment, and equality are inextricably linked. It is not enough to provide access to education or the labor market if Roma continue to face barriers due to discrimination, prejudice, or unequal opportunities. This is precisely why cooperation with the institution responsible for protecting equality in Serbia is of great importance to our work,” said Dragana Rajić, Program Director of REF Serbia.

The renewed partnership recognizes that successful labour market inclusion requires more than qualifications alone. While education and skills are essential, equal access to opportunities, fair treatment in recruitment and employment, and trust in public institutions remain critical for ensuring that young Roma men and women can fully participate in economic and social life. Removing barriers to employment is not only a matter of rights, but also a prerequisite for building more inclusive and prosperous communities.

This agreement represents another step in REF Serbia’s commitment to building strategic partnerships that expand opportunities for Roma communities. Alongside collaborations with employers, educational institutions, and public authorities, cooperation with the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality reinforces REF Serbia’s efforts to create pathways where education leads to skills, skills lead to employment, and opportunities are accessible to all, without discrimination or unequal treatment.

More than 250 Roma Students Supported Through RARE II Project in Montenegro

Posted on June 5, 2026 by admin3

Podgorica, Montenegro – June 2, 2026 | The Roma Education Fund (REF) participated in the closing event of activities implemented in Montenegro by HELP Montenegro and the Parents Association under the project EU Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (RARE) Phase II (RARE II). Funded by the European Union through Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) and implemented by the Roma Education Fund Serbia and Romania, the project supports increased educational opportunities and inclusion for Roma students across the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

Over the past two academic years, the project has provided comprehensive educational support to more than 250 Roma children and young people across Montenegro. Through scholarships, learning materials, paid internship opportunities, and the support of local volunteers, facilitators, and educators, the initiative helped strengthen learning outcomes, improve literacy, and support the development of essential skills for educational and professional success.

The closing event, held at the European House in Podgorica, brought together representatives of public institutions, civil society organizations, educators, and development partners committed to advancing the educational inclusion of Roma children and youth in Montenegro. The gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the project’s achievements, share lessons learned, and discuss ways to sustain and further strengthen support mechanisms for Roma students within the education system.

Addressing participants at the event, Ms. Mladenka Tešić, representative of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainability of successful interventions through their integration into public systems and policies. She noted that lasting progress depends on creating institutional mechanisms capable of supporting Roma and Egyptian children and youth throughout their educational journey.

Speaking on behalf of the Roma Education Fund, Ana Duraki highlighted the commitment of local partners and frontline practitioners whose work made these results possible.

“Anyone who has had the opportunity to follow the development of this project in Montenegro over the past years can clearly see that the results we discussed today were achieved through the extraordinary dedication of the people working on the ground. Their continuous efforts supported the education of more than 250 Roma children and helped address their needs throughout the school year. Both the Roma Education Fund and the European Commission remain committed to supporting the education and employability of Roma communities in Montenegro, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership and building on these achievements in the years ahead.”

Ahead of the closing event, members of the project’s Working Group met to review progress, discuss challenges, and identify opportunities for strengthening the educational inclusion of Roma children in Montenegro. Bringing together representatives of public institutions and other relevant stakeholders, the discussion focused on the institutionalization of services and support mechanisms that have proven effective in supporting Roma students, with the goal of ensuring their long-term sustainability within the public education system.

The experience in Montenegro demonstrates that meaningful educational inclusion requires coordinated action between institutions, civil society, local communities, and development partners. However, educational inclusion cannot be viewed as an end in itself. As highlighted in REF’s recent regional policy analysis, Bridging Education and Employment: A Comprehensive Policy Analysis of VET Pathways for Roma Youth in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, Roma youth continue to face significant barriers when transitioning from education to employment, despite progress in access to education. The study, which examined seven countries across the region, underscores the need for integrated approaches that connect educational support, skills development, and labour market opportunities, while strengthening the systems that enable Roma young people to successfully navigate this pathway. The Roma Education Fund remains committed to advancing both educational achievement and employability, supporting Roma children and youth build the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to thrive in the future

Unlocking Roma Economic Potential | REF Intensifies Employment Partnerships across Serbia

Posted on June 4, 2026 by admin3

Representatives of public institutions, employers, trade unions, and civil society gathered on June 3rd at the Belgrade City Assembly for a roundtable dedicated to one of the most important challenges facing the labour market: improving employment opportunities for jobseekers facing multiple barriers to labour market participation, including Roma women and men.

