Four Years Cultivating a New Narrative for Roma Youth: the Gallery of Roma Role Models
BUCHAREST, Romania – April marks the anniversary of Roma Status (Starea Romilor), a project that began with a single spark on our Facebook page. For four incredible years, our dedicated team in Romania has been building a vibrant Gallery of Roma Role Models. We’ve proudly showcased the inspiring journeys of accomplished young professionals who’ve thrived through our scholarship programs and the powerful stories of remarkable Roma individuals. Every weekday, we share the extraordinary lives of young Romanian Roma, weaving a tapestry of inspiration for all.
The core mission of the Roma Status project is to shine a spotlight on accomplished young Roma professionals – many of whom have benefited from our scholarship programs – and other inspiring individuals with compelling life stories. Five days a week, Roma Status delivers a steady stream of these narratives, aiming to build a powerful legacy of inspiration for our often-misrepresented Roma community.
At the helm of this digital endeavor is Gabriel Zorilă, our project’s spokesperson and the host of our podcast, “Inspiring Stories,” launched three years ago. Gabriel, a passionate advocate for Roma empowerment, articulated the project’s genesis with a personal resonance.
“‘Starea Romilor” emerged from a deep desire to showcase not only our REF students but also the extraordinary Roma who often go unnoticed. It’s a space where we share short, powerful stories designed to ignite inspiration. The individuals featured are truly exceptional, many already making significant contributions, and all serve as vital role models, capable of shifting societal perceptions of Roma.”
Gabriel’s motivation is deeply rooted in his own experiences. “Our aim is to build a future where young Roma can effortlessly find figures to admire and emulate – something I desperately sought in my own adolescence. The absence of visible Roma role models left me feeling isolated. I recall the ground-breaking moment in 2006 of seeing Nicolae Gheorghe and Ciprian Necula, fellow Roma, engaging in intellectual discourse – a revelation that such individuals existed. It was years later that I discovered the rich and diverse community of elite Roma, a world I, as a Roma, had no idea existed.”
The project’s impact, according to Gabriel, has been significant within Romania. “In these four years, close to 1,000 extraordinary young Roma from Romania have been put under the spotlight. People across the country read their inspiring stories, they identify with their struggles and successes.”
Looking ahead, Gabriel harbors ambitious goals for our initiative. “My greatest wish is to go international, and to find funds for us to tell the stories of young Roma from all of Europe,” he stated, hinting at a potential expansion of this Romanian success story onto a broader European stage.
“What a privilege it has been over these years to uncover and share the inspiring stories of remarkable young Roma individuals with our Starea Romilor community! We’ve been thrilled to feature incredible people like Rowena Marin, now a Senior Agency Account Manager at Google in New York; Renata Mihaly, a multi-talented painter, children’s book illustrator, and fashion designer; Eugen Brîndaș, a dedicated urologist; George Buluc, who impressively holds a PhD in Materials Engineering, a law degree, and shares his knowledge as a high school teacher. These powerful examples truly showcase the diversity, talent, and unwavering determination that flourishes within our Roma communities”
Roma Status, while operating primarily through social media and our podcast, represents a compelling case study in how targeted, positive storytelling can contribute to shifting societal narratives and fostering a sense of belonging within our community. As we enter our fifth year, the question remains whether our Romanian initiative can indeed scale its impact and become a pan-European platform for Roma empowerment.
If you’d like to support our work, please consider making a donation to:
Raiffeisen Bank | RO98 RZBR 0000 0600 2051 8203 (EUR)
Account Holder | Roma Education Fund Romania
