The Development of the Roma Civil Society Movement in Ukraine
About the Collection
This collection was formed as part of the project “Roma Community Chronicles: Stories of Resilience and Remembrance,” which was implemented by the NGO “Kherson Youth Roma Society” with the support of the “Memory, Responsibility and Future” Foundation (EVZ). The recording of field materials took place from March to July 2025.
The project’s goal was to explore how the memory of the Roma genocide and the experience of survival during World War II influenced the formation of modern Roma civil society and the youth movement. The focus is on the combination of historical memory and today’s challenges of war, forced displacement, and the struggle for rights.
The collection includes 12 video interviews with prominent Roma leaders, activists, and artists, as well as their full text transcripts. The collected testimonies became the basis for creating multimedia materials: a digital archive, a graphic novel, podcasts, and a documentary film.
This collection is the first step towards forming an open database that combines the history, memory, and contemporary experience of Roma communities in Ukraine.
Watch the documentary film
Methodology for Material Collection
The basis for forming the collection was the method of a semi-structured biographical interview. This approach was chosen because it allows for the combination of two key tasks:
Biographical Aspect
To give the narrator the opportunity to present their life story in chronological order, preserving the integrity and logic of the personal narrative.
Thematic Aspect
To ensure the coverage of key research topics (memory of the genocide, the formation of the civil society movement, the role of education, women’s leadership, etc.) through a pre-prepared list of open-ended questions.
This format allowed for the creation of a trusting atmosphere and the flexibility to react to the narrative by asking clarifying questions that arose during the conversation. All interviews were conducted in compliance with the “Do no harm” ethical protocol, which included obtaining informed consent for the recording and subsequent use of the materials.
Key Project Components
Training Workshop
Training young researchers in working with oral history and its documentation methods.
Fieldwork
Recording interviews with Roma community leaders, activists, and their families.
Archive Creation
Digitization and preservation of the collected audiovisual materials and transcripts for future generations.
Project Outcomes
Trained a team of young specialists capable of professionally working with oral history and cultural heritage.
Created a unique archive of oral testimonies documenting the history of the formation of Roma civil society in Ukraine.
Strengthened cooperation between non-governmental organizations, researchers, and international foundations.
Research Team
Tetiana Storozhko
Historian, project researcher
Svitlana Makhovska
Project Expert
Oksana Ferents
Project Expert
Interviewers
Vira Dranhoi
Kostiantyn Musenko
Ruslana Skliarova
To the Collection
Learn more about the lives and public journeys of the remarkable figures whose stories form the basis of this collection.