The event was organized by Roma Education Fund Serbia in cooperation with the Socio-Economic Council of the City of Belgrade, the National Employment Service, Belgrade Branch, and the Centre for Social Work, bringing together key stakeholders committed to creating a more inclusive and responsive labour market.

The roundtable was opened by Srđan Srbljanović, Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, Igor Jovanović, Deputy President of the Belgrade City Assembly, Violeta Filip, Member of the Belgrade City Council, and Marijana Rakić, Public Relations Officer at Roma Education Fund.

Addressing participants, Srđan Srbljanović emphasized the importance of coordinated action among institutions, employers, and civil society in tackling barriers to employment.

“Access to the labour market remains challenging for certain vulnerable groups. The barriers they face may be economic, social, or educational in nature, but they can also stem from prejudice and discrimination. This is why it is essential for institutions, local governments, employment services, employers, trade unions, and civil society organizations to work together.”

Speaking about the role of the city in creating opportunities for all citizens, Igor Jovanović highlighted that sustainable development must go hand in hand with inclusion.

“Belgrade is a city that continues to grow and attract investment, but our success will not be measured solely by the number of investments or new developments. It will also be measured by how well we provide opportunities to those who need them the most.”

For REF, this discussion forms part of a broader effort to strengthen pathways between education, skills development, and employment. Through its strategic pillar Skills & Employment, the organization works to connect Roma communities, institutions, employers, and education providers around a shared objective: creating sustainable opportunities for economic participation and long-term prosperity for Roma communties. 

“For years, the Roma Education Fund has been actively building bridges between Roma communities, the education system, the labour market, and institutions. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to better understand the needs of employers and the labour market, while jointly contributing to the development of qualified professionals who are prepared to meet those needs,” said Marijana Rakić.

The discussion continued with a panel moderated by Marina Savković, Director of REF’s Skills and Employment Programs, featuring representatives of institutions and organizations that play a key role in shaping labour market opportunities and employment policies.

Panelists included Željka Zelenović Vuković, Head of the Employer Relations Department at the National Employment Service – Belgrade Branch, Svetlana Budimčević, Acting Director of the Serbian Employers’ Union, Dragan Todorović, President of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Belgrade, and Nemanja Antonijević, Head of the Surčin Department of the Centre for Social Work.

The Belgrade roundtable also builds on a series of recent initiatives through which REF has intensified its activities across Serbia under the Skills & Employment pillar.

In May, REF and the Serbian Employers Association launched a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Roma workforce participation through vocational training, workforce preparation, employment mediation, mentorship, and long-term job retention support. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating practical employer-driven pathways into the labour market while responding to growing workforce needs across the country. REF has also expanded cooperation with municipalities, employers, and employment services. In Kragujevac, recent employment initiatives demonstrated the value of coordinated action, connecting jobseekers, institutions, and employers while creating new opportunities for skills development and workforce integration.

Together, these efforts contribute to a larger vision. Across Serbia and the Western Balkans, employers face labour shortages, demographic decline, and increasing demand for skilled workers. At the same time, Roma communities represent one of the youngest and most underutilized sources of talent in the region.

REF believes that Roma inclusion is a strategic investment in economic growth, competitiveness, and resilience. Unlocking Roma economic potential requires more than individual projects. It requires systems that connect education, skills, employers, institutions, and communities in ways that create lasting opportunities.

The discussion in Belgrade represents another important step in REF’s efforts to strengthen Roma participation in the labour market. By bringing together decision-makers, employers, employment services, trade unions, and civil society organizations, the event reinforced a shared commitment to creating practical pathways that connect Roma talent with employment opportunities.

We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their openness, expertise, and commitment to working together.

Roma Education Fund Expands Its Involvement in Digital Skills Academy to Support More Than 280 Children Across Romania

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Digital transformation is reshaping the way children learn, communicate, and prepare for the future. At Roma Education Fund, we believe that access to digital skills is no longer optional. It is essential for educational success, social participation, and future employment opportunities. Yet for many children growing up in vulnerable communities, access to technology, digital education, and future-oriented learning experiences remains unequal. Together with Accenture Romania, we are working to bridge this gap by creating learning environments where children can develop digital competencies, confidence, creativity, and the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Building on three consecutive years of collaboration, Roma Education Fund Romania has supported Accenture Romania in expanding the reach of its Digital Skills Academy (DSA) among schools and educational programs supported by REF. By connecting the initiative with the children and communities we work with, DSA provides young people with opportunities to develop essential digital skills while fostering curiosity, active participation, creativity, and confidence in their own potential and future opportunities.

In 2026, the program reaches more than 280 children participating in REF Romania educational programs across schools in Beica de Jos and Deaj (Mureș County), Zizin, Tărlungeni, and Augustin (Brașov County), Podu Iloaiei (Iași County), Valea Moldovei (Suceava County), Modelu and Chirnogi (Călărași County), as well as within REF Romania’s Complementary Education Centers in Giulești and Pantelimon, Bucharest, including Roma refugee children who are part of the OSS Center for Refugees.

Through weekly interactive sessions delivered by Accenture volunteers over the course of 12 weeks, children engage with digital literacy, online safety, creativity, critical thinking, introductory programming, and emerging technologies, including generative AI. Participants learn how to use digital tools, create presentations, work with office applications, navigate online environments responsibly, and explore technology as a tool for learning and expression.

Beyond technical competencies, the Digital Skills Academy also focuses on developing collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and self-confidence. Through the Digital Skills Academy Olympiad, children are encouraged to design digital projects centered on ideas for improving the future of their communities, reinforcing the importance of participation, creativity, and civic imagination.

On June 2, over 20 children from the Târlungeni and Zizin educational centers have participate in an Open Doors event hosted at the Accenture office in Brașov, marking the completion of the Digital Skills Academy program and offering children the opportunity to connect with professionals and explore a corporate working environment.

For Roma Education Fund Romania, initiatives such as the Digital Skills Academy reflect a broader strategic commitment to strengthening resilience and expanding access to future-oriented skills for children and young people. In an increasingly digital economy, access to digital education is no longer optional. It is becoming an essential component of participation, opportunity, and long-term social and economic inclusion.

Digital Skills Academy is particularly valuable because it introduces children from vulnerable communities to essential concepts such as online safety, responsible internet use, and practical digital competencies that many of them are not usually exposed to. Today, children spend increasingly more time on phones and other digital devices, which often provide entertainment and instant interaction, but do not necessarily help them develop the practical life skills and digital competencies needed to navigate everyday life, education, and future professional opportunities.

Through the Digital Skills Academy, children learn how to use technology in a meaningful, creative, and responsible way. The program offers a practical perspective, allowing participants to immediately apply the skills they acquire in school projects, community initiatives, presentations, and creative digital activities. The projects developed by children within the DSA program for their schools and communities are encouraged to move beyond the classroom and become practical initiatives implemented with the support of coordinating teachers and partner schools, reinforcing children’s participation, creativity, and sense of contribution within their communities.” – Monica Calin, Program Director, Roma Education Fund Romania.

Roma Education Fund Romania extends its sincere appreciation to Accenture Romania for three years of continuous partnership, trust, and investment in supporting the development of children from vulnerable communities across Romania.

REF Romania Continues Support for Roma Refugee Children with UNHCR Assistance

Posted on May 28, 2026 by admin3

Roma Education Fund Romania announces the continuation of activities at the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Center dedicated to Roma refugees from Ukraine. The new phase of implementation is made possible through the financial support of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR, building on the foundation laid when the center was first established in Bucharest in 2023 with initial financing from the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, many Roma refugee families arriving in Romania have encountered language barriers, interrupted education, and significant challenges integrating into Romanian educational and social systems. The OSS Center was created as a direct response to these compounding difficulties, an integrated support space designed to deliver both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term pathways to educational inclusion.

By the end of 2025, the OSS Center had already achieved significant results, supporting more than 300 children and assisting over 100 families through an integrated package of educational and social inclusion services. Throughout the implementation period, the center organized more than 1,500 counselling sessions and delivered approximately 7,000 educational activities, while also engaging over 250 children in summer camps and enrolling more than 100 children in IT and digital skills courses designed to strengthen digital literacy and access to future educational opportunities.

