On International Day of the Roma, Catherine Messina Pajic, deputy director of Central and Eastern Europe programs, writes about the continuing discrimination and hardship Romani people face. In this piece in the Huffington Post, Pajic discusses ways that NDI helps the Roma take control of their own political futures.

"NDI is working with Roma at the grassroots level, helping them to make their voices heard. Throughout the region, NDI is expanding the pool of Romani civic and political leaders through workshops and leadership academies; encouraging greater political participation through the ballot box; strengthening the abilities of Romani elected officials to become more effective in their positions; and supporting community projects that help democracy deliver."