Phiren Amenca International Network is pleased to announce the winners of the European Roma Youth Project Award 2025, aimed at promoting Roma youth participation across Europe.
The most impactful and empowering Roma youth project were recognized on 9 December 2025 in Brussels. The Best Roma Youth Project Award will receive a prize of 5,000 €. All projects submitted to the awards will be published in a dedicated booklet and further disseminated.
Winners
Best Roma Youth Project
Etanoda and Romoji: A Game of Representation, a Program of Empowerment Developed by the Foundation for the 21st Century Pedagogy with Impact Games, Romoji brings Roma youth representation into interactive learning, paired with training guidelines for educators and mentors. Download: Google Play or App Store
3rd Place Winner
Amaro Voice – digitale Bildungsarbeit über die Communitys der europäischen Sinti und Roma Amaro Voice is a video podcast elevating the diverse voices of Sinti and Roma communities across Europe, especially young Roma. Through interviews and thematic episodes, it surfaces the richness and complexity of Roma identities, histories, and experiences across borders. Based in Germany they produced 40 episodes, at least 20 in-depth interviews, published on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Watch the video and join the conversation
2nd Place Winner
Memory Bridges: A Creative Dialogue Between the Past and Present of the Roma Community Memory Bridges (TENET – Center for Social Transformations): a Roma youth-led initiative that transforms survivor testimonies into creative outputs, hand-painted “palm drawings,” an exhibition with QR-linked archives, and a short documentary, building skills in oral history, curation, and public storytelling while combating antigypsyism. Watch the video
Special Award “From Memory to Political Action”
#NosViesDeGitansComptent #NosViesDeGitansComptent by ZOR Collectif de Jeunesse Romani et Voyageur: a youth-led initiative turning archival letters (1939–46) into public advocacy, meeting MPs and building support to recognise 2 August as the Roma/Traveller genocide memorial day. Follow them on Instagram and TikTok
Special Award – “For Bottom-Up Roma Youth Empowerment”
Empowering Youth through Leadership and Mentoring (ROMA T.E.A.M.) Empowering Roma Youth through Leadership & Mentorship – ROMA TEAM (RO) Sept 2024–Apr 2025, in Giurgiu & Argeș: 21 mentees and 120+ youth gained leadership, civic engagement, and advocacy skills via mentorship, workshops, community debates, and anti-discrimination education, culminating in a youth-led closing event and success stories like Valentina Miu. Find out more here.
Special “Successful Advocacy Award”
Local Youth Council of Shuto Orizari The project was initiated by the Local Youth Council of Shuto Orizari, aiming to bring attention to the needs of marginalized groups, including returnees and vulnerable populations in the community. The youth council, after realizing the lack of support structures for these groups, initiated a series of discussions with key stakeholders. They began by reaching out to the Dutch Embassy, using their diplomatic channels to discuss the necessity of creating a dedicated resource center for these marginalized groups. After several rounds of conversations and advocacy, Shuto Orizari succeeded in receiving support from the European Union, and in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), they successfully launched the first Resource Center in the municipality on April 8, 2025. See them on Instagram
Most Courageous Initiative Award
Géza Buzás-Hábel, Director of the Diverse Youth Network
For the past 5 years, Géza Buzás-Hábel, board member of Phiren Amenca, has successfully organized the Pécs Pride march in Hungary despite attempts to intimidate him. Two weeks after Pécs Pride 2025, Géza was summoned by the police for questioning as a suspect. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison. This is the first case in the EU where someone has been prosecuted for organizing a Pride March and is a clear infringement of the right of citizens to protest publicly. We commend Géza for his brave and selfless work on behalf of human rights, and his international advocacy.
👉 Follow his work here: https://www.facebook.com/buzasgeza
Keep an eye on the publication showing their work!