Slovakia

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

A different sort of narrative. We are introduced to a darkened elevator (in fact all the lights are out in this building of a certain era), we rise to the first floor. No one awaits. The most characteristic of former regime interiors, utterly without soul. We wait. Then, from a great distance, clicking heels approach, something akin to the experience in Venezia, where one hears footfalls, but no one appears. Someone did appear, Maroš Balog, who leads us down corridors choked with furniture. "We have reorganised," he tells us. Romani representative for social affairs in the city government of Banská Bystrica. He is a career advisor. Higher education, and a quick knowledgeable wit. With aspirations of authorship. Delightful gentleman, as one can perceive. That Mr Balog works in the same district as the elected fascist Regional Governor Marián Kotleba is quite sobering.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

My parents were musicians, so any chance to photograph someone in music is special. But there was no imagining the Artist who awaited. The young Slovak violinist Mgr Barbora Botošová is as complete a musical practitioner as I've ever known. She plays Bartok, no problem. Manoushe. Of course. Straight ahead jazz. Check. Traditional Romani Gypsy music? Are you kidding? She has a trio and an orchestra. Her grandfather Botošov, as famous a Romani band-leader as ever lived, bequested his violin to Barbora. Enough said.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Andrea Bučková is Commissioner for the Roma Communities in Slovakia. She impresses with calm, strong demeanor. Honed to refinement of managerial and directing skill. Not one to ignore wrongdoing, she went after mis-use of public funds, proved even to her adversaries that a woman who was Romani was quite capable of courage and effectiveness. No surprise that she also is an active leader in the gender movement. We felt ourselves quite fortunate to have gained audience with such a superb public servant.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Stanislav Daniel. From the very first attempts at extending RomaRising to Slovakia, absolutely everyone said, "...and of course, you must see Stano." The word brilliant seems somehow inadequate when describing him. He expresses not merely linguistic, but cultural fluencies.

Here is the REF description of him: Stanislav Daniel is the Studies Officer of the Roma Education Fund. Before his assignment at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights as an Officer on Roma and Sinti Issues, he worked for the European Roma Rights Centre as research officer with geographic focus on the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia. In his professional career he individually conducted several studies, managed teams of researchers and otherwise contributed to research projects aimed primarily at education, but also free movement, state response to anti-Roma violence, implementation and impact of activities, policies and measures aimed at Roma inclusion in the EU. He also has experience of community development and capacity-building of municipal Roma politicians and Roma youth. He holds a degree in social work in Roma communities from the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, Slovakia.

They left out something: Stano is a genuinely nice guy. I am very fortunate in his friendship.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

My mother was an opera singer. Imagine my excitement when I read of Božena Ferencová, greatly respected soprano — then listened to her. When at last she agreed that we could come by, I was delighted. Make no mistake, Mme Ferencová is world-class. She graduated from the University of Musical Arts in Bratislava, where she studied with Eva Blahová. Further studies at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, under Maestro Carlo Bergonzi, then master classes in St Petersburg and Moscow. We met at the Bratislava Conservatory, where she conducts class. She offered her singers thrilling example after example, I was transfixed. Now a PhD, she has won myriad international prizes. And is much in demand on the concert and opera stage, internationally. Her repertoire is staggering. My particular dream is to hear her perform in the Fauré Requiem. Her life motto is succinct: Love.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Here is Klaudia Ferencová, who has answer with force, pay close attention. She trains young Romani one-on-one in their rights, in shared law. She then takes them into the public sphere. If challenged on racial ground, as so often is the case, she tells those presenting barrier, Here are the rights of those before you. Either deal with respect, or face legal process. Her results are extraordinary. Few elect to challenge her. I have great respect for Ms Ferencová. The law is her reference. Much as it was for my own people in the US.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Erika Godlová is the head of a breathtaking initiative. Archive of all Romani record in Slovakia for the State Scientific Library. We navigated the new installation for this effort, in awe. The very latest technology, the very next filing systems. With extensive experience in media, translation from multiple dialects (important for research), regional government, scholarship management for young Roma via the Roma Education Fund, Ms Godlová is eminently qualified for her new work. One hopes that her initiative becomes template for all countries within the EU.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Someone universally admired in Slovakia, indeed, across Central Europe. Denisa Havrľová is not just a journalist/videographer. She also is an advocate, intrepid. Always among those on the front lines, her camera in hand. Winner of many awards, her aspiration is to win peace of mind for herself. Expect to hear more from this fearless warrior for human rights.



