Graphics: Małgorzata Brus
Roma Youth Leadership School – an international educational project
Shaping Future Community Leaders
The “School of Young Romani Leaders” project aims to educate and empower young Roma men and women in society. The programme focuses on developing leadership skills, knowledge of European Union values, and nurturing cultural identity. During the three sessions, participants take part in workshops led by experts, meetings with representatives of public institutions, and visits to places significant for Romani history and culture.
Each session has a unique programme tailored to the local context and regional specifics. The first session took place in January 2025 in Warsaw, the second in March in Košice, and the final session is scheduled for May in Strasbourg, at the European Parliament.
I Session – Warsaw, 14–17 January 2025
Photo: Fundnacja Dom Kultury
The first session in Warsaw focused on topics such as democracy, European values, and developing leadership skills. The programme included workshops led by Jolanta Steciuk (PAFPIO Fund, Young Journalists Association POLIS) and Karolina Kwiatkowska (Central Council of Roma in Poland, Advisory and Information Centre for Roma). The young participants visited the Polish Parliament, where they learned about how it functions.
An important part of the session was also a visit to memorial sites in Duchowiźna and Wieliszew, combined with a lecture by Andrzej Grzymała-Kazłowski on the genocide of the Roma. Another key highlight was leadership skills workshops led by Kumar Vishwanathan, a well-known social activist.
The session concluded with a visit to the multimedia centre Europa Experience – Meetings with Europe, where participants played an interactive game to better understand the workings of the European Union.
II Session – Košice, 2–5 March 2025
Photo: Fundnacja Dom Kultury
The second session took place in Košice and Stará Ľubovňa, Slovakia. The main topics included issues related to Romani identity, leadership, and challenges faced by the Romani community in Europe.
Participants visited Luník IX – the largest Romani housing estate in Košice, where they met with the mayor of Luník and were guided around the local community. Marcel Šaňa has served as mayor (starosta) of the Luník IX district in Košice since 2014. He is the first Roma person to hold this office.
The programme of the II Session also included workshops with Anna Koptová, a Romani activist, focused on education and leadership. Anna Koptová is a prominent Romani activist and former member of the Slovak National Council, engaged in advocating for Romani rights and promoting Romani education and culture. For years, she has actively supported initiatives for the integration of the Romani community, promoting their civil rights and access to education.
The young participants also had the chance to see an exhibition of works by Romani artist Rudolf Dzurko at the Východoslovenská Galéria, and afterwards took part in art workshops at the Šopa Gallery. They also attended a unique musical performance, “Podmanivé rómske melódie”, held at the Romathan Theatre – the only Romani theatre in Slovakia, renowned for preserving and promoting Romani culture and traditions through art.
The session concluded with a meeting in Prešov with Roman Čonka, editor-in-chief of “Romano nevo ľil”, one of the most important Romani magazines in Slovakia, and an introduction to the activities of the Romani Educational and Cultural Centre (Romske Edukačno-Kultúrne Centrum) and the State Scientific Library in Prešov (Štátna vedecká knižnica v Prešove).
III Session – Strasbourg, 6–8 May 2025
Photo: Fundnacja Dom Kultury
In early May 2025, the third and final session of the “School of Young Romani Leaders” took place, this time in Strasbourg. Participants from Poland and Slovakia took part, working together under the umbrella of ETP Slovensko. The time spent in France was filled with intense activities, inspiring meetings, and important reflections on the training process so far.
The first item on the programme was a visit to Lupovino, an organisation operating since 1995 in the Polygone district of Strasbourg. Lupovino runs a local community centre whose mission is to strengthen ties between the district and the rest of the city, particularly through supporting Romani communities.
Participants had the opportunity to learn about a wide range of educational, cultural, and social initiatives that promote solidarity, agency, and improvements in the living conditions of local residents.
The following day, we visited the European Youth Centre, where a meeting was held with Mara Georgescu, Programme Manager at the European Youth Foundation. Participants learned how the Centre operates and were given a tour of its facilities. A significant part of the visit was also the meeting with representatives of the Roma and Travellers Division of the Council of Europe – Marina Vasić and Katarzyna Michno, who presented the activities of the ROMACT project – a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission aimed at strengthening cooperation between Romani communities and local authorities.
One of the most important events of the session was the visit to the European Parliament. During the tour, participants learned about how the institution functions, visited its main chambers, and attended part of a plenary session, which included a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II – an incredibly moving and symbolic moment.
Another key highlight was the visit to the headquarters of the Council of Europe. Thanks to Katarzyna Michno, we learned about the history of the institution and visited places where crucial decisions on human rights in Europe are made, including the main assembly hall.
Besides the intense educational programme and study visits, there was also time to explore the beauty of Strasbourg. Participants toured the Grande Île, the picturesque Petite France district, the majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg, and the European Quarter.
The final session was not only a summary of several months of work but also a time for reflection and planning future activities. It was an incredibly moving experience – full of joy, emotion, and pride in the achievements of our shared journey so far.
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the Foundation for the Development of the Education System or the National Agency of the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps. Neither the European Union nor the grant awarding bodies are responsible for them.
