Biography – Eleonora Kulchar

Eleonora Kulchar

Year of birth: 1968
City of birth: Uzhhorod, Ukraine
Origin: Hungarian Roma
Education: Secondary specialized (confectioner), higher education (social worker).

Main areas of activity: early development and preschool education for Roma children, humanitarian aid (IDPs, hospitals, Armed Forces of Ukraine), development of women’s leadership, combating discrimination.

Key contribution: founder and permanent leader of the “Blaho” Charitable Foundation (since 2003); created the first systematic preschool preparation program for Roma children in Uzhhorod (since 2014); during the full-scale invasion, opened one of the largest shelters for IDPs in Zakarpattia, which provided assistance to over 3,700 people; national coordinator of the international network “REYN-Ukraine”; awarded the “For the Defense of Ukraine” presidential honor.

Impact: became one of the most influential Roma women leaders in Zakarpattia, overcoming resistance and stereotypes both within and outside the Roma community; fundamentally changed the attitude towards preschool education in the Roma settlements of Uzhhorod; through large-scale humanitarian activities, changed the public perception of Roma, demonstrating their active role in the country’s life.

“Becoming a woman who is a leader was not easy… People expressed it to me directly. These were difficult times. But thank God I was able to stand firm and walk this path.”

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Biographical Information

Eleonora Kulchar is a prominent Roma leader, founder of the “Blaho” Charitable Foundation, and an innovator in the field of preschool education for Roma children in Zakarpattia. Her work, founded on deep faith and dedication to her community, has become a symbol of female strength and social change.

Early Years and Upbringing

Eleonora was born in Uzhhorod to a family of Hungarian Roma. Her ancestors were musicians: one grandfather was a famous musician from Budapest, the other a violin maker. Her father was also a musician, playing at weddings and in restaurants. Her mother, though she had a difficult fate, instilled in her daughter the extraordinary value of education and work from a young age.

As the only Roma child in her class, Eleonora faced harsh discrimination from teachers and students from her very first days. Following her mother’s guidance, she learned to fight back and eventually became a leader not only in her class but in the entire school, always proudly declaring her nationality.

After school, she trained as a confectioner, got married, and had children. After experiencing a deep spiritual crisis, she came to faith in God, which fundamentally changed her life and defined her future mission.

Becoming a Public Figure

Her path into activism is unique, as it began with what she describes as a divine calling. In 2003, while in a difficult situation, she heard a voice that commanded her to create a charitable foundation. Without experience or resources, she registered the “Blaho” (Goodness) Charitable Foundation. Her initial activities were purely humanitarian, but Eleonora quickly realized that the root of her people’s problems was the lack of education.

Activities and Contributions

In 2014, she launched her main project — a preschool preparation program for Roma children. Facing distrust from the community, she and her team went from house to house daily for two and a half years, gathering children for classes and convincing parents of the importance of learning. Over 10 years, the program has graduated more than 200 children fully prepared for school and has radically changed the attitude towards education in the Uzhhorod Roma settlement.

A serious challenge on her path was the resistance from male Roma leaders who did not accept a woman as a leader. However, she was able to stand firm and earn undeniable authority.

With the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Eleonora Kulchar responded to the crisis of Roma refugees who were being discriminated against and denied shelter. With the support of the International Renaissance Foundation, she opened a shelter in Uzhhorod that provided assistance to over 3,700 people of various nationalities. For her volunteer activities and assistance to the army, she was awarded the “For the Defense of Ukraine” presidential honor. Eleonora is the national coordinator of the international educational network “REYN-Ukraine” and continues her mission, inspiring others.