From Memory of Nations.EU

I am proud of my Roma identity

Denisa Havrľová was born on November 30, 1971 in Očová. She comes from a Roma family, both parents were workers. From an early age, she studied violin in the Folk Art School. At the primary school, she excelled in the recitation of poetry and prose and repeatedly won the Hviezdoslav Kubín regional competition. When she was 23, she was approached by writer and journalist Daniela Hivešová-Šilanová to start writing for the Roma newspaper Romano nevo ľil. A year later, she moved from Očová to Prešov, where she began to discover her Roma identity. She graduated from the Secondary Art School in Košice and continued her studies at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica. She studied documentary film and photography. As a journalist, she visited Roma settlements in eastern Slovakia, devoted herself to charity and various projects to support the Roma community. In 2002, the whole of Slovakia learned about her, when a policeman from the District Department of the Police in Jarovnice asked her for a hygiene card. She filed a criminal complaint against him for racism. She also continued her journalistic career in Bratislava, where she moved in 2009. She worked as an adviser to the Government Plenipotentiary for the Roma community. She currently teaches journalistic photography at the Secondary School of Design in Bratislava.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

I admire this young artist. Eduard Herák's work truly inspires me, that it emerges from Slovakian settlements, yes, that inspires me even greatly more. Not an easy place to live. I hope he has a fertile future. His young work has much promise.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

PaedDr ThLic Peter Horváth. Renaissance man. Not only a PhD candidate of canon law, but also author, Chairman since 2003 of the Commission for the Pastoral Care of Roma, Košice. Devout family man. Goatherd. Brilliance in a remote village, greatly respected.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Nikola Horváthová is yet another shimmering example of a young person seizing her carved-out opportunity in education to pursue her dreams. From Košice, now studying at the Comenius University (Bratislava), College of Health and Social Work. She is the first Romani woman from her community, indeed, her family, so near to her college degree in 2014. She's not stopping there: post-grad in view. She wishes to work on behalf of the Roma, both at national and international level. Safe to say, a star in the making. Unexpected skill: sign-language interpretation, both Slovak and Romanes.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Who among us has visited the Emergency Room at hospital. There, one encounters the very best in health care. Not casual, simply the Best. You might find among those, Mgr Jozef Ikri, OR nurse, yourself quite safe in his competent hands. In past experience, photographing flight nurses, OR nurses, Jozef completely filled disquisition, I knew him instantly. He is among that exceptional category.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Look carefully into this visage. Mgr Róbert Kaleja. Something stirs question. And it should. Obviously, university degree. Which qualification carried him to the Ministry of the Interior. Beyond, to the Ministry of Defence. Yet, today he is a taxi driver. Honourable occupation. But a country's terrible waste of one of its finest. Do you live as you wish? Not quite, because the conditions are not suitable for life. Spend time with Mgr Kaleja, come away impressed with both deep intelligence, and deep compassion. His future hope: I would like to address Romani issues; finally live a normal life and have a normal job. One is reminded how much talent vanished to Porrajmos.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

If education is your focus, go no further than to consider Dr Ingrid Kosová. In the small central Slovakian town of Zvolen, she has established the impossible. A mixed ethnicity school, including major Montessori element, this place simply shouts, Yes! Quo Vadis school is located on a quiet street, and rather unremarkable. But enter, and one finds very correct classrooms, music room, exercise room, library, everywhere a climate of welcome and learning. Space for growth. The education experience that any us would have. All directed by a fluent, vivacious, focused professional. For me, son of musicians, the lyric melody throughout this facility resonated beautifully. The sense of inclusion there surpasses so much similar attempt in Central Europe. This miracle of education HAD to be visited, we were not disappointed. Visit Quo Vadis on Facebook.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

In my country, it has been a given for decades that community policing is greatly enhanced and more effective when officers are members of minorities. A Black cop is more trusted in a Black neighbourhood. RomaRising over time has presented Romani police in several places. Here is 1st Lt Milada Kroščenová, a person with great responsibility, obligation to meet in her community. And quite obviously respected and admired within Hrabušice. We have an expression, "tough, but fair." In Miška you will find an exemplary individual. Oh, btw, her English is terrific, as are her compassion and humour, quite possibly her most effective tools, among many.

