"Young people need to carefully think about profession they are choosing, so that tomorrow they have a better opportunity for employment in Serbia, but also abroad. That diploma is important for getting employed but is not the most important. You have to keep working on yourself. You have to gain some additional skills, such as working on a computer. It is good to be educated, Roma should be educated, but a diploma alone does not mean that you should not constantly progress and acquire additional skills."
Željko completed primary and secondary school in Mechanical Engineering in Vršac. He enrolled the Faculty of Law in Novi Sad and during his studies was a Roma Education Fund scholar. After graduating from the Faculty of Law, within the project “Employment Empowerment of Young Roma – phase 2”, Željko completed an internship at a Lawyer’s office. Currently, he is preparing for the bar exam and works as an associate at the Radio Television Vojvodina, Roma redaction.
“Young people need to carefully think about profession they are choosing, so that tomorrow they have a better opportunity for employment in Serbia, but also abroad. That diploma is important for getting employed but is not the most important. You have to keep working on yourself. You have to gain some additional skills, such as working on a computer. It is good to be educated, Roma should be educated, but a diploma alone does not mean that you should not constantly progress and acquire additional skills.”
Growing up with his younger brother, mother and a grandmother in difficult living conditions, Željko points out that nothing could affect his desire for education. He studied, sometimes without electricity, but with a lighted candle, because he had only one goal – making sure that his child will have a better life. He says that the reason why he managed to achieve this goal is because he had support when he needed it. Thus, when he was a primary school pupil, he requested for school supplies at the Social Welfare Center. The social worker he came across at the time continued to support him until the end of his studies at the Faculty of Law.
“That man helped me. There are people who do not want to help, but we cannot give up at the first obstacle. The help I received from that man meant a lot to me. And all because I knocked on the door and said, “I need help.” Go on, try, knock on even more doors, just don’t back down and give up.”
During his education, Željko learned to fight. He says that he may have been wrong not enrolling the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering after secondary school, because he might find it easier to get a job in that profession today – and after graduating from the Faculty of Law, he saw that he had a strong theoretical foundation but had lacked practice. In fact, during his internship at a Lawyer’s Office within the project “Employment Empowerment of Young Roma – phase 2” is where he learned the most. He adds that it is the internship that creates a lawyer.
“My profession is solving problems, because lawyers are there to solve the problem. I plan to pass the bar exam, and then dedicate myself to protecting Roma rights, and human rights in general. I am completely at disposal to my community, because I consider it as my duty. I want to contribute to making Roma community more visible and respected in society.”
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