romaeducation

Congratulations to our founder George Soros on receiving the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma, in memory of Holocaust survivors and pioneers of the Roma civil rights movement, Oskar and Vinzenz Rose and endowed by the leading German charitable foundation, Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation. The award recognizes Mr. Soros’s decades-long commitment to advancing the rights, dignity, and empowerment of Roma communities across Europe. @AlexanderSoros, George Soros’s son and Open Society Board Chair, accepted the award today on his father’s behalf at a ceremony in Berlin, Germany. “The Roma have endured centuries of discrimination and marginalization, rooted in a long history of violence—from the Holocaust to forced sterilization, child removals, and evictions. These injustices continue to resurface, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, when Roma fleeing the war in Ukraine faced barriers to shelter and aid. I’ve always believed that open societies must protect the rights of all people—especially those who are excluded. Working alongside Roma leaders and communities has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life’s work,” George Soros reflected on his long-standing relationship with the Roma community. This commitment to the Roma community continues with the 2023 launch of the Roma Foundation for Europe, an independent, Roma-led institution established with a €100 million pledge from Open Society, and with the Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, which will expand micro-loans to €15 million across six European countries by next year. Learn more: osf.to/4qpkmTA @ZR_SintiRoma