Czech capital sees gathering of Romani students awarded scholarships by the ROMEA organization

On Friday, 22 October 2021, the ceremonial gathering of the scholarship recipients being supported through the ROMEA organization's Romani Scholarship Program for Romani students of high schools, higher vocational schools and universities took place in the Czech capital. Donors, organizers and students gathered in the Brožík Salon at the Old Town Hall.   

More than 70 students were awarded scholarships this year. Moderator Jarmila Balážová was the master of ceremonies and ROMEA TV broadcast the gathering live online.

This year 70+ Romani college students applied to ROMEA's scholarship program, more than 20 more college students than last year. Along with the high school and higher vocational school students who applied, the total number of scholarship applications exceeded 180. 

The scholarships were awarded to 45 high school students, five higher vocational school students and 28 college students. "The growing interest among Romani people in studying at secondary schools and universities is very gratifying to us. We believe education arms a person with tools for effectively facing, for example, discrimination and social exclusion," program manager Štefan Balog described the vision of the scholarship program. 

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High school students have received CZK 14 000 [EUR 545] for the school year, higher vocational school students have received CZK 21 000 [EUR 820] and students attending university have received CZK 25 000 [EUR 975] for the academic year. "We would have liked to have supported more than 80 students, but unfortunately our financial options did not make that possible. If we manage to fundraise more resources, we will be able to support more students at least with attending language courses, receiving tutoring, and affording their school supplies," Balog said.

The students were addressed during the ceremony by the co-owner of Albatros Media, Silke Horáková, by the director of the Albatros Foundation, Jindra Marešová, by an independent consultant to Bader Philanthropies, Yechiel Bar-Chaim, and by the director of the ROMEA organization, Zdeněk Ryšavý. Musical production during the ceremony was provided by the scholarship recipients themselves, the talented young guitarist Karel Rudolf Vlasák and the unique voice of singer Natálie Kuchárová, both of whom attend conservatory. 

Thanks to the scholarship program, Romani students are also able to attend extracurricular courses and receive tutoring. On the other hand, the scholarship recipients complete volunteer service in various organizations, such as drop-in clubs for children and youth.

The scholarship program for Romani high school, higher vocational school and university students is run by the ROMEA organization with the support of many foundations, the biggest supporters among whom are the Albatros Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, and many individual donors and firms. The running of workshops on media literacy for the scholarship recipients is supported by the OSF Foundation through its Active Citizens Fund, the aim of which is to support civil society and strengthen capacities in nonprofit organizations and is financed by EEA and Norway Grants.