Our Events
Resistance Through Art III: Remembering Roma Resistance and Celebrating Five Years of „Starea Romilor” (Roma Status) in Bucharest, Romania
On May 15, the third edition of Resistance Through Art event transformed the Cervantes Institute into a space of remembrance, reflection, and cultural expression, bringing together artists, civic leaders, institutions, and members of the community to mark Roma Resistance Day and celebrate five years of activity of the “Roma Status” digital platform and community. Organized by REF [Read More]
Roma Education Fund and Serbian Employers Association Launch Partnership to Strengthen Roma Workforce Participation
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 [Read More]
Across Borders, Roma Youth Build a Grassroots Model for Inclusion
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 [Read More]
Roma Education Fund opens its second Complementary Education Center in Bucharest, Romania
PRESS RELEASE : Bucharest, April 8, 2026 Roma Education Fund Romania (REF) celebrated World Roma Day by opening its second Complementary Education Center (CEC) in Bucharest, in the Giulești Sârbi community (Sector 6). The event brought together children from the community, students from Secondary School No. 161 and Mihai I Technological High School, alongside representatives [Read More]
Strengthening Roma Youth Engagement Through Interactive Learning: Training in Pristina on REF’s Practical Guide
Prishtina, March 25, 2026 – The Roma Education Fund (REF) organized two trainings in Kosovo*, focused on the presentation and practical use of the Interactive Practical Guide on Roma Youth Empowerment and Leadership, developed within the framework of the project EU Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in [Read More]
Meeting with the President of North Macedonia Advancing Roma Education and Economic Inclusion
A high-level meeting with Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova reaffirmed the shared commitment to advancing quality education and sustainable economic participation for Roma communities in North Macedonia. We appreciated the opportunity to meet with the President of North Macedonia and to engage in a substantive exchange alongside our partners from Roma Foundation for Europe. The discussion focused on what truly [Read More]
When Good Intentions are not Enough – What Romanian Teachers tell us about Teaching Roma History
While inclusive education is formally embedded in national and European policy frameworks, the everyday reality inside Romanian classrooms reveals a more complex picture. A recent study conducted by researchers from Roma Education Fund Romania explores how teachers understand and implement intercultural education, with a particular focus on Roma history and culture. Our Roma community represents [Read More]
A Generation on Hold
Romania has a peculiar talent for turning structural problems into moral debates with no practical solutions. This is also the case with the NEET youth, those who are not in education, employment, or training. For years, Romania has ranked first in the European Union in terms of the share of NEET young people: nearly one [Read More]
Strong Beginnings – Why Early Childhood Education Matters for Roma Inclusion
Early Childhood Education (ECD) is one of the most decisive stages for breaking cycles of exclusion. Building on this understanding, the Roma Education Fund (REF) is launching Strong Beginnings: Nurturing the Potential of Roma Children through Early Education, a practical guidebook designed to support those working most closely with Roma children in their formative years. Developed by REF [Read More]
A premiere for the Roma community | The REF Foundation recognized by the Romanian Government as a public utility organization
Press release, December 30, 2025 On the occasion of National Minorities Day (December 18), the Government of Romania granted the Roma Education Fund Romania public utility status, marking a national first. This decision, published in the Official Gazette of Romania (Monitorul Oficial) on December 29, 2025, represents official recognition of the organization’s consistent and significant [Read More]
