Roma Youth Empowerment and Awareness for Change

Roma Youth Empowerment and Awareness for Change

Time: 23 April 2026 | 08:45 – 10:15
Venue: Info Hub European Parliament, Esplanade Solidarność 1980, Brussels
Organisers: Uccu Foundation (Hungary), CAMPUSROM (Spain), DROM (Bulgaria) & Council of Europe

Register to attend in person

External participation costs are not covered by the organisers.
Please note that participation may be subject to seat availability. We will confirm your place once your registration has been reviewed.

Agenda:

14:00 – 14:15 | Welcoming Messages

Moderator: Szilvia Szénási, Executive Director, Uccu Foundation

  • MEP Rima Hassan (The Left, France), Member of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Human Rights (DROI) (TBC)
  • Chiara Riondino, Future of Work, Youth, Employment, DG EMPL, European Commission (TBC)

14:20 – 15:00    Panel I: From Training to Action: Youth Experiences

Moderator: Rosa María Cisneros-Kostic (CampusRom)

Speakers:

  • Ábrahám Oláh (Uccu Foundation, Hungary)
  • Alexandra Kökény (Uccu Foundation, Hungary)
  • Miguel Santiago (CampusRom, Spain)
  • Young adult (Roma) – DROM (Bulgaria)
  • Young adult (Roma) – DROM (Bulgaria)
  • Short inputs by Roma young participants on:
    • What skills and tools have they gained during the skills development process?
    • How have practice-oriented activities supported their active citizenship
    • Personal reflections on empowerment, participation, and community engagement

Discussion

15:00 – 15:30 Panel II: Presenting Policy Recommendations

Moderator: Marina Vasic, Roma and Travellers Division, Council of Europe (TBC)

Youth presentations

  • Csilla Berki (Uccu Foundation, Hungary)
  • Raul Castro, Young adult (Roma boy) (CampusRom, Spain)
  • Stelina Dungaj, Vice-chair of ternYpe-International Roma Youth Network

To celebrate International Roma Day (8 April), the Council of Europe organises Opre Roma! month from 1 to 30 April 2025, to raise awareness and highlight the challenges faced by Roma and Travellers in Europe. Events paying tribute to the contribution of the Roma language, culture and history to Europe`s heritage and cultural wealth take place in Council of Europe member States and in Strasbourg, under the aegis of the Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM).