Roma Children’s Library Network – Where Inclusion Begins With a Book
The Local Challenge
In many small communities in Romania and Moldova, Roma children grow up without books in their language or reflecting their culture. This lack of representation undermines self-esteem, school engagement, and social inclusion. Libraries, often the only public spaces open to all, want to serve every child but lack the materials and methods to do so. In areas marked by segregation, discrimination, and cultural invisibility, the urgent challenge is to transform libraries into inclusive cultural spaces where Roma children feel seen, welcome, and able to participate fully.
The Initiative
The Roma Children’s Library Network co-creates and delivers a practical, replicable library-based methodology focused on Roma identity, language, and storytelling. Seven partner libraries in Persinari, Șirna, Bârlad, Galicea, Frâncești, Titu, and Bezdead, rural Romanian communities, receive an online training course, access to a curated digital resource library, and monthly live peer-learning sessions. Each library also receives a programming kit with books, craft materials, and learning prompts to run local activities. The community partner coordinates the network, facilitates one-to-one mentoring, and ensures local adaptation of the method.
What’s Next?
The trained libraries will implement inclusive, culturally relevant programs for Roma and non-Roma children – including bilingual story hours, Roma-themed arts workshops, and mixed-group reading clubs, strengthening belonging, empathy, and early learning. The tested methodology will be refined for broader use, preparing for scaling across more libraries in Romania and Moldova. Over time, this network will position libraries as active drivers of inclusion, intercultural understanding, and community cohesion.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
