The motivation for the project was first and foremost based on the worryingly low employment rate of the Roma youth in comparison to the general same-age population both in Finland and in Serbia. Therefore, the project produced updated first-hand information on the education, employment and well-being of Roma youth in the two different corners of Europe. The results were published in the form of two written reports (one in Finland, one in Serbia).  Secondly, the project encouraged and strenghtened the advancement of Roma youth to labour market. As an outcome, six videos on six real persons’ progress on the education and employment path (three in Finland, three in Serbia) were published. The many alternative opportunities to enter the education and employment paths were discussed together with Roma youth in clubs organised both in Finland and Serbia. Finally, a joint poster on the various kinds of employment paths was published.

All the materials are available in the Material Bank below. There is also a playlist in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOJgfSK34RAeGkTcTqSSOdhd-f_UFjtgO

Results of the surveys

Based on a survey conducted in Finland (N=69), it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions interrupted the long-standing positive development in the educational level and employment rate of young Roma. Finland is continuously ranked first in Europe for racial discrimination, racist threats, and violent attacks. According to the survey, the increased discrimination against Roma youth has further weakened their opportunities to study and work on an equal basis with other young people in Finland.

In Serbia, the survey (N=84) showed that the Roma youth have greater engagement with higher education than in Finland, with 26 % pursuing and 27 % completing university studies, aiming for financial independence. Similar to Finland, Serbian Roma youth face challenges in job hunting, including systemic discrimination and biases during recruitment. Differently, mental health was reported as the primary concern by 60 % of young Roma.

The report provides unique information on Finnish Roma youth, which is very important, as there is no research data on the Roma population by age group in Finland. There is only a little research data on Roma in general, practically the Roosa study only by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) (2018). The Finnish Roma Association has accumulated expertise in conducting studies over decades, and the methods and approach used in the report are based on this expertise. The study has been carefully considered ethically, and it was known in advance which methods work with Roma youth, and which do not. The themes of the study, namely education, employment, future prospects, experiences of discrimination and participation, provide a broad view of the lives of Roma youth, which is important, because education and employment are not separate from other areas of life. The study is anchored in other national studies and research, and it analyses the results in relation to them. The results are useful for many authorities, organisations and actors in society, including the education, employment, health and welfare sectors and youth work. The study is also unique internationally, as far too few studies are conducted that specifically target Roma youth. The methods and results of the study can therefore also be utilised internationally.

Anca Enache, Development Manager, Deaconess Institute Foundation

The study highlights a huge inequality problem that has only grown when compared to the previous study conducted in 2020. Roma youth experience more discrimination in their everyday lives, and find it increasingly difficult to get a job or complete a degree, than the majority population. It is worrying to note how inequality between young Roma and the majority population seems to have increased since 2020, according to the study, even though, for example, inequality problems related to job search have been known for a long time, and efforts have been made to influence them through various projects and increased anonymous recruitment.

Ulla Saalasti, Project Manager, Youth Academy

it is important that we also receive up-to-date information about the thoughts of the younger Roma population and, above all, about their position as experienced by them. Such studies also highlight issues where shortcomings and areas for development can be clearly seen in the structures of Finnish society, in the Roma community, and among young Roma. Based on the study, solutions and further actions can be developed and sought in cooperation with the Roma community, but also focusing, where possible, on individual needs and wishes.

Janette Grönfors, National Roma Contact Point, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Youth clubs

 In Finland, the clubs were held in the Metropolitan area, where most of the Roma population lives. The idea was to have a group of youth with whom to meet once a month, but it did not work, as many had acute problems in housing and debt issues in particular to be solved before they were able to start to think about their future. The youth workers provided them personal guidance according to need. Altogether, 37 Roma youth participated the clubs.  

In Serbia, the youth clubs were held in six different locations around the country in order to reach as many Roma youth as possible. The clubs took place in keen collaboration with local Roma and pro-Roma organisations, and the topics were tailored according to the needs, including, for example, identifying discrimination in job search and workplaces and preparing discrimination reports. Altogther, 116 Roma youth participated the clubs.  

Impact of the project

The survey on the education, employment and well-being of Roma youth in Serbia was first of its kind and forms a baseline study. In Finland, the survey was a third similar study in row, a repeated survey, that allows to analyse changes in society. The simultaneous surveys in two countries allowed trans-national comparisons and formulation of joint policy recommendations.

The greatest value of the project was that for the first time the Roma themselves produced systematically gathered data on their own circumstances. As such, the project highlighted the principle of ”nothing about us without us”. The project greatly contributed to the capacity of the participating organisations to develop evidence-based youth work and strengthened their position in public debate.

According to the participating organisations, the educational institutions, workplaces and authorities must finally start to take racism and discrimination seriously. They must work with minorities, learn how to identify structural discrimination through various means (training, self-assessment methods, measurement), and change their operations to be non-discriminatory. The Roma civil society organisations, too, must collect and utilise up-to-date grassroots information on education and employment of the Roma youth to develop evidence-based, effective work. Improving legislation and increasing the interest of decision-makers requires a collective approach that includes strengthening intersectoral cooperation, developing innovative solutions and creating mechanisms for continuous monitoring of progress.

Ternengo butti was implemented by the Finnish Roma Association from Finland and Tačka gledišta from Serbia. It was funded by the Erasmus+ programme under the funding for small-scale youth cooperation project.

European commission is not responsible for the content.

More information about the Erasmus+ programme: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/