Narrative by Mary Evelyn Porter

Cynthia grew up in Ógyalla, a small town near Komarno. Her mother, Katalin Czirok Pasztorek, is a housewife. On her mother's side of the family, everyone is a musician. Her father, Milan Pasztorek is a contractor. I am their only child. Cynthia met her husband Eudie when she began teaching folk song at the music school in Komarno where he teaches violin. "We just got married on July 7, 2018. Once a person is married they wish for a quiet life and a chance to raise children in a loving supportive environment."

"I grew up surrounded by music. There was no question about what I wanted to do. I started music school in Ógyalla when I was six." Cynthia attended music school until she was fifteen and then transferred to the conservatory in Székesfehérvár, Hungary for high school. At the conservatory, Cynthia specialized in folk singing and the cymbalon.

Cynthia has taken part in musical competitions in the fields of classical music, pop, and folk ever since she was a small child. Year after year, Cynthia has achieved top prizes across musical genres. In 2014, she received the prestigious International Lajos Vass Award. She won the Arpád Feszthy award in Slovakia in 2016. In 2016, she also attended a pop music competition in Slovakia and won a special prize for a song composed for her by Zoltán Pécsváradi. Cynthia received the Ferenc Pesovár award for folk singing in Hungary in 2017.

Cynthia is currently teaching voice to children and adults at the Művészeti Alapiskola Komárno. "I teach the basic of singing to the children. I instruct the adults in whatever they wish to learn. In the next five years I would like to teach young people the skills that they need to enter the conservatory."

Narrative by Mary Evelyn Porter

Eduard Kulin was born in raised in the town of Komárno, Slovakia within a loving family of his father, Béla and mother, Gisella and two older sisters, Júlia and Gisella. Many of Eddie's mothers's side of the family were musicians, including his grandfather. Eddie began studying music at age five at the Kormárno music academy with violinist and teacher, Géza Dobi. "My two sisters joke that the family spent half of their lives waiting for me to finish my music classes four times a week."

Eduard attended the Művészeti Alapiskola Komárno, Kormárno Music Conservatory where he is now a teacher of violin. He credits his family with encouraging him to pursue his musical abilities throughout his childhood. "My first violin teacher, Géza Dobi, was likewise, an enormous influence in my decision to pursue a career in music. He invested enormous dedication and effort in my education, always insisting that I work to my highest capacity."

In 2006, Eddie entered UKF Nitra (The University of Constantine the Philosopher) in the city of Nitra in Southwestern Slovakia. In 2007, Eddie won 1st Prize at the ŠVOUČ university competition. ŠVOUČ is a yearly competition among university students throughout Slovakia. He repeated that achievement in 2008 and 2009. In 2007, he also won 1st Prize in the orchestra category. In 2010, Eddie won 3rd Prize in the International ŠVOUČ competition held in the city of Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Republic.

In 2011, Eddie became the violin teacher at the Art Pegas Music School in the city of Bratislava, Slovakia. "While at Art Pegas, I had the opportunity to tour with a Slovak folklore orchestra and dance group. We toured Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and even Jordan –on the invitation of the King of Jordan. After graduating from university in 2013, I became deputy director of the Art Pegas School."

Since 2014, Eddie has taught at the Music School of Ógyalla, Slovakia. In 2015, Eddie was chosen as leader of the string orchestra of the Művészeti Alapiskola Komárno, Kormárno Music Conservatory where he also teaches violin. Eddie is a member of the Komárno Chamber Orchestra where he serves as concert master and deputy director.

