What makes this scholarship program so unique?
It’s unique because Roma participation in higher education is very low. In some countries, hardly two percent of the Roma population finish higher education, which is the main concern for many of us. This program targets three countries, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. It’s limited because the demand for scholarships is much bigger than the possible resources. We provide between 150 to 180 scholarships to students each year.

Why these three countries?
The German Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” tries to encourage people to remember the past. It wants to build up an elite generation who contribute to keeping this memory for the future. Russia, Ukraine and Moldova are particular countries where Roma populations have suffered immeasurably in the past.

How important is it to support a Roma elite for the inclusion of the community into society?
Well, it’s similar to other minorities or other nations. Without an elite you cannot be a nation. Unfortunately, Roma still lack a critical mass of people who have reached an intellectual level of achievement that would also enable others from the Roma community to integrate better. This kind of scholarship helps people to reach a position in the society as advocates, doctors or social scientists. Such people change the overwhelming mentality of the population and their stereotypes: that Roma are always poor and don´t want to go to school. But by creating role models you do both ‒ you enable Roma to live better in society and we also challenge the negative attitudes that are prevalent and persistent in mainstream society.

Isn't this scholarship program a task which the government of Ukraine, Russia and Moldova should offer themselves?
They should, but in reality they don´t. The governments don´t want to pay the costs of better integration. Some of them, but not all, want to keep the Roma where they are. It’s a great pity, because the cost of exclusion is much higher than paying for Roma inclusion and better education.

Is it difficult to change this understanding and this mentality in those countries?
There is a significant gap between the public discourse, actual political commitment and the daily life of the people. We need governments to move from words to facts and from action plans to local activities. This is the challenge we must surmount. But the main problem is the superficial manner in which governments treat the problem of Roma minorities. We have to do more to ensure better education higher-quality education. It has to be understood that this should be in the interest of the entire society and is not only to benefit of the Roma. Why should a government keep people uneducated?

The interview was conducted by Gemma Pörzgen in Berlin, July 2011.

Interview in PDF

Costel Bercus is a Romanian Roma who graduated from the Department of International Relations and European Studies at the Spiru Haret University in Bucharest. Since 1997, he has worked as a human rights activist in Romania and is today chair of the board of the Roma Education Fund, tirelessly advocating for the closure of the educational gap between Roma and non-Roma. He has also worked as an international consultant providing technical assistance in policy development on Roma inclusion for several countries.