Open Society Foundations (OSF) has announced that it will create an independent, Europewide Roma-led foundation to support the fight for equality and the political participation of Europe’s 12 million Roma communities. 

With a broad network of Roma-led entities, the foundation will be led by Zeljko Jovanovic, currently the director of Open Society’s Roma Initiatives Office. The foundation, which will receive funding from OSF over a period of 10 years, will build upon and expand the legacy of the empowerment work done by OSF to date. Expected to be operating by October 2023, the foundation will work to expand its network of European Roma-led initiatives actively supported by OSF and a range of other funders, including the Roma Education Fund (REF), the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), the Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI), and national Roma movements including Aresel in Romania, Opre Roma in Serbia, Kethane in Italy, Roma Standing Conference in Bulgaria, and Avaja in North Macedonia. 

“Our goal is to build unprecedented Roma self-organization and political participation, so that our voices are heard, and power is felt on behalf of justice and equality for all in Europe,” said Jovanovic. “This new foundation will build upon Open Society’s legacy and expand Roma leadership to be able to shape a better future for the Roma, for our countries, and for Europe.”

“I am proud to announce on International Roma Resistance Day that we are taking our long-term commitment to Roma to the next level,” said OSF founder and chair George Soros. “We will help to build a European foundation led by Roma. This is a crucial next step in our investment in Roma leaders who are proud of their origin, dedicated to their communities, and able to respond to the challenges of our time. Our support for Roma is one of my foundations’ activities that I am proudest of. We will seek to ensure the success of this foundation. I hope this promising effort will be supported by those who believe in a Europe of equality and justice for all.” 

(Photo credit: Vanco Dzambaski, via Open Society Foundations)