I come from the Roma community, in which the unwritten laws are very restrictive and, for women, having a career is forbidden. My mother chose not to get married at fourteen and instead went to high school and college and became a teacher. My father was unhappy having a wife who worked, and he tried to keep us away from school. At first, I blamed my mother for creating tensions in the house, but then I realized she was right, and decided to be like her, and fight for my rights.

I want to change how my community is perceived. We have beautiful traditions and joy of life. The main issue facing the Roma is education at all levels. My goal is to create a center for children’s education with Internet, and where the teachers have psychological training. For teenagers, I would create focus groups, because they tend to quit school at the 8th grade in order to get married and care for their younger brothers. Women in their thirties and forties need education as well, so that they can understand the importance of education and work, and stop encouraging their daughters to get married at thirteen or fourteen.

Ignorance and indifference move me. We need to create a balance between wealth and poverty. I believe that I can be an agent of change in my community and in the world.

Reporter for Roma NGO, volunteer and student
Member, Global Student Leadership program, Manhattanville College