On October 30–31, 2025, Berlin will host the International Forum “Road of Memory,” a unique space for dialogue where the historical memory of the Roma community will meet contemporary challenges. The event will bring together Roma and non-Roma youth, researchers, activists, and artists to discuss how memory becomes a driving force for civic engagement and the Roma youth movement.
The forum will take place at the Bildungsforum gegen Antiziganismus and the Documentation and Cultural Center of German Sinti and Roma.
Why This Forum Matters
A special focus will be placed on the experience of Roma youth living “between two wars”: the historical trauma of the Holocaust and the present-day forced displacement caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their voices and testimonies are forming a new “living memory” that builds a bridge between the past and the future. The forum aims to demonstrate that memory is a powerful tool for solidarity and social change.
Key Highlights of the Forum Program
The two-day program is filled with diverse formats for dialogue across generations and countries. Participants will have the opportunity to join:
- Panel Discussions:
- “The Beginning of the Road: From Silence to Agency” – on how Roma historical memory became a driver for civil society.
- “The Turn of the Road: Between Two Wars” – on the role of Roma youth as memory makers amidst displacement and discrimination.
- Documentary Film Screenings: The program will feature the film “DROMA” on the development of the Roma movement in Ukraine, as well as a film about the creation of the exhibition.
- Open Space with Interactive Stations: Participants can explore projects such as the DROMA Digital Archive, graphic novels about the Roma genocide, and educational tools.
- Cultural Program & Networking: The program will include guided tours, performances, and informal networking opportunities.
Centerpiece Event: The “Memory Bridges” Exhibition
The key event of the forum is the transnational artistic project “Memory Bridges.” The exhibition connects the testimonies of Roma genocide survivors with the experiences of those affected by the current war in Ukraine. The project is based on using palms as symbolic canvases, where youth inscribe stories of survival, transforming stigma into a tool for memory and resistance.
Exhibition Curators: Tetiana Storozhko and Artur Ivanenko.
Join the Event in Berlin
Participation in the forum is free, but spaces are limited, so prior registration is required.
- Register for participation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMZDXGVDJQSGtUWDYno53vBr0bPp4QC7MHcmaOrqUhzbsEFQ/viewform?usp=header
Follow the updates on the official Facebook event page and join the conversation.
Organizers and Partners
The forum is organized by a coalition of organizations, including the TENET – Center for Social Transformations, the Kherson Youth Roma Society (KYRS), the Documentation and Cultural Center of German Sinti and Roma, TernYpe, Jaw Dikh Foundation, and others.
The event is supported by the House of Europe programme (funded by the EU), the EVZ Foundation, and the German Federal Foreign Office.