"In 2017, I decided to try out my skills as a violin maker. I'm proud to say that I completed my first violin, and have now begun to repair violins for others." Additionally, Eddie is a guest violinist with the Herzogenberg Symphony Orchestra, named in honor of Austrian composer Heinrich von Herzogenberg. Eduard Kulin's violin can also be heard onto several classical music CDs.

Narrative by Mary Evelyn Porter

Júlia Kulin is a manager at Tesco, Kormarno in the nation of Slovakia. Tesco is a British based, multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer and the third-largest retailer in the world based on revenue. www.tesco.com

Júlia grew up in Kormarno with her sister, Gisella and younger brother Eduard. During the communist period, her father, Béla serviced heating systems and was a car mechanic while her mother, Gisella was a house wife. Júlia attended elementary and high school in Kormarno. In secondary school, Júlia specialized in food management.

After graduation from high school, Júlia worked in a number of stores in various positions. Six years ago, she applied to Tesco. At first, she was hired as a cashier and had to work her way up to her current position. "I manage employees. I give them a task and then explain to them how to accomplish it. I work with people on their personal problems as well as helping them to carry out their professional responsibilities."

As a manager in charge of decision making at a major retailer, Júlia has experienced many instances of anti-Roma prejudice on the job. "It's an everyday experience. Sometimes it's easier not to notice, and sometimes I need to point out that there are many kinds of people in the world and we need to judge people on what they accomplish not on their ethnic background. If you are Roma, you need to be twice as good as everybody else. Luckily I can manage that!"

Júlia plans to continue working at Tesco for a few more years, but then would like to start her own business with her sister. She would love to travel, but "I am just too busy at the moment."

It is very important to Júlia that the next generation of Roma fulfill their potential. "I would like to say to young Roma - First of all study. Stand up for yourself; for who you truly are."

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Mahrime, or "uncleanliness," has been a fundamental part of Romani culture, expressed in yet further aspersive terms. Such that I hesitated to cross the line. The notion of a Romani plumber is fundamentally mahrime, yet here before you is just one such individual, Mijuláš Lacko, plumber in Košice, and proud of it. Bearer of vocational education, professional plumber, in possession of his licence. His future plans? To continuously establish good friends, and raise his grandchildren. My guess is that where called upon, Mr Lacko's arrival is very much welcome, be one Romani, or not.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Here is someone with friends all over Slovakia. Janette (Maziniová) Motlová studied Social Sciences and Health, at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra. After graduation, she worked as an insurance adviser, laborer, assistant teacher at a primary school education manager for the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities. She has served as head of youth work development at the IUVENTA Slovak Youth Institute. She is co-author of the national project KomPrax — Competencies for Practice – which from January, 2011, has been IUVENTA's goal, to promote leadership and managerial skills in youth. Her blog is maziniova.blog.sme.sk, and in 2009 one of her articles won the Journalist Award for Best Article. She writes movingly of her childhood struggles with discrimination on the part of her classmates. Issues of skin colour were acute, and thrown in her face. Rather than ignore hard-won lessons learned under those trying circumstances, she now works with youth to help them overcome similar issues. She also just published her second novel.

From Romea

Her path to that education was not an easy one. While she wanted to study and was constantly asking questions, those around her wanted to see her as a future homemaker, mother and wife.

"Mom was my fan in her heart of hearts, for my 'rebelling', but she had to pretend she wasn't in front of our male Romani relatives. Sometimes she even cried about it. She wasn't crying because I was a good student, though. She always told me: 'You know that paper won't turn you into a gadjo [non-Roma]. Once you get a job, they will always see you as a gypsy [cigánka].' All of that she already knew, in her simple way, and she told me so. She was unhappy because I was growing inside, and she was right, she told me that if I went to school she would lose a daughter. She was right, because I no longer had anything in common with those around me," Motlová told online broadcaster ROMEA TV during the "Ten Minutes Plus" interview program.

Motlová matriculated to university 11 years after graduating from high school, graduating in social work and earning a master's. She established the Eduma nonprofit, where she teaches youth, with the aid of story-telling, about where our biases come from and how we can better understand our own emotions and fears.

