Date and place of birth:
22 January 1987, Székesfehérvár.
Current place of residence:
Székesfehérvár, Hungary.
Education:
Higher education, Biology and Geography Teacher.
Current job:
Employee in Ministry of Human Resources.
Achievements in life and work:
As a first student in the family I got the degree. I am proud during studies I could help my loved ones financially, I could combine study and work.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
I live as I live. I think everyone wanted to changed something in his life for better.
What are your plans for the future?
I wanted to find a real friend. Move to Budapest. I would like to keep on helping Romany in my work.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
I want to live a normal life. I would wish everybody treated me normally, not according to stereotypes, not to be prejudiced towards me only because I am Romani.
Date and place of birth:
29 August 1964, Miskolc.
Current place of residence:
Budapest/Veresegyház, Hungary.
Education:
Higher education.
Current job:
Projects coordinator.
Achievements in life and work:
I co-founded The Cometee Against Segregation established in 188 in Miskolc. I was the first Romany MP in Hungary. In 1995 I established a foundation on Romany civil rights preservation and Romany Information Centre. I have 4 children and 3 grandchildren!
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
I live according to my personal and factual possibilities. Not as I wanted. I want to have grater influence on future of my country and my community.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to preside the movements on integration of Romany and to establish independent Romany political party.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
My biggest challange is to help my community and work on preventing genocide in present times.
Date and place of birth:
24 January 1975, Andrychów.
Current place of residence:
Andrychów.
Education:
Secondary.
Current job:
Box instructor.
Achievements in life and work:
World Champion in kickboxing full contact in 2009 and 2010. My incredible family.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am.
What are your plans for the future?
I intend to regain world championship and conquer Mixed Martial Arts Conquest (MMA).
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Go straight ahead without hesitation and don’t worry about what other people think about you; believe in yourself.
Date and place of birth:
4 June 1978, Zakopane.
Current place of residence:
Kraków.
Education:
Higher.
Current job:
Office worker.
Achievements in life and work:
Internship in the European Commission in Brussels. Participation in the “CEU Roma Access Programme” in Budapest. My work as a proxy. I am also a happy wife and mother of Emilka.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to grow personally and professionally in the area of national and ethnic minorities.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Seek to live your life true to your conscience.
Date and place of birth:
12 March 1938, Poznań.
Current place of residence:
Międzyrzecz.
Education:
Higher.
Current job:
Sculptor, writer of poetry and prose; social activist. Author of the first primer for Roma children “Miri szkoła – Romano elementaro”.
Achievements in life and work:
My books, promotion of Romani cultural traditions, the closest to my heart is the primer for the Roma children “Miri szkoła – Romano elementaro”, my sons and grandchildren, my poems.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am without any doubt.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to continue my creative activity.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Do your part! One has to behave as a human being in life. A Gypsy who does not stick to human values makes me feel ashamed.
Date and place of birth:
20 June 1947, Czarny Dunajec.
Current place of residence:
Czarna Góra.
Education:
Higher.
Current job:
Author, linguist, ethnographer, ski and volleyball instructor, teaching methodologist.
Achievements in life and work:
Obtaining a higher education which was exceptional among Romanis at that time. My students who completed their studies; my two children who graduated from tertiary institutions; my daughter who studies at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and is Vice President of the International Association of Roma Students “Ternipe”.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am.
What are your plans for the future?
As an author I would like to deal actively with the issues concerning the Romani community. I would like to break down stereotypes with help of my writing.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
I want to be true to myself and to other people; I want to follow my dreams and be always helpful to fellow human beings.
Date and place of birth:
08 November 1983, Głogów.
Current place of residence:
Głogów.
Education:
Higher.
Current job:
Learning support teacher of Roma children, coordinator and educator in the socio-therapeutic day room, social and vocational services assistant.
Achievements in life and work:
I succeeded in completing two graduate university programmes (Administrative Management, Protective and Educational Pedagogy). I have been working as a learning support teacher since January 2010. My life successes include: my family who always support me and motivate me to achieve more goals in my life.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
I think I am. I am living my life true to my conscience.
What are your plans for the future?
Professional: vocational postgraduate studies; continuous support for the Głogów Roma; private: start a happy family.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Carpe diem! Dreams? I have too many!
Date and place of birth:
05 October 1984, Lublin.
Current place of residence:
Lublin.
Education:
Higher.
Current job:
PhD student at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin; editor of the “Roma Quarterly” and “kulturaenter.pl”.
Achievements in life and work:
I received a recognition award in the “Primus Inter Pares” competition in 2008; completed M.A. programme; PhD studies. Carried out various projects for the Roma community. Organization of two editions of the Romani Culture Festival “Taboriada” in Lublin; cooperation with “Roma Quarterly”.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am. I am doing things I have always wanted to do.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to successfully defend my PhD thesis, continue my work for the Roma community and enjoy professional success.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
You have to follow your bliss.
Date and place of birth:
10 April 1950, Łódź.
Current place of residence:
Ciechocinek.
Education:
Secondary music education.
Current job:
Singer, director of the International Festival of Romani Music and Culture in Ciechocinek, poet, writer, member of the Polish Writers’ Association.
Achievements in life and work:
I succeeded in releasing several dozen of records with Romani music, out of which 11 were awarded a gold record. Moreover, I have initiated and directed the International Festival of Romani Music and Culture in Ciechocinek since 1996.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am. All my life dreams came true. I give concerts and release albums. I make a great living doing what I love.
What are your plans for the future?
I intend to finish filming a music documentary about Romanis in Poland. I would like to produce a musical with Ryszard Ulicki about Romanis. I want to open the Academy of Gypsy Arts and Culture in Ciechocinek – a music school for children and youths. I wish the majority population treated Romanis with respect and dignity rather than based on the prejudicial stereotypes. I am sure that our festival projects another image of Romanis and influences the general attitudes towards our minority group. Poles begin to distinguish decent Romanis from unrespectable Gypsies.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
I dream about better lives for both Romanis and Poles. I lament the grinding poverty among many people in Poland. Education is very important. I wish Roma parents had opportunity to provide their children with the best possible educational opportunities.
Date and place of birth:
21 May 1978, Lubin.
Current place of residence:
Lubin.
Education:
Secondary.
Current job:
Miner.
Achievements in life and work:
family, work, school.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
I could live better.
What are your plans for the future?
Whatever God decides for us!
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Reach the Kingdom of Heaven.