More than 20 participants and two days of lively discussion about children’s rights. Voice of Romni has held the first in a series of training sessions for Roma teenagers.
Over the two days, our mentors worked closely with the young people, exploring in detail how children’s rights are exercised and protected.
We brought together Roma teenagers aged 14–17. At this age, young people begin to understand their own needs more clearly and form their own views, so they need the knowledge and skills to stand up for them. They want to be heard and taken seriously. That is why this is the right time to help them understand their rights, speak with confidence, and present their views with sound arguments.
Over time, this knowledge and these skills help them become active members of their communities and take part in decisions that affect them and the people around them.
The programme was designed to be as practical as possible, so the participants didn’t just listen; they learned to apply what they knew through hands-on exercises. They completed individual tasks, worked in small groups, watched an advocacy film, discussed real-life situations, shared their views, and looked for solutions together.
Working with this age group is both fascinating and rewarding. The younger generation is searching for its own path and rethinking familiar traditions and approaches. Our trainers not only explained children’s rights and responsibilities and examined situations in which those rights are violated, but also showed the participants what to do, where to turn for support, and how to keep themselves safe.
Every child should have this knowledge. Children need to know that in difficult situations they can count on support and help, and that injustice and violations of their rights must never be ignored. They need to know their rights, stand up for them, and defend them: report violations, document them where possible, and turn to the relevant authorities. Awareness, a timely response, and readiness to act are what protect a child, restore their rights, and bring about positive change.
This training was the first step in the learning programme. More meetings, new topics, and new opportunities for growth lie ahead.
This workshop was organised as part of the project “Voices Unheard – Roma Children Leading the Way: Active Participation for a Brighter Future”, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by OlamAid together with the Center for Youth Integration, KEAN, Nova Generacija, and Voice of Romni. The project aims to empower Roma children, especially girls, by strengthening their participation in democratic processes and civic life.