She also began blogging for the newspaper SME.sk, for which she won a journalism award, and then she wrote her autobiography, Cigánka [Gypsy Woman]. "In the book I describe things I've done of which I wasn't proud. However, I describe why I had to do them. I wrote it for people whose children are Romani and who have to combat prejudice. Such children frequently think about who they are. What makes a Romani person Roma is not just the culture or the language. They've asked me many times if I can be a Romani woman at all when I don't speak Romanes. I tell them I feel as if I were a gadjo who feels like a Romani person," Motlová explains during the interview.

Why doesn't she speak Romanes at home? Which parts of her life come from the Roma and which from the Slovaks?

Janette is the director of the Research Institute for Child Psychology and Pathopsychology in Bratislava, Janette Motlová.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Braňo. Who would not love this guy? Totally informed, next to you, entirely in your face. This journalist scours all the internet and posts his own commentary. Getting into central Slovakia to finally meet him, we were immensely rewarded. Branislav Oláh is the real deal. His concern is the common man.



From Memory of Nations

Branislav Oláh comes from Detva. He was born on 13 August 1974. He has eight older siblings. His father's name was Ladislav, his mother Agnesa. His maternal grandfather was interned in a labour camp in Ilava and Hanušovce nad Topľou. Branislav's father was active in a partisan group and with his brothers they took part in the Slovak National Uprising. Two of them were probably in the Mauthausen camp. The witnesses' father was one of the members of the Union of Gypsies - Roma in Slovakia. Branislav attended primary school in Detva from 1980 to 1988. From 1988 to 1992 he studied at the Secondary Vocational School of Mechanical Engineering in Detva, majoring in the field of metallurgical materials as a storage operator. At school, he organized his classmates to protest during the Velvet Revolution in Zvolen, which they also took participated in. After the fall of the regime, he had jobs, mostly in the construction industry. In 2000 he became a journalist at the newspaper Roma New Letter, and later a blogger. He writes books about the Second World War and the Roma Holocaust. He collaborates with the civic association In Minorita on the project Ma bisteren! (Don't forget!). Since 2006 he has also been working as a field social worker. In 2021 he is still working and living in Detva.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Beata Bislim Oláhová is an official with Roma Education Fund in Budapest. From REF's page: Beata Bislim Olahova has been working at the Roma Education Fund in Budapest as a Project Grant Program Manager since 2006. Beata holds BS/BA honors degree in Business Management and an MBA from the Central European University Business School, Budapest. Since 2007, Beata has been a Member of the Management Board of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), having been nominated by the Slovak Republic. Before joining REF, Beata was involved in many human rights actions; among others, she worked with the European Roma Rights Center as a legal monitor for Slovakia where she was involved in human rights monitoring and worked to investigate potential cases of discrimination and human rights abuse. As a student of the post-graduate Roma Diplomacy Program of the Diplo Foundation, she participated and contributed to the international events on Roma Diplomacy, as a Challenge for European Institutions.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

One cannot but stand in deep awe at Mária Oláhová's presence, persistence, inevitable force. From Detva, deep in one of the most prejudicial regions of Slovakia, she chose to remain in Detva. And to become a one-woman agent of change. She founded the RFS twenty five years ago, and has thereby transformed the lives of many destitute in Detva. She additionally organised a Romani choir. In her spare time, acted in several films. Ms Oláhová is persuasively spiritual, certainly her source of strength. She emanates an irresistible joy.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Pay attention. Mgr Maroš Pecha has a message. Build, create work for others, train. Few know of this man. I like that. He works below radar, erects housing, trains fellow Romani in the absolute correct manner of the building trades. His father established the template, Maroš has extended that deeply into Slovakia, from original locus in Germany. On a mission, and very seriously so. We were absolutely captivated by his compelling message. Not only income, but training. From the ground up, "We know how to do this." Anyone visiting the extraordinarily solid home he built for his family would see compelling evidence. His conviction had us at go. Mgr Pecha's was the last portrait in Slovakia, so very appropriate.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

No way to anticipate Danka Pevná, her wealth of exuberance, how could one. The Teacher one would wish for all of us. Danka entered the classroom, and brought sunlight with her. Children racing up, showing their new work. She so invited one to learn.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

