“As a young girl returning from abroad, I faced a fear of school, a language barrier, and the prejudices that accompanied my Roma identity. I often heard that Roma girls should not be educated and that their future was predetermined,”this is how Anita begins her story.
Anita Beriša is a successful Roma woman from Montenegro, known for her academic achievements. She was the first Roma woman to enrol in a Master’s programme in Montenegro. Through her example, she promotes the importance of education among Roma communities. Today, she works in the field of European integration at the Ministry of European Affairs.
“Working at the Ministry of European Affairs, I feel that all my effort and education are being returned to me through the opportunity to contribute to society and to serve as an example for younger generations, especially girls from the Roma community,” said Beriša.
Roma women are often doubly marginalised – both as women and as members of the Roma community.
For this reason, examples like Anita’s must be as visible as possible in institutions, education, and public life, as this is the only way to change societal perceptions.
Being the first Roma woman to pursue a Master’s degree in Montenegro was, for Anita, a moment of great pride, but also of responsibility.
“I knew that other girls from my community were watching my path, and I wanted to show them that it is possible to go beyond what society often imposes as a limit,” Beriša stated.
Her achievement represented a symbolic step forward for the entire Roma community and proved that education has no ethnic boundaries.