Roma Education Fund

08/09/2026

„Sherutnipe does not replace the democratic mandates these officeholders hold in their own countries and communities. It gives them something that has largely been missing: access to one another's experience.” - Mensur Haliti, Roma for Democracy Foundation

05/09/2026

This is Sherutnipe: collective leadership and governance.

For the first time, Roma mayors, councillors, council leaders and members of parliament from across Europe are coming together as peers - alongside Roma-led institutions working across Europe.

This is Sherutnipe: collective leadership and governance.

In Skopje and Šuto Orizari, the conversation is moving beyond representation alone to what comes after election or appointment: how a mandate becomes a decision, how budgets and institutions deliver, and how political power creates lasting change.

Because representation delivers.

Between 2019 and 2025, Roma officeholders in five countries where we work - Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Italy - secured more than €42 million in documented public allocations and budget commitments for water, roads, schools, housing and legalisation. That money was not disbursed to Roma. It was secured by Roma, inside public institutions, using the ordinary instruments of government.
Until now, many of those successes have been won locally and often alone.
Sherutnipe brings that experience into the same room - connecting Roma who already exercise public authority across Europe with the Roma-led institutions working alongside them.

Sherutnipe is convened by the Roma for Democracy Foundation, powered by the Roma Foundation for Europe, Roma Education Fund, Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative and European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture.

Read the full statement here: https://romafordemocracy.org/news/sherutnipe-statement

Roma for Europe REDI - Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative Roma Education Fund European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture - ERIAC

04/09/2026

🤔 How would you translate the words in the video into your language? Please let us know in the comments! ⬇️

03/09/2026

- Leadership doesn’t start with having all the answers. It starts with knowing who you are, understanding what has shaped you, and discovering what you can build with others.

That was also where Nadja Greku, program manager at Evropski romski institut za umetnost i kulturu Srbija - ERIAC Srbija took our young Roma participants in her workshop, through and , two powerful starting points for thinking about leadership and collective action. And over the days that followed, those conversations moved beyond the workshop: into challenges, teamwork, new connections and ideas about what this generation can build together.

Today, bags are packed and everyone is ready to head home. The RARE Roma Youth Leadership Bootcamp may be over, but this is not where the journey ends. The connections, ideas and ambitions built in Divčibare, Serbia, will continue and so will our work of bringing this generation of young Roma leaders together.
The bootcamp is part of the “EU Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in Western Balkans and Turkey (RARE) phase II” project funded by Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood of the European Commission - DG ENEST and implemented by REF Romania and Serbia.

03/09/2026

There are places that carry our Roma history and places that are making Roma history. Šuto Orizari is both: Europe’s first municipality with a Roma-majority population, a place of Roma political self-government where Romani is an official language.

This September, Šutka (North Macedonia) marks 30 years as a municipality with Mashkari Amende- Among Us festival, celebrating the culture, language, music and people that have shaped it.

And what better way to celebrate 30 years than by looking forward? Children telling stories in Romani, young musicians taking the stage, artists creating together and a community celebrating on its own terms.

For more

02/09/2026

- What does it take to build a new generation of Roma leaders?

Big questions. Different perspectives. No easy answers. And, apparently, running through a Serbian forest trying to find your next clue before the other team does.😎 - Alex Stan

📌 The RARE Roma Youth Leadership Bootcamp is underway in Divčibare, Serbia, bringing together young Roma from seven countries for five days designed to challenge how they think, work together and lead.

One day alone took them from intense conversations with Akif Kariman, program director at Roma for Democracy Foundation about democracy, the future of Roma civic movements and how young Roma women and men can see politics differently, straight into the forest, where teams had to manage time, resources, strategy and each other to complete the challenge.

And this is only the beginning. A new generation is rising. Watch this space.
The event is part of the “EU Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in Western Balkans and Turkey (RARE) phase II” project, funded by DG ENEST and implemented by Roma Education Fund (REF) Romania and REF Serbia.

01/09/2026

📚 from Albania

For nearly two academic years, and Save the Children Albania have been working together to reduce barriers to education and support Roma children and families across Tirana, Shkoza and Gjirokastër.

Through the “Roma Children Learn – Reducing Barriers for Education and Development” project, more than 120 young children, 162 school-age children and around 160 parents have taken part in activities supporting learning, participation and development.

From Toy Libraries and after-school support to parent engagement and stronger collaboration between schools, communities and local institutions, the project shows how education works best when an entire community comes together around a child.

👉 More in comments ⬇

“EU Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in Western Balkans and Turkey (RARE) phase II”, funded by DG ENEST and implemented by Roma Education Fund (REF) Serbia and Romania.

31/08/2026

| Roma Youth Leadership Bootcamp

Our colleagues from are currently in Divčibare, Serbia, taking part in the RARE Roma Youth Leadership Bootcamp. 🇷🇸✨

Earlier today, participants joined the inspiring “Own Your Voice” session led by Serbian Roma singer Zejna, who spoke about building confidence, challenging stereotypes and prejudice, staying connected to your identity, and turning talent and personal experience into a powerful voice. 🎤🔥

A powerful reminder that finding your voice is not only about speaking up, it’s about knowing who you are and having the confidence to be heard.

We promise to come back with more stories, insights and moments from the bootcamp. Stay tuned! ✌

28/08/2026

| Investing in digital skills and opportunities for the next generation

At the Complementary Education Centre (CEC) in Pantelimon, Romania, we were pleased to welcome Pablo Zapata, UNHCR România Representative, who brought some very welcome support: 10 laptops and computer mouses for the IT and robotics activities taking place at our centre. 💛

These new devices mean more opportunities for children and young people to learn, experiment and discover how technology can turn curiosity into real skills.

During the visit, we had the opportunity to showcase the centre’s activities and share more about the learning and development opportunities we are creating for children and young people in the community.

Access to technology, combined with the development of digital skills, can help Roma children navigate an increasingly digital world, access better educational opportunities and prepare for the jobs of the future. We believe that digital inclusion must go hand in hand with quality education and equal opportunities.

🙏 Thank you, UNHCR Romania, for your support and trust. Together, we are turning curiosity into skills and ideas into possibilities. ✨