The Open Society Institute is the major nongovernmental supporter of efforts to improve the economic and social inclusion of Roma in Central and South Eastern Europe. Over the last 15 years, the Open Society Institute’s Roma-related programs have worked on a wide range of issues, including equal access to quality education, women’s empowerment and gender equity, public health, civic and political participation, media access and development of Roma media, promoting tolerance, cultural diversity, and challenging anti-Roma prejudice.
The Open Society Institute is one of the main supporters of the Decade of Roma Inclusion. Roma Initiatives guides and coordinates all aspects of Open Society Institute network programming and grantmaking activity related to Roma within the framework of the Decade. Roma Initiatives’ strategy combines four main objectives:
- increase the capacity of Roma to act effectively for themselves and increasingly act in all possible areas of public life;
- advocate for systemic change in government and EU level policies affecting Roma;
- challenge the negative image of Roma;
- strive to make the Decade of Roma Inclusion a success.
In addition to coordinating the Open Society Institute’s wider Roma-related efforts, Roma Initiatives provides institutional support grants to Roma civic organizations; funds training and internship schemes for young Roma; supports opportunities for participation of Roma women; and funds a wide range of projects and campaigning initiatives to increase Roma participation in the Decade, promote intercultural dialogue, and challenge racism and exclusion.
Roma Initiatives is based at the Open Society Institute–Budapest.
In 2007, OSI Roma programs, such as the Roma Initiatives Office and the Roma Participation Program, and Soros foundations worked to empower Roma communities and change attitudes among the public and policymakers in areas ranging from arts and culture to public health to education and economic development.
Read more about Roma Initiatives 2007 activities.
