Arete Youth BG Team at “Roma and Minority Youth” Conference in Budapest on March 3rd and 4th
Tano Bechev, Program Manager of “Role Models for Tomorrow” Program of Areté Youth Foundation, Bulgaria, traveled to Budapest March 3rd and 4th to participate in the international conference, “Roma and Minority Youth: Pathways to More Inclusive European Youth Structure.” The conference took place in the European Youth Center and was organized by the Roma and Youth Initiatives Programs of the Open Society Foundation. During the conference Mr. Bechev had the opportunity to meet and establish connections with more than 25 participants representing Roma youth organizations from different countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and Albania. “There were very heated discussions among the group about the barriers to the inclusion of Roma and minority youth in European youth structures and policy making, ” said Benchev. He added, “It is very important to consider what needs to be changed in institutional organizations to fast-track better inclusion and participation of Roma and minority youth. It was very disappointing that there were no Roma representatives and organizations within the European Youth Forum.”
The YFJ is an independent, democratic, youth-led platform which represents 98 National Youth Councils and International Youth Organizations from across Europe. The YFJ works to empower young people to actively participate in society to improve their own lives, by representing and advocating their needs and interests and those of their organisations towards the European Institutions, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
Mr. Benchev had the opportunity to meet with their President Mr. Peter Matjashich and shared his concerns about the 12,000,000 Roma living in Europe who are not represented within their structure. Mr. Matjashich said that they have very strict criteria for becoming a member organization but that he is open to collaborate and work towards Roma youth inclusion”.