“What has been most meaningful for us is that both the children and the educators who were involved in the Center until the end of 2025 chose to remain connected to this space voluntarily. The children felt a strong need to see one another, to belong, and to continue learning and growing together. They consistently returned to the Center because it had become a place of safety, trust, and shared experiences. The continuation of the project in 2026 comes at a crucial and very timely moment, as the children increasingly see the Center as their second home, a place where they feel supported, valued, and encouraged to develop academically, emotionally, and socially” – Ioana Dorneanu, national coordinator of the Complementary Education Centers.

Through the continuation of the project in 2026, refugee children will continue to benefit from Romanian language classes, digital skills and IT education, academic support and homework assistance, as well as creative workshops and non-formal educational activities designed to encourage participation, learning, and self-expression. The program will also include socio-emotional development sessions and community integration activities aimed at strengthening wellbeing, confidence, social connection, and the children’s ability to navigate their new educational and social environment.

The program also includes the provision of educational materials and operational support necessary to maintain the OSS Center as a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for refugee children and their families. Digital skills courses are continuing in partnership with Accenture Romania, contributing to reducing the digital divide affecting refugee children and expanding access to modern educational opportunities, digital literacy, and future-oriented skills.

By the end of the nine-month implementation period, the project aims to improve Romanian language proficiency, school participation and performance, digital competencies, socio-emotional wellbeing, and the broader social integration of Roma refugee children into the local community.

Roma Education Fund remains committed to ensuring equal access to education, protection, participation, and inclusion for vulnerable refugee children affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Rebuilding Hope: How Ukrainian Adolescents Process Displacement, Stress, and Resilience

Posted on May 12, 2026 by admin3

In educational and developmental psychology, young people’s ability to adapt to major change is deeply connected to how they perceive, represent, and process new realities. For children and adolescents who have experienced forced displacement, emotionally integrating the transition becomes a critical step in their educational and social journey. In the aftermath of a destabilizing event, the way young people internalize hardship often determines their ability to persevere.

At the beginning of April, the Research and Development Department of the Roma Education Fund (REF) conducted a qualitative data collection activity at one of its Complementary Education Centers in Bucharest, Romania, involving Ukrainian Roma refugees participating in REF programs. The study engaged 17 Ukrainian adolescents and used the Body Map Storytelling method, a participatory approach combining visual expression and personal narrative to explore emotional experiences, identity, and adaptation processes.

The objective of the exercise was to better understand how young refugees physically and emotionally map stress and anxiety, while also identifying positive coping resources, support relationships, and future aspirations.

Beyond verbal expression, the visual representations revealed how emotional difficulties are experienced both physically and cognitively. One of the most recurrent themes emerging from the body maps was emotional attachment to the past. Homes, family members still living in Ukraine, and even pets were frequently illustrated at the base of the body maps or represented as obstacles, reflecting the emotional weight of separation and uncertainty.

Feelings such as longing, sadness, and anxiety were often localized in the chest area and illustrated through fragmented or broken hearts. Yet what stands out most strongly in the findings is not vulnerability alone, but the adolescents’ perspective on healing and recovery. Difficulties were not perceived as permanent conditions, but as temporary stages in a broader process of reconstruction and adaptation.

“One’s heart breaks, but it repairs itself again,” one participant shared, reflecting a mindset oriented toward growth and the capacity to process pain and failure as opportunities for rebuilding.

“The data collected highlights a remarkable capacity for self-regulation and adaptation. Adults working in educational and training environments may observe that these young people locate their sources of strength primarily in two key areas: at the cognitive level (mind/head), resilience is associated with rational decision-making, hope, and future orientation. At the physical and action-oriented level (hands/arms), direct effort and physical activity, particularly sports such as boxing and wrestling, function as adaptive strategies for stress management and regaining personal agency” – Ider Stefan, researcher and coordinator of the R&D Division.

“My brain is my power. If you think clearly and make wise decisions, you will be happy,” explained one adolescent, emphasizing the importance of internal locus of control when facing adversity.
Family also emerges as a central pillar in the adolescents’ narratives, not only as a source of emotional comfort, but as a long-term purpose. Many participants expressed a desire to achieve independence and professional success in order to support and protect their families in the future, reflecting a vision grounded in continuity, responsibility, and resilience.

For educators and trainers, these findings carry important implications. Supporting young refugees requires more than recognizing final outcomes. It requires acknowledging and normalizing the effort behind adaptation itself: learning a new language, building social connections, navigating uncertainty, and maintaining engagement despite emotional stress. Educational psychology literature consistently shows that constructive feedback focused on process and perseverance strengthens long-term motivation and resilience – Ider Stefan.

