The EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 recognizes the relevance of education as one of the key factor of success towards the social inclusion of Roma. While currently many programmes and policies for children and youngsters are in place, the situation of Roma youth has not yet been adequately addressed. Many young Roma struggle and fail in the formal educational systems, do not find access to other existing programs and opportunities and are at risk of further social marginalization.The partnership addresses the problem that young Roma generally do not have the ‘power’ and (organizational) capacity to effectively benefit from existing programs, governmental strategies and action plans. In fact, Roma are often perceived as ‘receivers’ of service providing program. But, solely providing services, without aiming for empowerment, will increase dependency of Roma communities. Therefore, our partnership aims to exchange practices and develop Roma youth capacity and stimulate their active citizenship, initiative, self-organisation, leadership, and lobby and bargaining power. Basic assumption is that if Roma youth are united in different structure, they are able to make their voice heard, and develop negotiating power to obtain equal citizens rights and opportunities in education, health, labour and housing. In this way, sustainable, long term effects on the improvement of living conditions of Roma can be achieved. Roma are European citizens. Nevertheless, they face structural discrimination and marginalization and are not accepted as equal citizens. Prejudices and stereotypes are widely spread and remain often unquestioned in the media, in politics and in society. Many young people have difficulties with their cultural background because of the ongoing experience of discrimination. We observe a strong self-stigmatizing mechanism. Many young Roma who manage to successful move forward, feel forced to deny their identity and do not invest their capacity for their community. Young people should have the right and responsibility to shape their own presence and future; however, the majority of Roma youth lacks the space to articulate the Roma youth issues. Striving for a better life for all in one society, we have to stress that not Roma are the problem, but their marginalization, discrimination and bad social situation. We believe that we have to strengthen inclusive approaches targeting Roma and non-Roma youngsters together in order to create trust, respect and mutual understanding. Partnership, team-work and common efforts are the basis of social and civic competencies to combat racism and xenophobia. Moreover, this transnational partnership intends to overcome the lack of Roma organizations in the field of youth; therefore, there is a need to position ourselves, to build partnerships and networks on all levels and to disseminate our practices and methods. Last but not least, there is a need to strengthen the capacity of staff, trainers and young Roma to acquire foreign language and communication skills in order to enhance co-operation and exchanges of experience on transnational level. Transnational mobilities and exchanges will enable to bring a European dimension into the local communities, as well as to bring the needs of the grassroots to the European level. The main objectives of the partnership are (1) to raise the participation of young Roma in non-formal education and lifelong learning programs, (2) to strengthen the active citizenship of young Roma and non-Roma to combat racism and xenophobia, (3) to improve the co-operation and mutual learning process between Roma organizations working in the field of non-formal education and active citizenship and (4) to support the professionalisation of their staff and trainers, who work directly with young people. (5) We want to bring a European dimension into the work of our partner organization and (6) to disseminate practices and advocate the needs of young Roma and non-Roma in this field towards other stakeholders, authorities and policymakers on national and European level. Regarding the young Roma we specifically want to strengthen their foreign language competencies, their sense for initiative and entrepreneurship and their social and civic skills to work and engage in an inter-cultural, as well as in a transnational environment. We mainly address the issue that young Roma face difficulties in their educational careers through stigmatization and discrimination, which results in the failure of many young Roma in the formal education system. Additionally, they lack access to existing programs and learning opportunities. There is a a need to strengthen young Roma as active citizens to be aware of their rights and responsibilities, to engage with non-Roma for issues that concern them as youngster and members of their local communities.