Developing Regional Cooperation

among Roma Entrepreneurs

SUCCESS STORIES OF ROMA

ENTREPRENEURS IN HUNGARY
CZECHIA AND SLOVAKIA
DECEMBER 2020
This booklet is produced as an outcome of the project “Developing
Regional Cooperation among Roma Entrepreneurs” , implemented in
May 2019 - December 2020, co-financed by the Governments of
Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants
from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to
advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.

www.redi-ngo.EU
A ve minutes walk into a Roma
community from any country in the V4
region is depressive: poverty, lack of
infrastructure, discrimination are very
visible. Governments do little to support the
development of these communities. The
majority in these countries generally
perceive Roma people as lazy, unwilling to
nd and keep work, and more interested in
living on welfare. But we speak of a few
million people!
Our long-term goal is to change this
narrative about the Roma communities by
supporting existing Roma entrepreneurs
and helping them start developing from
within their communities.
Developing Regional Cooperation among
Roma Entrepreneursis a rst preparatory
phase focused on supporting Roma
entrepreneurs in V4 countries through
capacitating partner NGOs, building
cadre, mapping entrepreneurs, and getting
them connected.
The project was led by the Roma
Entrepreneurship Development Initiative
REDI, an international network of Roma
NGO s focused on developing an
eco-system and nancial inclusion of Roma
entrepreneurs in Western Balkan and
Europe.
REDI implemented the project in
partnership with Uccu Roma Informal
Educational Foundation from Hungary,
Center of Common Interest from Czechia,
and Dakujem PALIKERAV from Slovakia.
As a result of the project, we outreached
and mapped a total number of 236 Roma
entrepreneurs. We have provided
information support and consultancy
services to 84 Roma entrepreneurs,
created three national Roma Call Centers,
and organized an online regional
matchmaking event to create networking
linkages between Roma and non-Roma
entrepreneurs.
In this booklet, we share 15 successful
stories of Roma entrepreneurs from
Hungary, Czechia, and Slovakia, aiming
to shift narratives and produce a positive
image of successful Roma entrepreneurs
in the region.
These stories are few among many other
millions of successful Roma entrepreneurs
who stay behind the scene!
Ladislav Horvath was born in Eastern Slovakia. His
family, musicians, moved to Brno after the
revolution. He is also a musician himself, playing
the piano. However, after a certain age, he
realized that music is not his profession.
In my rst job, I worked in the excavation and did
earthworks. It was tough, which taught me the
value of work. During this time, I have seen many
Roma entrepreneurs who are very successful. For
that reason, I decided to do my own business.
I founded a construction company. I was lucky
because I was surrounded by many successful
Roma entrepreneurs who helped me get the rst
important construction contracts.
I started in earthworks and excavations with few
people. Now I consistently employ ten people.
Our specialization remains earthworks, which will
always be in great demand.
I am glad that we have the same contracting
authorities for many years. Doing quality work is
an essential value for the business. Happy to have
a stable team of responsible people. With my
story, I want to motivate other Roma people to do
business as well.
Zaneta Danielova was born in Brno. She
graduated from business school.
During my studies, I worked in my father’s
company in the accounting sector, handling
accounting and administrative tasks. Later, I
worked as an operational manager in a cleaning
company.
After this work-experience, I decided to establish
my own cleaning company. From the beginning, I
managed to get bigger job-orders and some
smaller ones. It was a signi cant advantage for me
as a new business-woman to get these deals. I
don’t have a company website, but it is an honor to
call a potential client interested in cleaning with
someone recommending us.
I appreciate my employees, and it is my main
priority to make them satis ed, at least nancially. I
am happy to have a stable team of people with
whom we have become friends.
Currently, I received a government contract, and it
is a win at this challenging time. My goal is to
employ Roma people, especially Roma women,
who have more dif culties accessing the labor
market.
Mario Stojka was born in Ostrava in a
business family. His father was a
successful Roma entrepreneur in the
construction area, and Mario learned
from him as a child. He grew up with
four brothers and three sisters and had
to start working to support his family.
