I love Romanes

The “I Love Romanes!” project is an initiative led by young Roma people aimed at combating discrimination against the Roma community in Europe.

During a 10-day youth exchange, 24 young people from different interested countries, including Romania, aged between 15 and 28, will come together to discover intercultural dialogue and learn how to overcome prejudice.

Through a program based on non-formal education methods, participants will explore the role of Roma culture, language, citizenship, rights, traditions, and identity in today’s Europe. The project will also encourage reflection on contemporary and historical factors that influence the representation of Roma people in European societies and their place in public debate.

Thanks to this exchange, young Roma participants from France and Romania will be able to better understand themselves and, through their own experiences, identify tools and methods to address these issues in youth work, as well as to positively influence attitudes toward the Roma people.

The name of the project, “I Love Romanes,” expresses the participants’ desire to better understand current Roma realities in order to share a meaningful and enriching experience together. They are aware that beyond negative stereotypes, Roma people are individuals who wish to share, learn, and build bonds of friendship.

The term “Romanes” refers both to qualities, facts, and the Romani language itself.

By building a bridge between France and Romania, youth leaders and youth workers will have the opportunity to overcome prejudice, keeping in mind that discriminatory mindsets — and not the Roma themselves — are at the root of the problems. Tolerance and cultural diversity make Europe a privileged space for living together.

The project will take place in a Roma community in Pașcani, in north-eastern Romania, a region known for its significant Roma population. For both groups, this will be an opportunity to connect closely with the Roma community and to fight prejudice together.

Through games, community visits, workshops, field visits, intercultural evenings, and forum theatre, the project will enable young Roma volunteers to express themselves, promote their cultural values, and take pride in their identity, while also raising awareness among other young people about stereotypes and the potential of the Roma community.

Throughout the 10 days, participants will share work, accommodation, and meals. French volunteers from socially vulnerable or minority backgrounds will gain a deeper understanding, allowing them to form their own opinions about Roma people and to critically reflect on common stereotypes as well as on their own experiences of discrimination.

Together, the two groups will develop solutions that promote active citizenship, the fight against discrimination, and the empowerment of young people.