Village youth in Hungary

The aim of my project is to present the lives of Roma youngsters living in the Hungarian countryside, looking for an answer to what external and internal influences form their personality and self-image. Family ties and relations play an extremely important part in Roma communities, thus observing them are essential in understanding the values and traditions that are still strongly present in their culture to this day, and which also fundamentally define their identity.

Some of the problems faced by Roma communities across Europe are reflected in young Roma’s transition to adulthood, namely poverty, exclusion and lack of opportunities within and outside their community. Although today there are a large number of important initiatives that promote Roma inclusion, (in terms of education, reproductive health, employment opportunities and so on), it is essential that this is done in light of the environmental influences, their social habits, beliefs and unique traditions.

My series is based on personal motivation too, as I have been interested in Roma culture for a long time. In the past few years I have formed a close relationship with a small community in Nógrád County, and and such I have had the opportunity to be present at important family events such as births, weddings, birthdays, village fairs, funerals.

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