Why was the Roma Youth Roundtable created, what are their main objectives and what are the results they expect from it?
It is extremely important that those who are talking about the Hungary of the future be addressed. Our young people should not only be heirs of the future, but also creators. In order for them to truly be the creators of the future, we must be able to listen to their opinions and suggestions. This was exactly the aim of the Roma Youth Roundtable, to involve those young Roma students or graduates who, despite their young age, have proven their ability to contribute to the creation of policy through their work for the community. Our goal is for the round table to function as a proposing and commenting community, we want to discuss certain policy measures with them in advance, and on the other hand, we also want to receive proposals from them. The seriousness of the matter means that we are creating a development fund where they can propose certain measures, specifically measures and programs that affect young people and focus primarily on disadvantaged areas.
How do you involve young people in the round table?
The 11 Roma vocational colleges operating in the country have become a true success story of opportunity creation over the past decade. In 2011, we launched the Roma vocational college system with the aim of giving talented, disadvantaged young people the opportunity to obtain a diploma. The results speak for themselves: in the past 13-14 years, more than 700 young graduates have graduated from vocational colleges and entered the ranks of the Hungarian intelligentsia. We are now building on them. We addressed them and asked the professional colleges to propose who they would delegate to the Roma Youth Round Table. We have received the proposals, and I can see that a truly diverse and talented team has been assembled. The round table consists of young people with different interests and expertise. What they have in common is that they all started from disadvantaged families, but through their faith, diligence and perseverance, they set an example that it is possible to build from the most difficult situation. Through the Roma vocational colleges, we gave them help so that they would definitely reach their goal and that their disadvantage would not be an obstacle to obtaining a diploma, but that they would not forget where they started from. This diversity is the strength of the round table, as they bring different points of view and experience with them, from which new ideas and solutions can be born.
How will they ensure that the recommendations of the round table are implemented?
The pledge of our future is in the hands of young people. That is why we are committed to providing them with a dedicated resource by creating a development fund, the Roma Youth Roundtable can make suggestions for its use, since they know the needs and possibilities of their community best. Our goal is to create a foundation that gives young people the opportunity to shape the future with their own initiatives. Our task will be to discuss with them, to get to know the entire process of decision preparation, and to participate in it. We expect a real partnership. We would like to ensure that their constructive suggestions can be incorporated into policy decisions.
It was recently one hundred days since they were transformed into the State Secretariat. What was the biggest challenge you had to solve?
We can also say that the creation of an independent political policy, the State Secretariat, was not just a decision, but a clear message: in Hungary, creating opportunities remains a priority issue. We switched to a higher gear and put the policy of opportunity on new foundations. However, this required renewal, not only in our goals, but also in our operations. We have transformed the structure and internal processes of the State Secretariat accordingly. Our primary goal is for European Union projects to become tangible as soon as possible. The new developments will start as early as the first quarter of 2025 and will give a significant impetus to the even more efficient work process of creating opportunities. But the work doesn’t stop there. In the past two years, the operation of the National Roma Self-Government has been in jeopardy, almost balancing on the limit of functionality. With the elections in October, a new board was established, which began to settle the situation. Today, we are at the point where the basic operating conditions have been secured, and the National Self-Government of the Hungarian Roma is once again operational. Today’s disruptive opposition and “Tisz” politics have a lot at stake. The person who only looks for gypsies in the campaign, for whom the biggest search for popularity and likes is the distribution of packages, does not understand that what he is doing is destruction. It threatens the achievements we have achieved together with the Roma society and our peaceful coexistence. It is easy to tempt people with packages and donations, but we know very well how that ended. We all remember the left-wing welfare state. We do not ask for it, and we will do our best to make sure that everyone understands the social danger behind popularization.
In 2025, will they be able to take measures that will significantly improve the life or quality of life of the Roma community?
