Three years of pain, loss, separation, and relentless struggle for our independence. On February 24, 2022, russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. The enemy aimed to break us in three days. Instead, Ukrainians of all ethnic backgrounds, faiths, and views united. We continue to fight, support, rebuild, and move forward despite everything.

Since the beginning of the war, Voice of Romni has significantly expanded its areas of work to provide the necessary support to those who lost their homes and loved ones. We evacuated those who were forced to leave their cities and villages. We supplied essential items to those who remained in frontline regions, risking our lives every day.

Over the three years of the war, nearly 106,000 people received various types of support: we provided humanitarian and multi-purpose finance assistance, strengthened the economic empowerment of women, provided educational programs for children, advocated for the rights of the Roma community at international, national, and local levels, and promoted leadership among Roma women. Over 103,500 people received food, money, clothing, children’s packages, hygiene kits, firewood, water filters, and much more.

After the explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station by russian forces, together with Mercy Corps, we provided 500 water pitchers to the residents of Apostolove in the Dnipropetrovsk region, ensuring people had access to clean drinking water.

In 2024, together with OXFAM, we were able to restore the homes of 50 Roma families affected by Russian shelling in frontline areas. Since the beginning of the war, nearly 300 homes of the most vulnerable individuals have been repaired.

We understand that in order for families to move forward, comprehensive support must be provided. That’s why, together with Voice of Romni, 369 women have already completed retraining courses and become manicurists, hairdressers, brow artists, confectioners, seamstresses, and acquired other skills. More than a hundred of them received starter kits for their work, and 24 received business grants to open their own businesses. They were not just given knowledge, but a chance to change their lives, earn a stable income, and take care of their families independently.

Nearly 400 women who found themselves in difficult life circumstances and victims of gender-based violence received the necessary legal and psychological support. We didn’t leave them alone with their pain.

During the three years of war, we have continuously operated children’s spaces, addressing the educational gaps created by the conflict and remote learning. We also provide mental health support to children through psychological consultations, helping them cope with traumatic experiences. Additionally, children have the opportunity to work with speech therapists. Through our fruitful partnership with our German partners, more than 1,200 children have already benefited from these services.

Additionally, 71 families have physically and emotionally recovered in family camps in the Carpathians. Roma families from frontline regions, families of fallen Ukrainian defenders, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) had the opportunity to rest.

We were able to conduct a comprehensive study of the needs of Roma communities in 5 regions of Ukraine with the support of the Eastern Europe Foundation and Switzerland. We compared the situation of Roma communities before and after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. We found that 40% of Roma people lost their jobs, 66% of respondents have an urgent need for food and drinking water, and over 70% need hygiene products.

Despite the war and danger, we conducted another unique study on gender practices and the experience of GBV (gender-based violence) in Roma communities, which is not only significant for Ukraine but also for Europe. It covered respondents from Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, and Uzhhorod. We have confirmed that a systematic approach is needed to prevent violence and support victims.

Russia is waging this war not only against Ukraine but also against our European aspirations. But we will not stop, as we are walking the path to the EU, implementing reforms, and building a strong civil society where the rights of every individual must be respected.

“We will not stop reminding that ensuring the rights of Roma is an important criterion for our EU membership. We will continue to emphasize that Roma soldiers are fighting and dying for our shared future. We are citizens of Ukraine! We are important partners and experts, working together to continue building a democratic society in our multicultural country and working towards the restoration of the state!”— says the President of Voice of Romni, Anzhelika Bielova.

Over these three years, our team has grown tenfold, as the number of people in need of help continues to rise, and we strive not to leave the most vulnerable alone in their hardship. To achieve this, we need human resources and the support of our partners.

The war is not over. Yet, our work is already focused on an effective, fair, and inclusive rebuilding of Ukraine. And the voices of Roma women in this process are loud and confident!