The message left behind by one of the participants perhaps captures the essence of this process best:
“Never lose hope.”
It reflects a fundamental competency that educational programs must cultivate consistently: the ability to face obstacles directly and still choose perseverance. At REF, this vision is increasingly at the core of our mission to build resilient communities through education by creating learning environments that strengthen not only academic outcomes, but also adaptability, confidence, agency, and long-term social participation.

After this stage, the data entered the final analysis phase and the drafting of the article manuscript, which will subsequently be submitted for publication and distributed in the coming months.

Roma Education Fund and Serbian Employers Association Launch Partnership to Strengthen Roma Workforce Participation 

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Belgrade, Serbia – As Europe faces labour shortages, demographic decline, and growing pressure to strengthen competitiveness, the Roma Education Fund (REF) is increasingly focused on one strategic priority: connecting one of Europe’s youngest populations to the continent’s future workforce. Through its Skills and Employment pillar, REF is developing employer-driven models that link education, skills, and real labour market opportunities. In this context, during the second week of May, REF signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Serbian Association of Employers, one of Serbia’s leading representative business organizations, during a coordination meeting with Andreja Brkić, President of the Executive Board, in Belgrade.

The partnership with the Serbian Association of Employers is designed to strengthen direct cooperation between employers, educational actors, and Roma communities in order to build practical pathways into employment. The focus will include vocational training, workforce preparation, employment mediation, and long-term job retention support aligned with real labour market demand.

Having a continuous insight of labour needs that have companies and enterprises of all sizes and from various sectors, REF improves it’s capacity to prepare Roma job seekers for present and future jobs based on realistic needs. Improved access to numerous business entities at once creates opportunities for joint projects in area of reskilling, on-the- job trainings, on job mentorship programs and other activities that will improve employment and employability of the Roma community – Marina Savkovic, team leader Skills and Employment, REF Network.

The cooperation reflects REF’s broader strategic transformation under its new integrated framework: Learn. Work. Lead. Under this model, education is treated not simply as access to schooling, but as the development of measurable competencies. Employment becomes the point where those competencies are translated into economic stability and participation. Leadership then ensures that individual success contributes to broader institutional and community transformation.

For REF, the long-term objective goes beyond connecting individuals to employment opportunities. It is also about showing that strong educational and employment models can create meaningful results and contribute to stronger, more inclusive systems over time. In this sense, the agreement signed in Belgrade is not only about employment cooperation. It also reflects a broader effort to strengthen the place of Roma inclusion within Europe’s evolving economic agenda.

Advancing Education-to-Employment Pathways for Roma Youth in the Western Balkans and Türkiye

Posted on May 4, 2026 by admin3

Podgorica, 28 April 2026 – Europe is running out of time to ensure its education systems translate into real employment outcomes and one of its youngest populations, Roma youth, continues to be left behind. At a regional event hosted by the Roma Education Fund (REF), in partnership with HELP – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, policymakers, experts, and practitioners gathered in Podgorica to confront a growing paradox: while labour shortages are intensifying across the Western Balkans and Türkiye, Roma youth remain largely excluded from both quality education outcomes and formal employment.

The conference and the accompanying Regional Policy Report were developed by REF within the framework of the EU Regional Action for Roma Education (RARE) Phase II, funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood.

The discussion comes at a critical moment for Europe’s labour markets and reflects a broader systemic challenge, how to move from access to education toward outcomes that lead to economic participation. This shift is at the core of REF’s current strategy, which focuses on building direct and sustainable pathways between education systems and the labour market.

The event marked the launch of the policy report “Bridging Education and Employment,” developed by the Roma Education Fund under the EU-funded Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (RARE), Phase II. The report assesses the effectiveness of vocational education and labour market integration policies across seven countries, compares national approaches, analyses the key barriers and enabling factors shaping Roma youth transitions, and maps existing systems to inform actionable, evidence-based recommendations. The analysis also incorporates a gender lens, highlighting disparities in participation, outcomes, and access to opportunities for Roma girls and young women.

Opening the event, Ciprian Necula, Executive President of REF, set the strategic direction for this transition:

“If education is not connected to social and economic realities, it cannot deliver outcomes. Too often, education systems prepare people for opportunities that do not exist. If we want real impact, investments in education must be aligned with labour market demand and future needs. At the Roma Education Fund, we aim to design interventions based on real conditions and develop models that can be taken forward by governments and scaled within public systems. Because a person without education and without a job is unlikely to participate meaningfully in society, strengthening the link between education and employment is not only an economic priority, but a democratic one.”