Later he decided to found his own
company.
My brother lent me 20,000 crowns. I
added a few more crowns and started
with that. I started the company from
scratch together with two staff. They
bought pickaxes, shovels, and other
necessary equipment and went
digging and doing ancillary work.
The beginnings were not easy, but we
worked out ourselves and got
signi cant construction contracts.
Diligence and a clear goal were
essential. From the rst money we
earned, we bought other necessary
equipment for our work. Then we
purchased a working car, clothes, and
invested in the rst advertisement.
I currently employ 20 permanent
people. Most of them are Roma. The
employment of Roma should be the
responsibility of Roma entrepreneurs.
I see education and a positive
approach to work as the key to
become successful.
Business is challenging but also
independent and exciting. I wish all
start-ups success!
Kvetoslav Daniel was born in Holic
(western part of Slovakia). As a
child, he wanted to be a bricklayer.
When Kvetoslav graduated, he went
into practice. For many years he
worked in the construction area and
built houses. Later, he decided to
open his own construction company.
He started with smaller offers.
Predominantly it was earth and
excavation work. He gained many
connections based on his character
and friendly approach, which
helped him develop the business. His
company slowly grew up.
The great success came when they
obtained the biggest construction
contracts in Brno. At that time the
company employed more than 80
people.
His motto is: "You will reach the
farthest only with honesty.", which
represents his quality of work. The
contracting authorities are always
satis ed with the performance of the
company. He uses a similar
approach with his employees,
paying them the salaries on time.
Kvetoslav Daniel has well-deserved
respect in the South Moravian region
between Roma people but also in
mainstream society. He appreciates
all Roma entrepreneurs who strive to
succeed in business and strong
competition.
Anna Melkova, was born in Vyskov of
the South Moravian region.
My father spent his whole life working
with wood. It inspired me to be
creative and bene cial to my
surroundings. Already as a child, I had
a positive attitude towards movement
and outdoor activities. I have been
engaged in professional physical
activities for several years. I enjoy and
ful ll the work of a lecturer.
I have been a certi ed yoga teacher
since 2019. It never occurred to me
that I would be a yoga teacher, but it
happened.
I have always loved movement, and
the general relationship to sports has
been a part of me since I was a child.
After 15 years of spinning teaching,
we longed for a change and tried
yoga. After taking a few lessons, yoga
penetrated my daily life and settling
there permanently.
I hope you will also nd out in my
lessons that yoga is a movement that
consumes one, but thanks to breathing
and concentration, full strength and
energy go away.
I believe that my studio will allow me
to provide high-quality service and
care for our customers.
I look forward to seeing you at my
lessons in our studio.
I am KlÆra GulyÆs, chair of the EpisztØmØ- Researcher, I was an employee in Gyros buffets for nearly ten years.
Community builder, and Cultural Association. After a while, I felt that I wanted more than that. I
always had the drive to execute my ideas, recipes, and
establish my own business. This year I opened my buffet
as a family business at VÆc, a town by the Danube.
The organization’s main pro le is to research the
ethnicities and minorities living in the Carpathian-basin.
These researches are conducted in the elds of history,
In Csoda Gyros we are waiting for our guests with a
social sciences, and cultural anthropology. Moreover,
wide range of hot-dogs, hamburgers, gyros, and
EpisztØmØ has a community development activity for
salads.
the examined groups. Accentual goal to study the
cohabitation situations between Roma and non-Roma.
The biggest challenge was transforming the goals into
In addition to tracing Roma cultural traditions,
reality, to nd a suitable place and business image.
preserving tradition, strengthening Roma identity, and
Besides this, to start the operation and getting the
attain more Roma cultural representation.
permits was not an easy task because of the lengthy
procedures and the bureaucratic system. We
succeeded in opening the buffet in October of 2020.
The Association’s targetis local, Hungarian
municipalities along with transborder ethnic Hungarian
villages. Involving these subregions in community At the Csoda Gyros we work with our recipes, sauces,
development and social innovations and expansions. fresh and quality ingredients. I hope we will prosper in
the future and extend our business.

