Students about Romaversitas

Students about Romaversitas

„Romaversitas Foundation is more than simply an organization supporting Romas. Besides financial aid we also get assistance, backing-up and encouragement. Every month there is a weekend workshop. We can chose seminars on topics that we are interested in. These workshops help us to understand Roma culture, and we can personally get to know the famous representatives of our culture. We can relax, talk to each other get new friends we can freely share our problems. When we are together, we are a big family, for better or worse. Romaversitas is an organization that helps young Romas to get their degree. Therefore we have a say how the Foundation should operate, and thus as students of the Romaversitas we learn the most important rule: “we are the Romver.”

Sándor Burai, social worker

„When I heard about the Foundation I had the feeling that if I had the chance to get in, that would be something extraordinary. Now that I am a member, this feeling is even stronger. For long I could not believe that this really true, that something like this exists, that I can get so much help. Since I am underprivileged the scholarship itself is a great help, as I can help my Mum who is alone bringing us up and fosters our schooling. I would never have been able to take up language classes, get the language certificate without which I would not get my diploma. With the help of Romaversitas I have new hopes for my future, I have a chance to break loose from the situation I was born into, and therefore I will be able to help my family and redeem their effort in helping me studying.

I am always looking forward to the workshop-weekends, where we have interesting and useful seminars held by professionals whom otherwise we will not have the opportunity to meet, but the most important is that I feel, there is a community where I am really understood, and they know what I am talking about when saying: ‘life is not easy’.

Vivien Ruszó, economy and informatics

„I always had this thirst for knowledge, this craving curiosity. Sometimes a flash in the pan, but sometimes everlasting. Search, check, give, mediate then go on. There are several reasons who goes where. I knew that I needed an intellectual home, a Thallo which helps the bud of thoughts, plans, ideas to blossom. For me Romaversitas was the castle of Neuschwanstein scarfed in clouds where I longed to belong. I was only a secondary school student when I decided to apply. During my first graduate year I was daydreaming about being admitted so I would be part of a community life of self-realization. I was hoping to transform my inner vagueness into a strong self, to find my way, and – after Tamás Péli – to wear those “golden bands” adorn my head with content. My hopes are coming true. To be a Romaversitas student is one of the most decisive experience of my life. It is a miracle. Even after graduation I will proudly regard myself as a member, since this common fellowship will never cease to exist. Romaversitas is my second family. “We are Romaversitas!” It is not only scholarship we get, but mental, emotional, and professional help as well. I know that without Romaversitas I would not get so far, graduating would be very difficult. We will not only be good experts, but experts who put their heart into the work they are entitled to do. And this is something we learn from each other. Love, committed community, drive, will power, passion, stamina, fight, knowledge, ideas.

Alíz Balogh, English - Romology

„I always had this thirst for knowledge, this craving curiosity. Sometimes a flash in the pan, but sometimes everlasting. Search, check, give, mediate then go on. There are several reasons who goes where. I knew that I needed an intellectual home, a Thallo which helps the bud of thoughts, plans, ideas to blossom. For me Romaversitas was the castle of Neuschwanstein scarfed in clouds where I longed to belong. I was only a secondary school student when I decided to apply. During my first graduate year I was daydreaming about being admitted so I would be part of a community life of self-realization. I was hoping to transform my inner vagueness into a strong self, to find my way, and – after Tamás Péli – to wear those “golden bands” adorn my head with content. My hopes are coming true.

Vivien Brassói, lawyer

„The foundation helps me tremendously to get my degree and to stand a chance in Life. I can have a tutor, a face-to-face teacher who helps me to get over the obstacles. I study maths, and I had serious problems. Before the exam it took eight goes to find the teacher who finally took me and with whose help I managed to pass the exam. It made me convinced that no matter what problems I have, the staff of the Foundation will always help me.

However, the most important is that I have found a second family, since when I go to the workshops, it is as if I travel home, they are always waiting for me with love. I have found true friends there, whom I can call even in the middle of the night, who are happy when I am happy and who are crying when I am crying, who will never abandon me.

I feel lucky, and I think since the birth of my brother this is the best thing that has happened to me. I cannot be grateful enough that I have the honor to be the part of this community.

Vivien Rocskár, mathematics

„For me Romaversitas means to share community, to work with people for whom it is important to do something for each other, for our families, for our future. So Romaversitas is not only a Foundation that gives us scholarship. Here everyone, the staff, the teachers, we, the students work together to become literate, professionally educated European citizens who by their work and example create real, new values. Besides the financial aid we also attend seminars where our professional and general skills are developed by our teachers. Those who have no language exam must learn languages, not only for our degree, but also because Romaversitas thinks the more we know the more we are, and the more chance we have to successfully meet the challenges of the labor market. Romaversitas is also an irreplaceable emotional pillar for us in our everyday life, no matter if it is professional or personal, if we have problems the staff is always there for us.

Arnold Sándor, history

„When I got here I thought Romaversitas is only an organization. I was somewhat right, but I have also realized that it is more like an organism. We are its cells.”

Zoltán Nagy, mechatronical engineer

„What does Romver mean for me? Family, friends, diploma, support, living, community. Family and friends because whenever I go to the weekend-workshops, it feels as if I was going home. I can talk to anyone, everybody is kind. It was just the previous weekend that - although because of my studies I hadn’t had time to go home - I went to the workshop, and it was like going home. It means community, because except my family I have never been in Roma community, here I can be myself, I don’t have to listen to racist remarks or the gypsy jokes. It means diploma, because thanks to the monthly scholarship I can attend classes. To be fed there is some money but it would be impossible for my family to financially support my studies, without Romver it would be impossible to by the books I need. Without the scholarship my parents would either be behind with the cheques, or I would have serious financial problems. The other good thing are the tutors, whose help I wont be able to afford.

To sum up, I will certainly be poorer both as far as friends and as far as other matters are concerned. Romver gives a lot more than a degree.

Etelka Rovács, technical manager

„Romaversitas Foundation is a very important chapter both in my studies and in my life, and I think it will be so foerever. The monthly allowance of 30 000 HUF helps a lot, since the dormitory, the books, traveling home is very expensive, it would be very difficult without Romever’s help. Also learning language is very important, language courses are expensive in Budapest. Before Romver I studied German, it is due tot Romaversitas that I had the chance to learn English, not in vain, after 2 years I passed the intermediate language exam. The staff helps us to solve both our academic and private problems. They are here if we need talking, honest opinion, a piece of advice, and also we, the Romver students help each other, we are a fantastic community, we’ll keep in touch after graduation. I am glad to be the member of this team.

József Angyal, finance and administration