Maria graduated from the Hungarian Literature and Linguistics and Romology at the University of Pecs. She was a student from 2014 to 2015 in the Roma English Language Program, and this year she wishes to improve her English language skills at an academic level in order to pursue a MA in Sociology and Social Anthropology at CEU.
“During my studies at the university I started working for an NGO with children and youth in childcare in 2005. At this time I learnt about how to work with children who come from different backgrounds. From 2009 until 2013 I worked for Autonomy Foundation, where I gained knowledge of assisting disadvantaged communities in several types of settlements. In 2010, I participated in a research project which examined how integrated education politicies were adopted in schools. I also gained experience about interviewing and survey making. In the same year, I was working as an expert and mentor in Equal Opportunity in Education and I analyzed the children’s situation in the schools. The above experiences improved my analytical skills and critical thinking. I also learned how to work in groups, as well as individually, in an effective way.
In the past 9 years I was working with socially disadvantaged people and I have learnt that nothing is typical, everything depends on the specific environment. I have practical experience about people living in extreme poverty in Hungary and I would like to develop my theoretical knowledge in the field. I am interested in rural development mainly where the Roma communities live. This is why I think that the Sociology and Social Anthropology Department of Central European University can help me achieve my above objective. The Roma Graduate Preparation Program equips me with the necessary knowledge to continue my studies at master’s level, and I think that my professional background and interdisciplinary education adds diversity to the program.”