ECMI::.COORDINATORS::.Serbia:..

Coordinators

Alit Amzić, Aleksinac. Graduated from primary and secondary veterinary school in Aleksinac. Final-year student at the Faculty of Law of the University of Niš. In the course of his university studies, Mr Amzić has been a fellowship recipient of the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) in Budapest. He is a member of the Program Council of the Romani radio-television station “Nišava”, as well as spokesperson for the Romani NGO “Dobra volja” (Goodwill) in Aleksinac.

Radovan Asković, Pirot. Completed secondary school in Pirot. Mr Asković has been active in the non-governmental sector since the year 2000. His contributions to the Romani community have been many and varied, including work with preschool-age children, primary education, social policy and education, legislation, and healthcare. He also maintains an interest in collecting historical material about Roms and their life stories in the municipality of Pirot.

Dejan Bajramović, Vranje. Completed primary and secondary education in economics in Vranje. Currently works as an assistant in Romani-language instruction at the preschool and primary school levels. Mr Bajramović has been an active member of the “Rom” Society in Vranje since 1989, also co-founding the association “Romani Asvi” (Romani Teardrop) in 2004. Before serving in his current capacity as Representative of the Romani National Minority in the municipality of Vranje, Mr Bajramović was a member of the municipal Office for the Realization and Protection of the Personal and Collective Rights of the Romani National Minority.

Lidija Bajramović, Negotin. Graduated from secondary school in Negotin with an emphasis on natural sciences and mathematics. Ms Bajramović is also co-founder and secretary of the Association of Roms of Negotin.

Suzana Dinulović, Bela Palanka. Studied Arabic, Turkish, and Persian languages at the University of Sarajevo. An able entrepreneur, Ms Dinulović previously owned a firm which distributed iron goods. She has also worked on computer protocols in the central laboratory of Pirot Hospital. In the NGO sector, she participated in a project to train young Roms in blacksmithing with the purpose of preserving the blacksmithing trade. Most recently, Ms Dinulović brokered a memorandum of cooperation between the NGO “Vordon” and a Bulgarian counterpart to promote cross-border cooperation between Serbia and Bulgaria.

Nedžip Eminović, Leskovac. A music teacher by profession, Mr Eminović has worked for Romani emancipation and integration since 1975. After serving as a member of the executive committee of the “Sait Balić” Society in Niš and two-term president of the Society for Roms’ Culture and Education “Hisar”, he registered his own Romani NGO, the Union of Roms “Nevo Đivdipe” (New Life). In 2003, Mr Eminović became the first Romani coordinator in Serbia and Montenegro, as well a member of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Leskovac. He is also a founding member and president of the Balkan Network for Roms’ Development and Integration. Additionally, Mr Eminović has served two terms as president of the Union of Romani Societies of the Pčinsko-Jablanički Region, which he also played a leading role in establishing.

Dragan Gračanin, Valjevo. Born in Valjevo, Mr Gračanin took his diploma from the Higher School for Information Systems and Communication Technologies in Belgrade. In addition to completing training for young Romani leaders, he has undergone training in advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, democracy, and political studies. Mr Gračanin has volunteered in various Romani NGOs, currently serving as programme manager in the Romani Centre for Democracy.

Zoran Kalanjoš, Sombor. Student in computer science at the University of Novi Sad. Currently secretary of the Romani NGO in which he has been an active member since 1998. Mr Kalanjoš has also coordinated many successfully realized projects in the municipality of Sombor.

Slavica Petrović, Barajevo. Student at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Belgrade. Ms Petrović is active in the field of education for Romani children and adults, working in collaboration with the primary school in Barajevo and the School for Adult Education “Đuro Salaj”. Additionally, she organized and hosted the cultural manifestation “Dani Roma Barajeva” (Barajevo Romani Days) in December 2005 on the occasion of Human Rights Day.

Živorad Rakić, Grocka. After completing primary school in Vienna, Mr Rakić enrolled in secondary school in Bonn, where he took a diploma in management and business. He has worked to solve the problems of the Romani population in the municipality of Grocka since 1992. Mr Rakić is president of the Romani Centre “Sloboda” (Freedom).

Srba Stoilković, Vlasotince. Completed primary and secondary school in Vlasotince. Mr Stoilković’s engagement for Roms’ emancipation and integration began early in life. Since 2004, he has also served as president of the Association of Roms of Vlasotince, where he has been active in promoting cooperation with the Red Cross for voluntary blood donation, as well as in improving the infrastructure of Romani settlements and securing space for the work of Romani NGOs.

Zorica Stanković, Novi Beograd. Ms Stanković began her engagement to solve problems faced by Roms in 1999, when she served as secretary of the Party of Romani Unity. In 2001, she was appointed president of the Romani Centre for Children’s Rights. She has also worked as coordinator of the nursery school run by the Humanitarian Association “Romsko srce” (Romani Heart), and became secretary of that Association in 2004.

Zora Šerifović, Bujanovac. Ms Šerifović’s work on issues particularly affecting Roms began in Leskovac in 1983. Ms Šerifović also completed economic-commercial and legal-secretarial school in Leskovac, taking a diploma as a business secretary. She has continued her work since moving to Bujanovac, where, in addition to her duties in the municipality, she serves as secretary of the NGO “Centre for Roms’ Progress”.