With over 15 years of professional experience, he has dedicated his career to working on projects that support vulnerable communities, particularly Roma communities, as well as individuals with disabilities and those from challenging socio-economic backgrounds. His journey began with 5 years of volunteering, followed by roles such as assistant manager, mentor, and education services provider, [Read More]

Gabriel Zorilă is a dynamic spokesperson for REF Romania, serving as a communication officer and the charismatic host of social media projects like “Starea Romilor” (Roma Status) and “Povești care Inspiră” (Inspiring Stories). With a passion for promoting educational initiatives and raising awareness about Roma communities, Gabriel has played a pivotal role in various projects [Read More]

Interculturality Educational Expert She is a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Studies at the Multidisciplinary Doctoral School “Space, Image, Text, Territory” within the Center of Excellence in Image Study (CESI), Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest. Her doctoral thesis, titled “Image of Roma in cinematography and cultural media productions: Ethics of fictionality and cultural identity,” is [Read More]

Ioan Valentin Negoi earned his PhD in History from Valahia University in Târgoviște, Romania, in 2021. His doctoral thesis, “Deportation of ROMA from Muntenia to Transnistria during the period 1942-1944,” was published in 2023. Valentin serves as a librarian/archivist at the Roma Education Fund and hosts the educational programs RomStoria and RomStoria Interviews, available on [Read More]

Marijana Rakić embarked on her journey at REF as an intern, initially supporting the financial-administrative department. After four months, she started focusing on empowering Roma youth for employability. Before joining REF, Marijana gained valuable experience as the owner of a small business for two years. Her business primarily focused on wholesale trade and the sustainable [Read More]

Amalia graduated with a degree in Sociology from Bucharest University and has a deep passion for education and social impact. Since 2015, she has been working with the Roma Education Fund, taking on various roles in different projects. Currently, she serves as the Country Coordinator for the REF Alumni Network, where she supports students and [Read More]

Stanislava Dzurikova joined the Roma Education Fund (REF) in 2014 and served as the Country Manager until 2024. In her role as the statutory representative of REF Slovakia, she was responsible for overseeing the organization’s overall operations in the country.In August 2024, she transitioned to the role of Financial and Administrative Manager at REF Slovakia.Stanislava [Read More]

Dragana Rajic brings extensive expertise in project management/finance management of international development, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and media sectors, and in civil society/non-profit organization management and capacity building. The past 15 years Dragana Rajic has worked intensively with vulnerable groups, primarily Roma. Through her engagement for all organizational segments in the CSO sector, Dragana has [Read More]

Claudia Gheorghe is a Grant Officer working currently in a international project implemented in the Western Balkans and Türkiye funded by DG ENEST. She has been involved in the implementation of educational projects for over three years, focusing on improving access to education for vulnerable communities, particularly the Roma community.With an academic background in law, [Read More]

She has been working on the integration of vulnerable groups such as Roma, migrants, and women for more than 25 years. Her competencies and experience extend to covering all aspects of official development assistance, from interventions’ design and fundraising, implementation and monitoring, to capacity building and policy dialogue. She directly facilitated the establishment and development [Read More]