We drove for hours through the most beautiful countryside imaginable, to a farm at the end of the road. Where awaited the sovereign of the realm. Once a herder of pigs, she now cares for chickens and turkeys. And, writes. Erika Ptáčníková does not creep up on you: she freezes one with wisdom, warmth, beauty. While her mother-in-law frets delightfully, smiles, comments, one is drawn to the simple uniqueness in this bucolic tableau: a Romani woman in ownership of land, who also publishes novels popular among all Slovaks. She inserts an occasional Romani character here and there, but she is more concerned with taut plot, procedural logic, all carefully researched, in Slovakia and Czech police records. Later I would learn that Ms Hornáková was not immune in younger life to the ugliness of prejudice. Now, she keeps an eye on goslings wandering across lawn, as she composes on her laptop. The occasional cow looks over her shoulder. As we parted, she mused aloud, Should I kill off my (fictional) character or not?

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

Can we get serious. Truly thus. Dr Ivan Rác is about that. About how family and other violence presents. About how mental health ideation presents, and how such makes us all at risk. Here is someone who addresses that, and more. This is someone who does not shy away from the uncomfortable. Impressive educator at Nitra.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

We chased through Bratislava, this incredibly important person somehow was there, yet not here, not there. Finally. We connected. And dashed off to make a portrait. Communication, connexion, so very important. Romani deep contact. Before you, Petra Šarköziová, online host, thoroughly media competent, essential. The only presenter of Romani news in Slovakia. www.gipsytv.eu the HIRI. Utterly equivalent to any. We were simply blown away by her complete hip. Way above our heads. What a chance, to include this person from Slovakia. Valued.

Commentary by Chad Evans Wyatt

One learns immediately on meeting Jarmila Vaňová that she is a Journalist, not an advocate. Her pleasant greeting swiftly changes if one has misbehaved as a public official or an NGO officer. She is Program Director of the greatly-respected Roma Media Center (MECEM) in Košice, in eastern Slovakia. Along with fellow officer, Executive Director Dr Kristína Magdolenová, she has built that organisation into a formidable powerhouse of research, reporting, internet resource. Ms Vaňová does not tolerate hypocrisy at all. She knows legal procedure, and holds lazy public servants' feet to the fire. The MECEM site is replete of incisive reporting, video and print. This is an award-winning venture, deeply committed to finding and reporting facts. And appreciated internationally by those who wish to learn honest answers. The RomaRising project has known MECEM for a long time, finally we met Ms Vaňová in person. She was quite forthcoming with deeply-reasoned advice; we departed full of inspiration.



From Romea



Speaking to news server Romea.cz in Prague, Jarmila Vaňová, who was elected an MP to the unicameral legislature in the Slovak Republic on the ticket of the victorious Ordinary People and Independent Figures (OLaNO) movement, said she plans to dedicate herself to the same subjects she has focused on until now: education, human rights, and social policy. "I thank all my voters, the people who supported me, encouraged me, and aided me in the field. All those who participated in my campaign, the Romani mayors, the MPs, the activists, ordinary people who believed in me, my friends and my family. Without the support of all those people, this would not have been possible. I appreciate each vote, every one of who you drew that little circle," she said.

"Thanks go to my fellow candidates, we gave each other mutual support, and to the Romani Coalition Party (SRK) for delegating me to the candidate list of the OLaNO party, and naturally to Igor Matovič, who gave us a chance to be on his candidate list full of brilliant people," said Vaňová, who is pleased and perceives it as quite positive that there will be three Romani representatives in the legislature. "During the entire campaign I told the voters that we Romani people also need to have our representatives so the Romani voice can be heard. This is, at the same time, a great responsibility the voters have tasked us with, and I am approaching it with a great deal of humility," the new MP said to news server Romea.cz. "I am grateful to the Romani people who demonstrated their amazing mobilization to their fellow citizens in the Slovak Republic. I thank them for coming to the polls and demanding change," she said, adding that she will dedicate herself to the areas that interest her and to which she is devoted – education, human rights, and social policy.