Tana Aliaj is a dedicated educator, community leader, and advocate for inclusive education and youth empowerment in Albania. With extensive experience in the public education sector and civil society, she has worked tirelessly to improve opportunities for marginalized groups, especially Roma youth and vulnerable children.
Serxho Telah is a motivated and socially engaged young professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Administration and Social Policy. He currently works as a community mediator in Albania, fostering cooperation between schools and families to support children’s participation, inclusion, and overall well-being.
Máté Isztojka is a staff member of the Youth Association from Transylvania, Romania. He is responsible for managing Erasmus+ projects, and actively involved in promoting Roma culture and language. His goal is to provide development opportunities for Roma youth and children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Maria Dimitriou is 25 years old, and very interested in participating in the Romarise program organized by ARSIS. She hold a degree in Business Administration from Toulouse School of Management in affiliation with New York College Thessaloniki. She is currently working in social media management and supporting her family business. Additionally, she has previously participated in programs involving Roma youth, which gave her valuable insights and experiences.
Georgia Dimou is 29 years old, and very excited about the opportunity to participate in the Romarise program organized by ARSIS. She works in promotion and sales of products, focusing on connecting communities with quality goods and fostering relationships through commerce. Additionally, she is deeply interested in Roma culture and traditions, and she sees this program as a unique chance to engage directly with Roma youth from different backgrounds, exchanging customs, traditions, and daily practices that vary across countries.
Raphael Dimitrios Nikolaou is 28 years old, and very interested in participating in the Romarise program organized by ARSIS. He works in the hospitality sector, where he has gained valuable experience in customer service and teamwork. He is particularly excited about this program because it offers him the opportunity to meet and connect with people of the same Roma heritage, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Raphael Margaritidis is 24 years old, and very excited about the opportunity to participate in the Romarise – program organized by ARSIS. He works as an event decorator for weddings, baptisms, and birthdays, a profession that is a hallmark of Roma culture. He has not previously participated in similar programs, so he is particularly enthusiastic about this opportunity, as it will allow him to meet Roma youth from other communities, exchange customs, traditions, and cultural practices, and share new experiences.
Georgia Karafyllidi is 29 years old, and very excited about the opportunity to participate in the Romarise program organized by ARSIS. She works in the hospitality sector, and she is particularly happy to take part in this program because her mother and sister are already very active in community initiatives, and she would like to contribute as well. She has previously participated in a Roma youth exchange program in Barcelona, which was an incredible experience. She had the chance to meet many Roma youth, share experiences, and learn about different cultural practices, which she found extremely enriching.
Paul Rapatsakos has been studying Art in Florina, Greece for the past 5 years. As an artist, and a Romani person, he currently focuses on art that seeks to represent and highlight the experiences of Romani individuals. His peers and seniors, as well as the people he has worked with, has always commented on his work ethic and his leadership skills. He is also known as an effective problem solver and as a patient moderator when necessary.
Eleni Karafyllidou is a Roma woman, 37 years old, from Greece, and she lives in Thessaloniki, in the area of Dendropotamos. She works as a Roma mediator at a Roma Support Center. On a daily basis, she welcomes and assists Roma citizens who experience multiple forms of discrimination and face barriers in their communication with public services and institutions. In this context, as a mediator, she is called upon to support them in matters related to access to services, support, and effective communication with public services and institutions. She believes that her training in the development of intercultural skills and diversity management will enhance her capacity in areas such as:
- improving communication between different cultural groups;
- addressing stereotypes and prejudices;
- facilitating the social inclusion of Roma people;
- developing conflict resolution skills;
- strengthening her professional competence and professionalism;
- empowering the Roma community.
In conclusion, she believe that her training as a Roma mediator in interculturality and diversity management is crucial for the effective fulfillment of her role.
Klaudia Ráchel Orsós has a vocational qualification in commerce and marketing. She is an open-minded and curious person, and loves traveling and discovering new places and cultures. Self-development is important to her, so she regularly participates in training courses and programs related to Roma advocacy and activism.
She is a member of the Romaversitas Mara Circle, which aims to create a strong, cohesive community of Roma women. Our community is committed to supporting Roma women and promoting their physical and mental health.
She also participated in the Jenő Setét Roma Public Policy Academy program, which paid tribute to Jenő Setét's work and provided a comprehensive overview of the history and development of the Roma movement.
Sándor Horváth is 19 years old and he is currently a student of the Illyés Gyula Program at Corvinus University of Budapest. This program helps him to develop important skills for his future studies, especially improving his English language knowledge. He is motivated to learn and grow both academically and personally. He believes that education and international opportunities can open many doors for young people. Outside his studies, he enjoyes traveling and discovering new places. Getting to know different cultures is important to hi,, and these experiences help him grow personally. He is happy to be part of initiatives that support young people and encourage personal development.
Zsanett Mága is 20 years old, who is an intern at the UCCU Foundation and currently a student of ELTE University. Since she studies communication- and media studies, her goal is to strengthen the positive media image of Roma people in the media. In other to change their bad representations, it’s very important to to learn about the cultures and traditions of Roma communities in other countries and to establish connections with them. She believes that in the Roma Rise, there will be a cohesive and internationally recognized team in which a wide variety of creative and intelligent people are participated.
