Roma Summer School “Remembering Together” Launches in Berlin

On 11 June 2025, the first international Roma History Summer School “Remembering Together” was launched in Berlin. The educational programme brought together young people of Roma and non-Roma background from Ukraine and across Europe to jointly explore the tragedy of Roma and Sinti in the 20th century — with a particular focus on the period of World War II.

For several days, participants will delve into the lesser-known chapters of history related to the persecution of Roma and Sinti, reflect on memory politics, and search for a common language to better understand themselves and one another.

The school was organised by the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA” in partnership with the Society for Threatened Peoples International (STPI / GfbV) and with the financial support of the German foundation Stiftung EVZ (“Remembrance, Responsibility and Future”).

The programme combines academic depth with personal reflection: lectures on Roma history in the interwar period, a screening of the documentary The Forgotten Genocide, discussions on anti-Roma legislation in 1930s Germany, a visit to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, and a space for working with personal stories — participants will keep personal journals and share their reflections at the end of the school.

Among the speakers are historian Dr. Hanna Abakunova and PhD candidate Rufat Demirov, both specialising in the genocide of Roma in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

The school was also supported by Sarah Reinke, Head of the Berlin Office of STPI, who shared:

"I was invited to join as a partner, and I immediately said yes — the idea of the project really touched me. The school is funded by the EVZ Foundation, which we know well. And although my involvement was minimal, I kept asking: what more can I do?"

For Reinke, as well as for the organisers, the main goal was to create a shared space for experience exchange among Roma youth from Ukraine, Germany, and other European countries:

"It is incredibly valuable to bring people with different backgrounds together and allow them to learn from one another. The genocide of Roma is still not sufficiently covered in German school curricula. Meanwhile, the killings of Roma and Jews took place on the territory of present-day Ukraine and Belarus. This is our shared history — and we must know it."

She also emphasised that the format of the school enables not only knowledge acquisition but also challenges participants’ existing assumptions:

"In my opinion, this summer school is truly special — it not only provides deep knowledge, but also creates a space for interaction and mutual learning. Here, you don’t just listen — you ask questions, you try to understand why someone thinks differently. It’s always about deep self-reflection — when you encounter different stories, experiences, and perspectives, you begin to question your own assumptions. This is real learning."

The Roma History Summer School “Remembering Together” aims to promote awareness of little-known historical episodes, foster critical thinking, and support intercultural dialogue among the younger generation.

Photo: Participants of the Summer School during lectures and the visit to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Photo by the author