George Soros Honoured with the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma
Few figures in modern European history have championed Roma rights with the persistence, courage, and foresight of George Soros. For over four decades, he has invested not merely in projects, but in people, opening doors to education, empowerment, leadership, and the emergence of a confident Roma civil society across Europe.
This week, his lifelong dedication was recognised with the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma, which celebrates those who have made a defining contribution to the freedom and dignity of Roma and Sinti communities. The award was accepted on his behalf by Alexander Soros, who continues to carry forward his father’s vision with unwavering commitment.
Alexander donated the award to the Roma Education Fund (REF),conferred it to Ciprian Necula, the organization’s Executive Chair.
REF Carries Forward George Soros’s Legacy of Empowering Roma Through Education
Remarks by Ciprian Necula, Executive Chair of the Roma Education Fund
Dear Mr. Romani Rose,
Dear Dr. Alex Soros,
Dear Mr. Željko Jovanović,
Dear brothers and sisters from the Roma Foundation for Europe Network,
Phralale thaj pheniale,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great privilege to stand before you on this very special occasion. I am deeply honoured to announce that this year, the Roma Education Fund celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Throughout these two decades, two things have remained constant: the Roma people’s hunger for quality education and the unwavering commitment and generosity of George Soros – who, together with the World Bank, founded our organisation to make education a reality for Roma communities across Europe.
Since then, more than 150,000 Roma have benefited from our programmes, including over 12,000 Roma students who have received support to pursue higher education.
I remember a mother once asked me: “Why are you helping us? Are you from the church?”
I replied, “No, we are part of a Roma organisation supported by George Soros. He believes that supporting your children’s education is the way for a better future for Roma communities.”
She looked at me and said, “Then he is a blessed man. No one does good unless they are a good people.”
In recent years, as we face an increasingly complex and shifting political landscape, we have had to reflect on how to continue doing good – how to keep contributing to an open, fair, and inclusive society.
That is why we have embraced a renewed mission: building resilient Roma communities through education, skills, and leadership. Because we know that education is not an end in itself, but a foundation for something greater – the freedom, dignity, and prosperity of our people.
We proudly stand as part of a broader Roma family – together with the Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI), the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), Roma for Democracy, and the Roma Foundation for Europe – united in continuing the legacy of our founder and visionary supporter of a better world, George Soros.
Dear Dr. Alex Soros,
On behalf of the more than 150,000 Roma whose lives have been transformed by our work – and the many thousands more we will support in the years to come – thank you. Thank you for your trust, your leadership, and your continued belief in the Roma people.
Dear Mr. Romani Rose,
I am also grateful to the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma for their professionalism and high-level role in promoting our common cause across the continent. I am equally thankful for your decision to recognise the outstanding contribution of George Soros to the best interests of European Roma by awarding him the European Civil Rights Prize.
Dear All,
I am proud to acknowledge that George Soros has announced he will donate his prize money to the Roma Education Fund – to continue empowering Roma communities through access to skills, employment opportunities, and quality education, from early childhood to higher education – strengthening their resilience and hope for generations to come.
Thank you!
Read today’s article on George Soros and the lasting impact of his support: “Inside the Archives: George Soros and the Fight for Roma Dignity.”
For George Soros, the idea of an open society was never just a philosophical concept, a system where individual rights are protected against the power of the state. It was deeply personal – “An open society,” he once reflected, “is one in which a person like me can live and prosper.”
As a Jewish survivor of Nazi-occupied Hungary who later lived through Soviet rule, Soros understood firsthand that the difference between an open and a closed society was not only about protecting minority opinions, but also about safeguarding minority communities themselves.
When communism collapsed in 1989, political freedoms swept across the newly independent nations of Europe. Yet for many, especially Roma communities, economic and social rights remained out of reach. Marginalization and poverty persisted.
