It was organized by the team of Voice of Romni within the project “Space of New Opportunities”, implemented in partnership with the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine.

It was an informal yet highly substantive meeting that brought together Roma youth, project trainers, representatives of civil society organizations in the region, the Youth Council under the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration, local authorities, and international partners of Voice of Romni. The event was attended by a representative of the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, Kathleen Clancy, Head of the Department of Strategic Communications, Nationalities and Religions of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration Roman Moldavchuk, Head of the Office for Nationalities and Religions Oleksandr Liakh, Director of the Department of Education, Science, Youth and Sports of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration Mariana Marusynets, as well as the President of Voice of Romni Anzhelika Bielova together with her team.

The core objective of the meeting was to strengthen the voice of Roma youth in the region and support their meaningful participation in decision-making processes — specifically, the inclusion of a representative of a Roma initiative group in the Regional Youth Council. For us, it is critical that young people are not kept on the sidelines but have direct access to dialogue with those shaping local policy.

“The Youth Breakfast” format was a deliberate choice: no formality, no pressure, no barriers. In a calm and friendly atmosphere, participants were able to openly share their ideas, doubts, and expectations. Our goal was for Roma youth to feel confident asking questions, articulating their perspectives, and demonstrating how vital the inclusion of Roma leaders is for fair and inclusive regional development that respects diversity.

The presence of public authorities sent a clear signal: youth are already shaping the future of their community, region, and country. The discussion focused on the role of the civic sector, the barriers and challenges faced by Roma youth, and practical ways to address them through cooperation. It is essential that young people share their lived experiences, ideas, and vision of what the Youth Council should be and which real needs of the Roma community must be taken into account. The authorities of Zakarpattia showed genuine interest in this process, giving us strong grounds to expect productive partnership.

Special thanks go to Kathleen Clancy, who personally attended the event to gain a deeper understanding of the local context and the needs of Roma youth.

We sincerely value the support for vulnerable groups during the war in Ukraine and our cooperation with the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine and Ambassador Natalka Cmoc, whose efforts consistently expand opportunities for the Roma community.

The team of Voice of Romni aimed to act as a bridge between youth, civil society organizations, authorities, and international partners. As a result, the meeting fostered greater trust, mutual understanding, and clear points of reference – who to turn to, how to join forces, and how to support joint initiatives that invest in the future of Roma youth.