Empowering Roma women through mentorship: insights from Finland’s National Report

In the framework of the RomniME – Mentors for Young Roma Women’s Empowerment project, a National Research Report for Finland has been published by the Deaconess Foundation. This report sheds light on the lived realities, aspirations, and challenges of young Roma women in Finland, offering valuable insights into how mentorship can serve as a transformative tool for empowerment. 

“Roma and Traveller women and girls stood out as powerful catalysts of change: the ones who inspire progress, drive energy, and are the architects of hope.” 

~ Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in the foreword of the national report 

Backround and context of the project

The Finnish Roma, a recognized national minority with roots in Finland dating back over 500 years, number approximately 10,000–12,000 people. Alongside them, a small group of Roma with migrant backgrounds, including recent arrivals from Romania, also live in Finland. Many Roma women face intersecting forms of discrimination, and RomniME project addresses these challenges by recruiting both Roma and non-Roma mentors to support young Roma women in areas such as education, employment, relationships, identity, and civic engagement. 

The project (co-funded by the EU CERV–2023 EQUAL programme) operates in Finland, Bulgaria, Italy, and Croatia. It aims to promote equality and inclusion by developing community-based mentoring models tailored to the needs of young Roma women. These women, often navigating complex intersections of ethnicity, gender, migration status, and socio-economic vulnerability, face significant barriers in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and societal participation.

Key findings from the National Report

The Finnish National Report is based on data collected from 39 Roma women, 10 professionals, and relevant project staff members (Roma and non-Roma). It provides a multi-layered analysis of the needs, barriers, and aspirations of Roma women in Finland. 

Some of the most significant findings include: 

• Discrimination: A vast number of 90% of respondents reported experiencing discrimination, primarily based on ethnicity (74%) and migration status (51%). 

• Education and employment: Most participants had completed only primary or secondary education, and 69% were unemployed. Despite this, 88% considered education important for their future. 

• Healthcare and social protection: While 74% had access to healthcare, language barriers and lack of digital skills often prevented effective use of services. 

• Digital inclusion: 67% lacked access to a personal computer, though 90% had internet access via smartphones. There was a strong interest in training for digital skills, especially in social media, communication tools, and Microsoft Office. 

• Mentorship needs: Participants expressed a need for emotional, educational, professional, and practical support. Many had never had a mentor before, yet 64% believed mentorship could help them achieve life goals. 

Migrant Roma women: a community in focus

One of the most significant contributions of the Finnish National Report within the RomniME project is its focus on migrant Roma women, a group that remains largely understudied in Finland. While the Roma population in Finland includes both Finnish Roma and migrant Roma, the latter group has received limited attention in research and policy discussions. This report aims to fill part of that gap. 

Who are the migrant Roma women in the study?

Out of the 39 Roma women who participated in the survey, 72% were born outside Finland, indicating a strong representation of migrant Roma women. Most of them currently reside in Helsinki (61%), Vantaa (18%), and Pietarsaari (15%), and over half have lived in Finland for 6–15 years, with a third having been in the country for 16–30 years. 

Despite their long-term presence, many of these women face structural barriers that restrict their full participation in Finnish society. These include: 

• Language barriers: Most respondents do not speak Finnish or Swedish, with Romani and Romanian being the most common languages. 

• Low educational achievement: A majority (54%) had completed only primary school or less, and only a small fraction had attended vocational school or university. 

• Limited access to social protection: Less than half of the respondents were aware of their rights to social protection, and many lacked a registered municipality of residence, which strongly affects access to services. 

• High unemployment: Nearly 70% were not employed, and many cited lack of language skills, limited education, and discrimination as key barriers to finding work.  

Specific challenges and needs

The report highlights that migrant Roma women often experience intersectional discrimination – based on ethnicity, gender, migration status, and socio-economic background. 

Their mentorship needs are multifaceted, ranging from emotional support to practical assistance in navigating Finnish systems. Many expressed the need for help with language learning, job search, accessing healthcare, and understanding bureaucratic procedures. The mentorship program was seen as a potential lifeline – 64% believed it could help them achieve their goals, especially by providing knowledge and connections. In addition to this, based on the report, it is important that mentoring not only addresses personal challenges but also aims at transforming structural issues. 

By centering migrant Roma women, the RomniME report offers a rare and valuable glimpse into a community that is often invisible in mainstream Finnish discourse. It underscores the urgency of inclusive policies, targeted support, and culturally sensitive mentorship models that recognize the unique experiences of migrant Roma women. 

Thus, the report is not just data – it is a call to action. It invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners and members of Finnish society to acknowledge the diversity within the Roma population, and to ensure that migrant Roma women are not left behind in efforts toward equality and empowerment. This collective responsibility calls for shaping public discourse, everyday behaviors, and attitudes alongside institutional action. 

Mentorship as a pathway to empowerment 

The National Report offers a rich and nuanced exploration of mentorship as a transformative tool for empowering young Roma women. Drawing on interviews with professionals and feedback from mentees, the report identifies mentorship not merely as a support mechanism, but as a relational and ethical practice rooted in trust, empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of structural discrimination. 

