We are excited to introduce the 2024/2025 RGPP cohort!
Adam Lakatos, Hungary
Adam was born in Debrecen, the second biggest city in Hungary. Growing up, he wanted to be a police officer. He holds an advanced certificate in customs and excise tax administration from the University of Nyiregyhaza. During his studies, Adam developed an interest in economics, leading him to pursue a degree in economics and management at university. For four years, he was a student at the Roma Szakkollégium. Adam decided to take introductory classes in public policy, a subject that has long been of interest to him. After RGPP, he hopes to continue his studies at the MA level.
Ana Victoria Amador Vargas
Ana Victoria is from Granada, Spain. She has a BA degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources from the University of Granada. She has worked for a long time as a social interventionist with the Roma community in different organizations in Spain, such as the Federation of Roma University Women, Fakali, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano. She has also been a speaker at various trainings, conferences and seminars dedicated to social intervention and gender equality. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and painting, and has collaborated in some painting exhibitions in the province of Granada. In addition, she has studied at the Conservatory of Music and Dance in Granada, which has allowed her to work occasionally as a dancer and as a theater actress in the Company of Gitanas a Escena. During her RGPP year, she is taking tutorial classes in public policy. She is also taking classes in Romani language.
Bianca Nestian, Romania
Bianca comes from Romania. Though she describes herself as a simple person, her experiences at 21 reflect a strong dedication to learning, community involvement, and personal development. Her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in philology at the University of Bucharest’s Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures led her to reconnect with her identity, a process that has been deeply important to her. For Bianca, education has always been a great privilege, and she credits the unwavering support of her parents in her journey. With her sights set on continuing her studies at the master’s level, she sees this RGPP as essential in becoming the best version of herself—someone who can give back to her community and to those who have helped her along the way. At RGPP, CEU she is immersing herself into the subject of international relations, as well as that sociology, and she hopes to gain the knowledge, skills, and understandingnecessary to create meaningful change and uplift others, just as she has been supported.
Felicia Christina, Romania
Felicia is from Bucharest, Romania. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Bucharest. Throughout her life, she has been inspired by her experiences and interactions with supportive mentors, teachers, and individuals from non-governmental organizations, which have fueled her deep passion for social justice. For Felicia, success means having the ability to help others and contribute to the smooth functioning of a fair and just society. To achieve this, she will dive into International Relations and Public Policy during the RGPP program at CEU. She is passionate about social justice and aims to pursue a master’s degree in Human Rights.
Ildiko Ignacz, Hungary
Ildikó comes from Hungary. She graduated in social studies from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Pécs, majoring in Social Studies. She volunteered several times during her studies. She wrote her thesis about the possibility of ffurther education for students at the University of the Roma High School in Pécs. Prior to coming to RGPP, she volunteered for a year in southern Italy, where she worked with the elderly. In the future, she wants to do a meaningful job where she can also use her love for journalism. During her RGPP year, Ildiko is taking classes in international relations / political science.
Katinka Mari, Hungary
Katinka comes from Hungary. She was born in Budapest but spent her childhood in Dunaharaszti and Kecskemét. After graduating from high school, she lived and worked in Germany and Switzerland. Coming back to Budapest, she graduated from Eötvös Loránd University with a BA in German Studies in 2023. Her thesis explored the historical and literary aspects of the Roma Holocaust. This year, she is continuing her studies in the Roma Graduate Preparation Program at Central European University to further her research on the Porrajmos. Katinka is taking tutorial classes in history. She is also taking classes in Romani language.
Magdalena Sarandeva, Bulgaria, Belgium
Maggie was born in Bulgaria. She has lived in Bulgaria and Belgium. Maggie holds a major in philology, a minor in teaching for the secondary school and a four-year-bachelor’s degree in philology of Slavic Studies. Later in her life, she decided to extend her study experience as a Full-Stack Developer student in Belgium to help her prepare for a master’s degree in digital text analysis. During her RGPP year, she is taking tutorial classes in mathematics, and she hopes to pursue further studies at a higher level. She is also taking elective coding classes.
Reka Bardi, Hungary
Réka comes from a small town called Ibrány in Hungary. Réka is a first generation student in her family. She decided to study business and management when she worked in a bank after high school. Réka graduated from the University of Nyíregyháza as an economist in 2024. During her studies she was active in the social sector, working with disadvantaged children. She was also a student at the Roma Szakkollegium. During her RGPP year, she studies public policy. In the future she would like to study economics at CEU.
Veronika Balogh, Hungary
Veronika comes from Budapest, Hungary. She studied social work at the Jewish Theological Seminary University of Jewish Studies. Her thesis explored how theater education can address the negative psychological and social-psychological impact of the discrimination experienced by Roma children. Prior to RGPP, Veronika also completed the Pre-RGPP online course. She has chosen Sociology for her tutorial in RGPP at CEU. She believes that social work is the practical application of sociology. She is also taking classes in Romani language.
Zoltan Turo, Hungary
Zoltán comes from Hungary. He recently earned his BA in Sociology from Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary. During his RGPP year, he is taking introductory classes in sociology, cultural anthropology and gender Studies. Zoltán’s diverse interests are reflected in his varied academic pursuits (including participation in Holocaust commemoration projects, Roma community video campaigns, and European political youth programs) and publications. His BA thesis examined the educational situation, motivation, and performance of Roma children in a primary school in a mid-sized Hungarian city. This thesis was awarded a special prize at the local university Scientific Student Conference. Although he has primarily focused on Roma-related topics, he now aims to explore the relationship between music and society in his studies, inspired by enjoyable "mini research projects" in music sociology that he conducted in his free time. He intends to explore the impact of superstars and regional celebrities on societal trends and also on society itself, using data analysis and sociological methods. Zoltán’s unique perspective, influenced by his INFP personality type and experiences with ADHD, allows him to approach these diverse topics with creativity and enthusiasm.