The voice of two young participants from Bulgaria in the Roma Week, 20-24 April 2026, held in Brussels

25 May 2026

Ivan Rusinov, nomination by NGO Organization Drom, Bulgaria

"I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding ROMA WEEK 2026, which I had the privilege of attending between 20-24 April 2026 in Brussels as a representative of NGO Organization Drom from Bulgaria. The events were organised well and the calibre of discussions, workshops and networking opportunities far exceeded my expectations. I was happy that I was able to discuss with other participants one particular aspect the Roma youth in Bulgaria detected -  the issues of health services and Roma health mediators. For example, Roma health mediators play a key role in bridging the gap between Roma communities and health systems. There is such a practice in Bulgaria. Their need stems from a combination of social, cultural, economic and systemic barriers that often prevent Roma from accessing adequate health care. For example, Roma communities may have different cultural beliefs, traditions and languages ​​that mainstream health professionals may not understand. I trust, EU funds can support health mediators to overcome various disparities related to Roma communities. In fact, mediators can act as cultural interpreters, explaining medical advice consistent with Roma values, while ensuring that healthcare workers understand Roma patients. They can also serve as a bridge to dispel any myths and misinformation about health (vaccines, maternal care) that may be spread in Roma communities due to mistrust or lack of information or knowledge to obtain this information."

Teodor Evdokimov, nomination by NGO Organization Drom, Bulgaria

"Thank you for organising an outstanding series of participations in events during the ROMA WEEK 2026 in Brussels, which I visited between 20-24 April 2026, representing a leading NGO in Bulgaria – Organization Drom. The connections I made and the knowledge I gained will undoubtedly inform my work in moving forward. Thank you for your dedication to fostering such a dynamic and inclusive platform for exchange on human rights policies and the challenges faced by Roma in Europe. In particular, I was able to have an exchange on one important policy recommendation derived from discussions of Roma youth in Bulgaria. Roma communities in Bulgaria face systemic political exclusion, with minimal representation in government, low voter turnout, and persistent discrimination in policymaking towards Roma. That is why, we would welcome encouragement by the EU of the set up of Roma youth Political Academies that can emerge as a transformative approach to train, inspire, and empower young Roma to engage in politics, advocacy, and leadership. These academies can offer structured political education, mentorship, and hands-on experience to help Roma youth challenge anti-Gypsyism, influence policy, and run for office. Roma Youth Political Academies are very much needed to address the issue of limited participation in public life of young Roma in Bulgaria".

Project: 101147330 – RomaREACH – CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV 

Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible.