“University is the last piece of the puzzle. I enrolled because I wanted an opportunity for professional development as well as to be respected in society. With my achievements I hope to diminish the prejudices against Roma and show people that the situation of Roma is the result of poverty and social exclusion. If given a chance, they can do as well as non-Roma,” says Albi Veizi, a current RomaVersitas beneficiary from Albania.
“University is the last piece of the puzzle. I enrolled because I wanted an opportunity for professional development as well as to be respected in society. With my achievements I hope to diminish the prejudices against Roma and show people that the situation of Roma is the result of poverty and social exclusion. If given a chance, they can do as well as non-Roma,” says Albi Veizi, a current RomaVersitas beneficiary from Albania.
Some sixty RomaVersitas students from Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Moldova and Serbia arrive on September 3 in Budapest to take part in a three-day Summit. Currently studying in liberal arts programs across the region, they will assemble in Budapest in order to meet REF donors who support the program, hear inspirational remarks from business leaders who have risen to the top of their respective fields, as well as interact with educational and public policy professionals.
REF is organizing the RomaVersitas Summit to provide students with an international platform for their academic achievements and to foster international links among the centers supporting Roma educational success. Student representatives have come for networking, capacity building, team building and personal development opportunities, with the aim to:
- Determine the position of Roma university graduates in the labor market and in influencing politics and societies in advancing the position of Roma communities.
- Create grounds for an international exchange of information and experiences among RomaVersitas students.
- Develop visibility of RomaVersitas students and of the network itself.
- Exchange ideas for common future activities and create a basis for implementation of regional student-led activities.
During the Summit, students will attend panels and workshops on the technicalities of European study opportunities, using social media for active citizenship, and getting ahead in today’s tight labor market. Each day will be a unique opportunity to exchange views, learn from peers and interact with public and business luminaries like Andrzej Mirga, REF Chair; Peter Halacsy (Prezi Founder); Erika Varga (Romani Design); Radovan Jelasity (CEO Erste Bank) and representatives of European Union institutions who share the values and aspirations of the Roma Education Fund.
RomaVersitas: Creating Equal Opportunities in Higher Education for Roma Students
The Roma Education Fund currently supports RomaVersitas Student Centers in seven of the 16 countries in which we operate – Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, and Serbia. RomaVersitas provides academic services and support to Roma university students through a combination of tutoring, mentoring, extracurricular activities, and other opportunities for personal and educational growth. For participating Roma students, RomaVersitas forms an important bridge between university and labor market success, as well as a bridge to develop and express their Roma culture, identity and pride. The total number of supported beneficiaries in 2014 through this program in all countries was 490 Roma university students.
For more information about the venue and agenda, contact:
Tom Bass, Communication Officer, tbass@romaeducationfund.org
Anastasia Jelasity, Communication and Fundraising Officer, ajelasity@romaeducationfund.org
Beata Olahova, Grants Manager, bolahova@romaeducationfund.org
For links to participating programs in RomaVersitas International, click here.
For the agenda, click here.
For live streaming of the event, click here.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