He was followed by Symela Tsakiri, Team Leader at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), who highlighted the role of EU support in advancing inclusive education and employment pathways across the region:

“The study we are presenting today clearly shows the need to move from informal to formal employment and to boost entrepreneurship. There is untapped potential within the Roma population that we must cultivate.”

A central theme throughout the discussions was the role of vocational education and training (VET). While VET systems are widely established, they often fail to translate into employment, particularly for Roma youth, pointing to a disconnect between education systems and labour market demand.

The discussion continued with Panel I: Policy Leadership for the Future of Work, moderated by Claudia Craiu, Public Affairs Director at REF:

“Building a pipeline from education to employment is essential, and this is at the core of REF’s Skills and Employment strategy. But for this to work, it must become systemic, embedded into public systems and delivered at scale. This requires a closer partnership between policymakers and organisations like REF, which are already testing and implementing models that work.”

The panel brought together government, policy, and practitioner perspectives. Naida Nišić, Montenegro’s Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue, highlighted the challenge of translating policy commitments into tangible labour market outcomes, while Sokolj Beganaj, National Contact Point for Roma Issues, brought forward the realities of how these gaps are experienced at the community level.

“Montenegro faces a clear imbalance between labour demand and supply, while a significant part of the Roma and Egyptian population remains outside the labour market. This shows that the issue is not only access to jobs, but whether education systems are equipping people with the skills needed to participate. If education does not provide these skills, then this is where we must act. Human potential is the most valuable resource any country has, and our priority is to ensure that this potential is effectively supported and integrated into the labour market” – Naida Nišić, Montenegro’s Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue.

From the private sector perspective, Dr. Petrică Dulgheru, Executive Director of the Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI), highlighted the structural barriers facing Roma entrepreneurs. The discussion was grounded in evidence by Prof. Dr. Georgeta Pânișoară, habilitated doctor in Educational Sciences and professor at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Bucharest, Romania, and lead author of the report. With extensive experience in research, training, and international academic engagement, her work focuses on learning psychology, motivation, and the mechanisms that support resilience and performance. Her contribution brings together academic expertise and applied policy insight, offering a deeper understanding of the challenges shaping education-to-employment transitions, particularly for Roma youth.

Bringing a solutions-oriented perspective, Dr. Marina Savković, Team Leader for Skills and Employment within the REF Network, highlighted what works in practice when education pathways are directly linked to employment outcomes.

Across interventions, a common message emerged: policy ambition is not the constraint, system coordination and execution are.

The event continued with Panel II: From Evidence to Action – Scaling Good Practices, moderated by Marina Savković. The session brought together practitioners working directly on education and employment pathways for Roma communities, including Barbara Jovanovic (REDI Serbia), Dijana Anđelić (HELP Montenegro), Dijana Vujačić (Economics High School “Mirko Vešović”), Baran Çağlar Çetinkaya (Zero Discrimination Association, Türkiye), and Nardi Ahmetović (NGO “Carep”).

The discussion focused on concrete examples of what works, from vocational training and mentoring to employer-linked programmes, and on the conditions required to scale these models. A central theme was the need to move from isolated projects to system-level solutions through stronger institutional ownership, coordination, and long-term investment.

Evidence presented at the event pointed to integrated models, combining financial support, mentoring, and direct employer engagement, as the most effective approach, yet still the exception rather than the rule.

The report’s findings confirm this gap. While policy frameworks are largely aligned with EU priorities, implementation remains weak. Coordination between education, labour, and social systems is fragmented, and successful interventions often remain small-scale or dependent on external funding.

The day concluded with a substantive discussion with secondary and tertiary students participating in the Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (RARE), Phase II, in Montenegro, bringing forward first-hand perspectives on the needs and daily challenges they face.

For more than two decades, REF has supported Roma students across the region. Today, its strategy places increasing emphasis on connecting education outcomes with labour market participation through models that link skills development directly to employment opportunities and that are designed to be replicated and scaled within public systems.

As Europe looks to strengthen its competitiveness and resilience, the question is no longer whether inclusion is necessary, but whether systems are capable of delivering it. Because the cost of failure is not only social, it is economic.

