Accountability and Trust: ARCA’s 2025 Highlights

2025 was a year of strengthening the visibility of the Roma community in Ukraine and beyond for the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture (ARCA). Despite the challenges of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, our team continued its work in human rights advocacy, memory culture initiatives, support for Roma communities, youth education, and international cooperation.

“In times like these, issues of human rights, cultural diversity, and the inclusion of vulnerable communities are often pushed into the background. Yet it is precisely in such moments that it becomes especially important to prevent the silence, stigmatization, or exclusion of entire peoples and cultures from public life,” says Volodymyr Yakovenko, Executive Director of the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture (ARCA).

One of ARCA’s key priorities in 2025 was preserving the historical memory of the Roma genocide during World War II. The organization took part in commemorative events marking the International Roma Genocide Remembrance Day at Babyn Yar and launched the thematic and narrative exhibition Invisible. Resilience: The Past and Present of Roma People, which brought together historical materials, artistic works, and contemporary stories from the Roma community.

The development of educational and cultural initiatives also remained an important part of ARCA’s work. Throughout the year, the team published The Earth Breathed, a documentary graphic novel based on the experiences of Roma genocide survivors, and Bahtalo. Stories of Ukrainian Roma, as well as organized an international summer school on Roma history for young people from Ukraine and across Europe.

In partnership with the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, ARCA implemented a comprehensive support project for Roma communities in the Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The initiative combined humanitarian assistance with vocational training opportunities for Roma women and youth, helping communities address urgent needs while creating conditions for their long-term development.

In 2025, ARCA also actively contributed to international discussions by presenting the Ukrainian experience and advocating for Roma inclusion at United Nations platforms, the Café Kyiv international forum, and Ukrainian-German partnership events. Participation in these initiatives helped amplify the voices of Roma communities and draw greater attention to human rights, inclusion, and the role of culture in Ukraine’s recovery.

Financial transparency and accountability remain fundamental values for our organization. That is why ARCA’s financial activities for 2025 were reviewed through an independent financial audit. We believe that openness and the responsible use of resources are essential to maintaining the trust of our partners, donors, and the communities we serve. Our goal is not only to implement meaningful projects but also to remain fully transparent and accountable in reporting on our work and its impact.

To learn more about our projects, partnerships, international activities, and financial results, we invite you to read the full 2025 Annual Report of the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture (ARCA): https://arca.org.ua/en/about_us/