While the program primarily aimed to support mentees, mentors also reported significant personal growth. Many described the experience as deeply rewarding, offering opportunities to learn about resilience, cultural diversity, and intersectionality. Mentors emphasized that the process was not one-sided, and it encouraged mutual learning, empathy, and a sense of purpose. 

Core principles of effective mentorship

Professionals interviewed for the report consistently emphasized that mentorship must be mentee-driven. This means that the goals, pace, and content of the mentoring relationship should be shaped by the mentee’s own aspirations, not imposed externally. Mentorship is not about “saving” or “fixing” someone – it is about walking alongside, listening deeply, and co-creating a space where the mentee feels seen, heard, and respected. It is a two-way relationship, where both mentor and mentee are learners and contributors. Mentors highlighted how engaging with Roma women’s lived realities broadened their own perspectives and strengthened their commitment to social justice. 

Key values identified include:

• Trust and confidentiality: These are foundational for building a safe space where mentees can share vulnerabilities and dreams. 

• Equality and mutual respect: Mentorship is a two-way relationship, where both mentor and mentee are learners and contributors. 

• Cultural sensitivity and reflexivity: Mentors must be aware of their own positionality and biases and be willing to engage with the mentee’s lived experiences without judgment. 

• Understanding of intersectionality: Recognizing how ethnicity, gender, migration status, and socio-economic background intersect to shape the mentee’s reality is essential. 

Mentoring formats and their impact

The report also analyses three distinct mentoring formats which The RomniME project has piloted, each offering different strengths and challenges: 

One-to-one mentoring 

Personalized support, allowing mentors and mentees to build deep, trusting relationships. Particularly effective for addressing individual goals, such as career planning, education, and navigating bureaucratic systems. Mentees reported feeling less alone, more confident, and better equipped to pursue personal development. However, this format sometimes lacked structure and was less beneficial to community-building. 

Small group mentoring 

Small group sessions strengthen peer learning and mutual support, creating a sense of community among Roma women. Mentees benefited from hearing others’ experiences, which helped normalize their own challenges and build solidarity. This format was especially effective in improving self-esteem, pride in one’s ethnicity, and awareness of structural discrimination. However, it was less personalized and sometimes struggled to address individual needs in depth. 

 Large group mentoring 

Designed for public involvement and collective empowerment, large group mentoring created opportunities for networking, public speaking, and community activism. Mentees gained confidence in expressing themselves in public, learned to navigate societal structures, and developed a stronger sense of identity and belonging. While this format was efficient and inclusive, it was less intimate and could not always provide tailored support. 

Outcomes and reflections

Across all formats, the mentorship program has had a positive impact on mentees’ confidence, motivation, and personal growth. Many participants expressed new aspirations, such as pursuing education, finding meaningful employment, and becoming more active in their communities. The program has also helped mentees understand their rights, access services, and build networks – all crucial steps toward social inclusion. 

Importantly, the mentorship processes have evolved over time. Relationships have deepened, moving from surface-level interactions to trust-based dialogues. Mentors have adapted their approaches to meet the unique needs of each mentee, often navigating language barriers, trauma histories, and cultural differences with sensitivity and care. They also expressed that the program enriched their professional and personal lives. They gained new skills in cultural competence, trauma-informed care, and advocacy. Several mentors noted that witnessing mentees’ progress was a source of pride and motivation, reinforcing their belief in the transformative power of solidarity. 

Despite the successes of mentoring, the report also mentions some challenges: 

• Scheduling conflicts and logistical barriers, such as transportation and childcare. 

• Language limitations, especially among migrant Roma women. 

• Uneven participation and mentor preparedness, highlighting the need for ongoing support and training. 

• Group dynamics, which sometimes made it difficult to address individual needs. 

Recommendations and future directions

The report concludes with actionable recommendations for enhancing mentorship programs: 

• Provide clear guidelines and expectations for mentors and mentees. 

• Offer training in cultural competence, trauma-informed care, and communication skills. 

• Ensure diverse mentor pools and effective matching processes. 

• Incorporate flexible structures, interactive activities, and emotional support. 

• Address logistical barriers such as transportation and scheduling. 

• Promote intersectional awareness and avoid reinforcing stereotypes or power imbalances. 

Conclusion

The Finnish National Report is a vital contribution to understanding the complex realities of Roma women in Finland. It affirms that mentorship, when thoughtfully designed and inclusively implemented, can be a powerful tool for empowerment. As the RomniME project continues to evolve, these findings will inform the development of a Mentor Handbook and shape future policy recommendations. A Consolidated Report has also been compiled, based not only on the Finnish National Report, but also on corresponding reports conducted in Bulgaria and Italy. This broadens the scope of the findings to a European-wide perspective. 

Ultimately, the report calls for a collective commitment: to listen, to support, and to build spaces where Roma women can thrive – not just as mentees, but as leaders, professionals, and agents of change.