Roma Women Power! Young Romani women demand their place in the world of work
This is an article presenting the project prepared by Romaversitas Alapitvany, Hungary, given the subgrants under the ERGO sub-granting scheme 2024, funded by the EU
In the summer of 2024, Romaversitas Alapitvany launched an important initiative aimed at supporting young Romani women in Hungary in the employment sector. The project combined desk research, community engagement, and policy advocacy to better understand these challenges, and it laid the groundwork for future advocacy and action.
The project was focused on a systematic desk research study, conducted in June and July. It aimed to uncover insights into the inclusion and exclusion of Romani women in the labour market. The Romaversitas team reviewed policies, employment statistics, and good practices from across Hungary, with a special focus on the barriers that prevent young women from accessing fair and decent work.
Gathering Real-Life Stories
To complete the data, Romaversitas brought together 19 young Romani women from various parts of Hungary, including Pécs, the northeast region, and the outskirts of Budapest, for a community meeting in May. This one-day gathering gave Romaversitas an opportunity to hear directly from those most affected by exclusion in the labour market.
Through open discussions, the women shared their personal stories, the obstacles they’ve faced their entire life, but they also showcased the strength they carried on for so long. These firsthand experiences and testimonies enriched the research with more context, adding powerful voices to the findings.
The community meeting didn’t just gather stories, it also provided practical help. The young women took part in workshops on CV writing, crafting motivation letters, and communication strategies for job interviews. These sessions helped to build confidence and offered concrete support for those entering or navigating the job market.
Building for the Future
Romaversitas hopes to use the insights gathered from both the research and the personal stories to inform future campaigns and advocacy efforts. In combining research with real community voices, this project shows the value of approaching social challenges with structure.
Thanks to the openness of the young women who took part, it provides help for future work that is even more inclusive, and grounded in the reality of those who know the issues best.
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