Date and place of birth:
15 April 1970, Chodzież.
Current place of residence:
Bydgoszcz.
Education:
Secondary.
Current job:
Roma school assistant., businessman.
Achievements in life and work:
My own construction company and work as a assistant with children.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to build my own house.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Honesty is the most important in life as well as pride of Gypsy origin.
Date and place of birth:
16 April 1978, Zakopane.
Current place of residence:
Czarna Góra.
Education:
Higher.
Current job:
Artist – visual artist.
Achievements in life and work:
The most important thing to me is to attain my ambition as an artist. Moreover, I also work with children and draw book illustrations. My greatest accomplishment is my incredible family. I also succeeded in establishing “Romani Art” group and conducting various project within “Romani Art” and “Romski Pstryk”.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I am. I love what I am doing.
What are your plans for the future?
I would love to create more pieces of art, hold more exhibitions and show my works internationally.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
I want to live my life with no regrets and true to my conscience.
Date and place of birth:
26 July 1969, Bystrzyca Kłodzka.
Current place of residence:
Zabrze.
Education:
Secondary.
Current job:
Taekwondo instructor, social and vocational services assistant.
Achievements in life and work:
silver medal in the 2011 Polish Championships – the special strength and endurance tests in Rybnik; a runner-up in the 2006 Polish Cup Competition up to 80 kg in Biała Podlaska; the coach of Polish and Roma youth.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
No, I am not.
What are your plans for the future?
I will do my best to give proper upbringing to my children and grandchildren; continue my work and promote sport.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
I would like a Rom to perform in the Polish national team and represent it appropriately.
Date and place of birth:
10 August 1975, Prešov.
Current place of residence:
Nižná Rybnica, Slovakia.
Education:
Higher education.
Current job:
Greek-Catholic Priest.
Achievements in life and work:
Happy family, loving spouse, fulfilment of life’s mission – ordained ministry for Romany. Graduation. I am currently working on doctor’s thesis on canon law. Since 2003 I have been presiding Commission of Romany Pastoral in Kosice Greek-Catholic eparchy.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes, I live as I wanted, but one must work on himself to be better in the eyes of God.
What are your plans for the future?
Service to God, The Church, and most of all Romany – my people.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
When we live for others our life gains sense.
Date and place of birth:
11 November 1972, Banská Bystrica.
Current place of residence:
Banská Bystrica, Slovakia.
Education:
Higher education.
Current job:
Director of Department of Horizontal Priority Coordination of Marginalized Roma. Communities The Office of Government of Slovak Republic Representative of Roma Communities, The Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Achievements in life and work:
Working on Roma community for a long time I consider my professional success. Personally, apart from my son, the support of my friends I consider a success – these who can encourage me to further work, inspire me if needed and make me laugh.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
It depended on my age. There was a time, for sure, I wanted to live blithely and only spend money. The values and priorities of a human being change. Now I want to live satisfied and to satisfy my loved ones.
What are your plans for the future?
Short-term plans are simple. I would love to go somewhere for a real holiday, possibly abroad, to the seaside. Long-term plan is to achieve a success at work and fulfil chosen aims in life.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
I have no life motto or credo, but I have a wish for my son to live in a safe, broad-minded county without hatred not knowing disdain and rejection only because he is a Romany.
Date and place of birth:
21 December 1973, Trenčín.
Current place of residence:
Bratislava, Slovakia.
Education:
Higher education.
Current job:
Educationalist of work with youth.
Achievements in life and work:
Mother of two own and one foster child. Blogger awarded with two journalist prizes. The Author of autobiography „Gypsy Woman“. Currently a mother on maternity leave who another time enjoys motherhood.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
I live in a way my children will not be ashamed of their mother. I do not know how I want to live. I simply live and enjoy every day of my life.
What are your plans for the future?
Professional – to find new challenges at work and face them. Personal – to look for yet new ways to show the majority that together we can find a meaning of life for Romany children.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Nothing happens without a cause, and everything has its meaning.
Date and place of birth:
13 August 1974, Detva.
Current place of residence:
Detva, Slovakia.
Education:
Secondary education.
Current job:
Journalist, writer, social worker.
Achievements in life and work:
Since 2000 I have been writing for „Romano nevo lil“. In 2005 I was nominated to a press OSF prize. In 2012 I was nominated to Gypsy Spirit prize.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Not quite, but one of my dreams came true – writing. I meet people.
What are your plans for the future?
I want publish as many of my books as possible. I would like to publish historical novel “Forgotten Kingdom” which tells the story of expulsion of Romany from India.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
Live to give away goodness, love and positive energy. I want to work hard to leave something good and valuable behind.
Date and place of birth:
17 May 1980, Mladá Boleslav.
Current place of residence:
Rožňava, Slovakia.
Education:
Higher education.
Current job:
Medical assistant in Bratislava.
Achievements in life and work:
Finishing studies and master’s degree. Continuation of education on social work with Romany community.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes.
What are your plans for the future?
Doctor’s thesis, work in social services.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
I try to help weaker people.
Date and place of birth:
12 October 1980, Skalica, Slovakia.
Current place of residence:
Budapest, Hungary.
Education:
Higher education.
Current job:
Studies Officer – Roma Education Fund.
Achievements in life and work:
In the long history of my family I was the first one who finished university studies and who opened the doors to next relatives. I graduated and I am still learning to better help the others. I realize that for many Romany I am a model to be emulated. For me it is more important than a degree.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes. I constantly set out new aims in life. I am glad when I achieve them.
What are your plans for the future?
To improve in professional and personal life. I would like to maintain my positive image among other Romany. Educate myself, build up my career but never forget where I came from.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
To live better than well.
Date and place of birth:
26 May 1979, Poprad.
Current place of residence:
Hôrka, Slovakia.
Education:
Higher education.
Current job:
Director of construction company.
Achievements in life and work:
Successful work abroad (USA, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic). Attempt to understand living in other countries, learning good things, passing the knowledge further on.
Are you living your life the way you have always wanted to?
Yes.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to finish postgraduate studies of second degree on social work and start studying law. To create social system of my own.
Life motto, credo, dreams…
To help as many people as I can.
