Roma Education Fund

What happens when one of Europe's largest minority languages is missing from AI?

With the launch of AMARI ČHIB (Our Language), ERIAC is taking a step toward ensuring that Romani language has a place in the digital future.

Developed with the support of the Microsoft Open Innovation Center (MOIC) and Microsoft AI for Good Lab, the initiative will help build the foundations for a stronger Romani-language presence in AI and emerging technologies.

Read more on www.eriac.org

Our colegue Ider Ștefan participated in the International Congress of Education, Health and Human Movement 2026, held in Bucharest, Romania, between June 11–13, 2026, under the theme „Active Societies 2026: The Role of Sport Science in Global Health.”

During the congress, the research project „The Body as Ring and Refuge” was presented by Ider. The study explores how sport and physical education can function as coping and intervention mechanisms for adolescent Ukrainian refugees involved in combat sports.

„Sport is not only about performance for these adolescents. It becomes a structured environment where they can rebuild safety, regain agency, and reconnect with themselves and others.” - Ider Stefan, head of research and development department at Roma Education Fund

The research highlights the role of physical activity as a space for emotional regulation, discipline, and rebuilding a sense of control in the context of trauma and displacement. It also emphasizes the important role of teachers, coaches, and mentors in supporting vulnerable young people, not only in terms of athletic development, but also as sources of stability, guidance, and continuity.

More about the research in comments

As Europe grapples with rising extremism, polarization, and growing threats to democratic participation, discussions about national security can no longer focus exclusively on external risks.

Monica Călin, Educational Programs Director at , participated today in a policy workshop hosted by the Presidential Administration of Romania as part of the implementation process of the National Defence Strategy 2025–2030.

Within the working group on human security and the protection of vulnerable persons, Monica highlighted two priorities that are increasingly relevant across Europe: addressing online radicalization and hate speech, and ensuring that anti-discrimination policies in education translate into measurable outcomes for vulnerable students, particularly Roma children and youth.

Security is not only about responding to external threats. It is also about the ability of democratic institutions to prevent exclusion, combat discrimination and extremism, protect democratic participation, and create opportunities for all citizens.

Democracies cannot remain resilient while large segments of their population continue to face barriers to participation, education, and economic opportunity.

The continued exclusion of Roma communities affects social cohesion, democratic participation, and the development of Europe's largest untapped human capital resource. Investing in quality education and creating real opportunities for Roma youth is an investment in democratic resilience, workforce development, economic competitiveness, and long-term security.

🌍 Building connections, shaping futures!

Twenty Roma high school students from Kosovo and North Macedonia came together in Skopje for a regional networking and personal development event under the RARE II project.

Through interactive workshops on career development, personal values, motivation, and time management, participants explored their aspirations, strengthened their skills, and built meaningful cross-border connections that will support their future educational and professional journeys.

Together, we are creating opportunities for Roma youth to learn, grow, and lead.

🔗 Read the full story through the link in comments.

Implemented by REF Romania and REF Serbia and funded by the European Union, the RARE II project continues to support Roma students across the Western Balkans and Turkey by creating opportunities for educational advancement, personal development, and regional networking.

📚✨ More than 250 Roma children and young people in Montenegro have received educational support over the past two academic years through scholarships, learning materials, internships, and dedicated mentorship opportunities.

As the RARE II project comes to a close in Montenegro, partners, institutions, educators, and development organizations gathered in Podgorica to reflect on achievements, share lessons learned, and discuss how successful support mechanisms for Roma students can become a lasting part of the public education system.

Education is a powerful driver of inclusion, but creating real opportunities also means supporting young people as they transition from school to employment. That is why REF continues to advocate for integrated approaches that connect education, skills development, and employability across the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

🌍 Together with our partners and with the support of the European Union, we remain committed to ensuring that Roma children and youth have the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to build successful futures.

The project EU Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in the Western Balkans and Turkey (RARE),

🔗 Read the full story and learn more about the impact of the RARE II project via the link in comments.

REDI - Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture - ERIAC Roma for Democracy Foundation Roma for Europe

Labour shortages and demographic decline are among the biggest challenges facing the Western Balkans today. At the same time, thousands of Roma women and men remain excluded from employment opportunities despite their skills, talent, and potential.

This week in Belgrade, REF Serbia brought together institutions, employers, employment services, trade unions, and civil society organizations to discuss practical solutions for expanding labour market inclusion and unlocking Roma economic potential. 🤝

Building stronger connections between education, skills development, and employment is not only about inclusion — it is also about creating more resilient labour markets and sustainable economic growth across the region. 🌍

Read more through the link in comments below.

More than 20 children from the schools in Târlungeni and Zizin recently visited the Accenture office in Brașov, Romania, as part of the Open Doors event marking the completion of Digital Skills Academy program. 💻

For many of the children, this was an opportunity to discover new environments, meet professionals, explore the world of technology, and imagine future possibilities for themselves.

Through the Digital Skills Academy, children develop essential digital competencies, learn about online safety, creativity, critical thinking, and discover how technology can become a tool for learning, expression, and future opportunities.

We believe that access to digital education is key to unlocking potential and expanding opportunities. That is why we are building spaces where Roma children can learn, explore, create, and develop the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. 🌍❤️

Read more about our three-year partnership with Accenture Romania and how we are expanding access to digital education for 280 children across Romania through the link in the comments ⬇

ERIAC and the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program jointly announce the second edition of the ERIAC–DAAD Residency Programme for Arts and Media.

The 2026 edition turns to literature and literary practices, with a particular focus on Romani writers, poets, and literary voices.

The residency provides time, space, mentoring, and institutional support for reflection, research, and networking in Berlin, as well as opportunities to connect with local and international professionals. It also offers the possibility for public engagement through artist talks, exhibitions, presentations, or performances.

The residency is developed in dialogue with ERIAC’s ongoing initiative to establish the Romani PEN, a transnational community of writers, poets, translators, journalists, and cultural practitioners.

Duration: 1 month
Location: Berlin, Germany
Stipend: EUR 3,000

Deadline: 3 June 2026, 17:00 CET

in Kragujevac, Serbia, REF Serbia joined local institutions, employers, and public authorities in a new partnership focused on expanding employment opportunities and strengthening labor market inclusion for Roma communities.

At a time when the Western Balkans are facing labor shortages and growing demand for skilled workers, investing in Roma education, employability, and talent is not only a social commitment, it is a strategic economic investment for the future.

This collaboration is about building real connections between education, skills development, and employment while creating sustainable pathways toward economic participation and independence. ✨

Read more about this initiative through the link in comments.