The full report, “Bridging Education and Employment,” developed under the Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (RARE), Phase II, can be downloaded HERE.

“I believe the launch of this report is only the first step in a broader process of systemic change. The report presented in Montenegro will be actively disseminated to relevant stakeholders and public institutions across the other six project countries, with the aim of fostering evidence-based dialogue and improving public policies for Roma communities. We hope that its recommendations will be integrated into national strategies, strengthening support mechanisms for Roma youth transitioning from education to the labour market. In the coming period, we will continue to promote regional cooperation, the exchange of good practices, and the engagement of key actors to turn these findings into concrete and sustainable actions” – Monica Calin, project manager the Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (RARE), phase II project.

Across Borders, Roma Youth Build a Grassroots Model for Inclusion

Posted on April 20, 2026 by admin3

In Plovdiv, young people from Romania, Bulgaria, and Germany are working together to design and build an urban garden in Stolipinovo, one of the largest Romani neighbourhoods in Europe. The initiative, funded by Erasmus+ and the city of Dortmund, brings together ecological action and youth empowerment, with a clear objective: to move young Roma from participants in projects to designers of change in their own communities.

The approach reflects a broader shift in how inclusion is understood. Across Europe, policies have focused on improving access to education and employment. But access alone has not translated into sustained participation or long-term outcomes. This initiative tests a different premise, one that places agency at the centre.

The project began with immersion. Participants explored Plovdiv’s urban environment, including community gardens that have transformed underused spaces into shared assets. These examples served as practical models for what local, small-scale interventions can achieve when ownership sits with the community.

The focus then moved to Stolipinovo. Local youth workers presented ongoing efforts around environmental responsibility and community engagement, grounding the project in lived realities rather than abstract design.

From there, the work became concrete. Together, the group began designing an urban garden that will be built within the community. The process integrates urban gardening, upcycling, and solidarity-based agriculture with local knowledge and cultural identity. It is both a learning space and a public space, designed to serve the community while building skills among those creating it.

For Roma youth, the significance is structural. Opportunities to lead, design, and implement are limited within existing systems. This initiative creates a framework where young people take responsibility, make decisions, and see direct results of their work, strengthening both competence and confidence.

„The goal of the project is to empower members of the Roma community near Plovdiv to develop their own space where they can interact with one another as well as with visitors. In this way, they will imprint their sense of identity on the place where they live, inviting outsiders to come closer, get to know them, and spend time together.
The project is also very rewarding because it brings together young people from different countries, regions and spaces to share their vision of what such a space should look like, and then to collaborate to build something special for this community, a place that is both inviting and enjoyable to be in, as well as productive and sustainable. The final goal of the project is for young people to replicate the experience they’ve had here and try to initiate similar projects back home in their own countries and communities.”
Alexandru Zamfir, project manager REF

The cross-border dimension adds another layer. By bringing together participants from different countries, the project fosters collaboration beyond national contexts and challenges persistent stereotypes. These exchanges are not symbolic, they create networks that can support future initiatives and scaling.

The long-term objective is not the garden itself, but what follows. Participants return to their communities with practical skills and a different understanding of their role, equipped to act as multipliers, initiate similar actions, and contribute to local development processes.

„We quickly became friends with the colleagues from Bulgaria and Germany. Even though we come from different countries, we discovered that we have many things in common, and that brought us closer very quickly. The Romani language was a true connection between us, because it helped us communicate more easily and made us feel that we belong to the same community, even though each of us comes from a different part of Europe.
During these days, we visited the city and the Roma community where we will work, and the experience was very interesting and valuable. We understood better the reality of the place and the needs of the people here.
The idea of cooperating with other young people is very important, because together we can come up with better solutions and learn from one another. I believe that these urban gardens will have a positive impact both in the short term, by improving the space and involving the community, and in the long term, by developing responsibility and stronger connections between people.” –
Sorina-Maria Urdoi, participant

If the project proves anything, it is this: inclusion works differently when it moves beyond access and starts with agency. When young people are trusted to design, decide, and deliver, outcomes are no longer temporary, they begin to sustain themselves.

Implemented by GrünBau Dortmund in partnership with the Stolipinovo Youth Club and Roma Education Fund Romania, the project is still in its early stages. But its direction is already defined: change is more sustainable when it is designed from within.