One of the most important issues of governance is whether we are able not only to respond to the challenges of the present, but also to show the direction of the country in the long term. The most important realization is that Hungary is currently struggling with a labor shortage. However, this is not just a statistic, it is reality. Yet there are still people whose talents and abilities are currently untapped. Their situation is not just an individual problem – their opportunity creation is crucial for the future. That is why our goal is to enable those who are still in a passive position to find their way back to the primary labor market. It doesn’t happen overnight. Increasing the level of education is a fundamental condition, since only with knowledge and skills can someone be a real participant in our economy. Improving housing conditions, encouraging the renovation of rural homes and starting retraining programs are all tools that create opportunities for people to start a new life. For example, the introduction of worker’s credit conveys the message that we believe in the power of people and support them to stand on their own two feet. However, successful opportunity creation requires more than resources and programs. We need close cooperation with our partners who represent local communities and whose voice is essential for good decisions. That is why we created the round table, which provides a forum for young people’s opinions and suggestions. They not only represent the Hungary of the future, but can also play a decisive role in the present. And the Roma Coordination Council ensures that the voice of the local communities reaches the decision-makers directly. It must also be seen that the economy and society cannot function in isolation. The task of the state secretariat is to build a bridge between different levels and actors and to coordinate efforts. We are guided by the belief that every person has potential, and our job is to bring that potential to the surface.
What does it mean that we are no longer talking about a catch-up policy, but a policy of opportunity?
The catch-up policy is one of Hungary’s most important national issues, which we started in 2010-2011. At that time, the social and economic situation of the country was completely different from today. High unemployment dominated the picture, and masses of people with low levels of education struggled to find a place in the labor market. The truth is, as much as we wanted to help them, there was simply nowhere to put them. We started from this situation when we defined the fight against poverty as the first step in catching up. We knew that for this we had to create an institutionalized system that would not only provide assistance, but also enable real social upliftment. The goal was to give everyone, regardless of their circumstances, a chance to participate in the reconstruction of Hungary. Today, 14 years later, we face very different challenges. We have eliminated unemployment to a significant extent, and now we have to face a new situation, the labor shortage, which also represents an opportunity for disadvantaged people. However, this means a different kind of task: today the goal is to adapt our institutionalized structures to the needs of the labor market. Concrete interventions are needed that enable the individual to make changes in his life in the shortest possible time, to start working, study, and develop. This is exactly the essence and main goal of the opportunity policy. That anyone born anywhere in this country should feel that they have the same opportunities as those who live in more developed areas of the country. This work is not only an economic issue, but a national mission. Our task remains to build a Hungary where everyone can feel that they matter and that their future is in their own hands.
How did the idea of the advent calendar come about, and what is the message they convey?
Our basic idea is simple, yet profound: to address those who have already achieved something truly significant in their lives, and to show that creating opportunities and providing opportunities becomes a reality not only through words, but through examples. The people we invited, Roma and non-Roma, who formulate a message each day within the framework of an Advent calendar, are people who have proven with their own lives that perseverance, humility and hard work always bear fruit. They not only achieved their goals, but also became role models who can and should be followed. The end of the year is always a time of reckoning. At such times, everyone stops for a moment, thinks about where they started, what they have achieved and where they want to go. With their messages, these people indicate that no matter where we start from, if we believe, work and don’t give up, we can reach our goals. The fact that they agreed to appear in the calendar is more than support for us. This is a sign that the power of community exists, that there are people who believe that it is worth doing things for each other. During Advent, we perhaps feel even more strongly that quiet, persistent work and mutual respect bring real results. This is what this initiative is all about: that everyone can get a chance and that everyone is capable of setting an example for others.
How will the success of the calendar be measured?
Our main goal is to address people and present role models. The real result is that if there are people who see their life situation as hopeless in many cases, they should feel that they are not left alone. But there is one important condition: the will of the individual. In order for someone to move forward, you need your own determination, to be able to believe in change. We not only offer opportunities, but also strive to encourage the individual to dare to make his own decisions and act for his own future. This is the real opportunity creation.
Source: magyarnemzet.hu
