November turned out to be especially dynamic for our team. Among the key events we hosted this month was the continuation of leadership training for Roma women within the Women Lead in Emergencies program.

From 21 to 24 November, we gathered participants at Lake Vita for the training “Leadership of Roma Women and Girls: Their Engagement in Project Initiatives During the War.” This event continued a series of sessions uniting women from Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, and Kharkiv. On the very first day, we held focus groups for the women’s initiative groups representing these cities.

We truly value that these women came together with a clear intention: to strengthen their communities, engage in decision-making, and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery.

Over four days, participants focused on the core components of leadership: understanding one’s role in activism, identifying barriers and strategies to overcome resistance, setting goals and achieving them. They discussed women’s networking and sisterhood — something we at Voice of Romni understand deeply, as internal support within women’s communities is vital. Our president, Anzhelika Bielova, shared her experience in systematic advocacy for the rights of Roma women at both regional and national levels.

A separate part of the program was dedicated to strengthening personal capacities, because every initiative, idea, and process starts with the women themselves. That’s why developing inner resilience is essential. Participants explored where to find the resources needed for effective leadership, how to realize their potential, and how inner strength can be transformed into real, practical actions.

We designed the program to be highly useful and hands-on, so that participants could immediately apply what they learned through exercises and practical tasks. The women analyzed their own ideas, worked with civic engagement tools, and learned how to shape initiatives that can be implemented even in wartime conditions. The program also included conducting an on-site facilitation session.

With every new meeting, we see the participants becoming more united and supportive of each other. This shared experience nurtures sisterhood — the very environment that empowers leaders who are ready to defend the interests of their communities.

We are grateful to all participants for their active engagement, openness, and drive. And we sincerely appreciate the support of our partners — CARE Ukraine and the Government of Germany — who made this training program possible. Together, we are empowering Roma women to take part in decision-making processes across Ukraine.