I believe the recipe for success is will power, invested

We would like to achieve a better and higher quality of energy, and a process to make our plans happen.
life for the locals by strengthening their skills of Believe in yourself and nd that pursuit in which you feel
self-advocacy, local identity, and local publicity. terri c. Do not let people dissuade you from your plans.
Furthermore, we would like to execute projects, aiming
at the young Roma and children living in settlements
that help establish a more just and inclusive society.
I graduated from the Faculty of Law at
the KÆroli GÆspÆr University of the
Reformed Church. After my studies, I
worked at a bank as a risk assessment
expert. Besides this, I am volunteering
at a program that helps Roma
integrate into the labor market. We
help Roma candidates land
white-collar jobs.
Inspired by the work we do, I wanted
to help more Roma. Hence, with my
business partner, we found Aroma TV
channel to provide extensive help.
We aim to ght the preconceptions
against Roma and explore future
partnerships to support Roma
entrepreneurs through this project.
Besides wanting to showcase the
beauty of the Roma culture, there are a
few more reasons why we started
Aroma Tv. Based on my own
experience, there is a lack of a
platform where our focus group- the
young Roma can access information
about their opportunities.
My goal is to ll in for this platform. I
want to help talented singers make
their videos and support Roma
businesses by advertising them. I hope
with my efforts, I can help to advance
the process for an inclusive society.
Coming from extreme poverty, I often
heard, you won t succeed. I try to
deny these kinds of sentences and
make it into a motivation of mine.
Believe in yourselves and never give
up! Be diligent and dare to dream big!
I am Marcsi Baranyi, a journalist,
coach-mediator, and communication
consultant. My motto: From
disadvantage to advantage, from
dream to reality.
As a social worker, I conducted
hundreds of hours assisting
conversation. Most of the time, the
clients weren t motivated in setting
goals and reaching them. It often
happened that I cared more about
xing their problems than themselves.
At least, this is what their behavior
implied. Hence, I decided to help
those, who are truly motivated and are
willing to step out of their comfort zone.
I searched for new opportunities. In the
redesign of my path, I had help in the
form of coaching, mediation,
self-awareness, and communication
training. Forging all of my knowledge
and experience I decided to establish
my entrepreneurship. I stepped out of
the employee status and became a
freelancer.
As a coach, mediator, and communi-
cational trainer I motivate people and
I write articles in this eld as well. I
help people to believe, that in small
steps but you can make your dreams
your reality and you can start over
anytime if faith ordained that.
I am Dzsennifer va Kanalas and I
own a business, called Elite Box
Budapest by Jennifer.
I am 22 years old and I was 9 when I
rst helped at my parent s business.
This is how acquired the craft of
trading. The brand Elite Box
Budapest came to life in 2018 as an
online webshop after I dreamt about it
for a year. In 2020 I succeeded to
open my rst shop. At the Elite Box
Budapest s service is to make unique
and special gift Boxes. I love my job
since I like being one-of-a-kind and I
can express my creativity through the
boxes. I like to make people happy.
My biggest dream is to have my brand
and shops present all over the globe.
My rst shop is successful. I am
planning to have my next shop on the
island of Tenerife. The plans are
already made, my next boutique will
be at Santa Cruz on the ocean s shore.
I would advise everyone not to give
up their dreams. Just believe in
yourselves and you will reach your
goals. Nothing is impossible. Avoid
negative thoughts.
I am Mariana Balogova, I am 38 years old, and I come
from a small village Vtackovce in Slovakia. I am
married and have two children.
I met my husband when I was very young. I was not
able to nish high school because I was pregnant.
I thought during maternity leave, what could I do
without education and with a small baby. I decided to
start my own business and created a small shop with
food in my house, which was at the beginning, opened
when my son was sleeping. It was vital for me to do
something and not just stay at home.
It was a great and easy idea- people always needed to
buy food, and I also needed to earn money during
maternity leave. The shop was the easiest way for this.
Additionally, I took driving licenses to buy the goods on
my own for the shop.
In the future, I would like to employ somebody because
nowadays I work alone in my shop.
Don t be shy to ask for help. When you need assistance,
you should always ask for it. If you ask for help, it
doesn·t mean that you are a weak person. It means that
you want to do things better!
My name is Andrej Vasil. I come from a village called
Secovska Polianka in Slovakia. I am 56 years old, and
I am the father of 6 kids. I taught my children the fact
that education is crucial.
I studied at a technical high school. As a teenager, I
was always thinking about how to do business and in
which area. I thought it would be effortless to do my
own business, but actually, it was not. I encountered a
lot of challenges, but I did not give up on doing my
own business. Instead, I was more eager to develop
my business more and more and to help people to ful ll
their dreams.
Starting a business was very dif cult. I had to think
about everything, starting from the initial capital up to
the chosen sector and employees.
My vision for the business was clear, to employ as
many people as possible and help them with nances.
Roma also have the right to a better life. Therefore, it is
necessary to try everything possible; even if we fall ten
times, we need to get up 11 times and continue.
Hi, my name is Mario Maco, and I am 30 years old. I
am Roma, living in a small village in Slovakia called
Varha ovce. I am married and have three sons. I
studied economy in secondary school. I was good at
school, but I couldn’t go to university because I met my
wife and wanted to have a family.
After nishing high school, I was unemployed for three
months. I always wanted to follow my father’s steps,
who was a builder and knew how to take care of 6 sons.
I worked with him as a young adult during the summer
holidays. When my father retired, I created my own
business, and my father supported me.
In Slovakia, the government helps unemployed people
who want to create their businesses with training,
business plan creation, and a grant of 3000 .
I created my own construction company with the
government program’s support and bought the initial
equipment needed for my business. My brothers were
the company’s rst employees because all of them have
experience in construction, and later I employed other
unemployed men from our village.
I knew that this business is progressive, and I can earn
money with this work. Like many other businesses, I
encountered many challenges. Competition is always
there. In the beginning, I had to show that my employees
and I have the experience to be better than the others.
You must believe in yourself and make everything that is
in your power!
Hi, my name is Stano Balog, I am 27 years old, and I
live in Vtackovce in Slovakia. I am studying architecture
at University. My father had a construction company for
many years, and he was always telling me that I have to
study architecture, and he will help me establish my own
company.
My grandfather has four sons, and all of them work in
construction. Everybody in the family wanted me to
study architecture. I was passionate about music and
football. And this was my life.
But three years ago, something happened and
changed my mind.
My father, who has been working his entire life for my
family and me, broke his leg and could no longer work.
I understood that this was a serious issue, and I had to
take responsibility and start working. I took over his
business.
In the beginning, I had issues with the employees who
were older than me, and I had to gain their respect.
After nishing the studies, I was sure that the business
would be even better.
My grandfather always was telling me that school is the
most important. You must study and work harder, and
your lifestyle can be a motivation for others! And don·t
forget- Fight and never lose.
 LEADING ORGANIZATION
Roma Entrepreneurship Development
Initiative - REDI Skopje +
Address: Miladin Popovikj 4/1A, 1020
Karposh-Skopje, North Macedonia
Web: www.redi-ngo.EU
Email: office@redi-ngo.eu

PARTNER 1
Uccu Roma Informal
Educational Foundation +
Address: Gyöngyház utca 8
2/1, Budapest, 1132 , Hungary
web: www.uccualapitvany.hu
E-mail: info@uccualapitvany.hu

PARTNER 2
Name: Center of common
interest
Address: Mikulovska 1, Brno,
628 00, Czech Republic
Web: www.spolecnyzajem.cz
E-mail: tomasscuka@volny.cz
PARTNER 3
Name: Dakujem -
"PALIKERAV"
Address: Varhaňovce 95, 082
05 Šarišské Bohdanovce
Web: www.kniznyklubpalikerav.sk
ozdakujempalikerav@gmail.com