The Roma Education Fund regrets to announce that the Chair of its Swiss-based Foundation, Mr. Costel Bercus, officially has stepped down from his duties as of April 2014. REF’s leading advocate and representative since 2005, Mr. Bercus has been a passionate and tireless supporter of REF’s mission to help Romani children and youth be able to fulfill their right to quality, inclusive education.
The Roma Education Fund regrets to announce that the Chair of its Swiss-based Foundation, Mr. Costel Bercus, officially has stepped down from his duties as of April 2014. REF’s leading advocate and representative since 2005, Mr. Bercus has been a passionate and tireless supporter of REF’s mission to help Romani children and youth be able to fulfill their right to quality, inclusive education. He has opened the eyes of many important decision-makers and institutions both to the challenges faced by Romani children across Europe and to the solutions that can be implemented by the Roma Education Fund together with a broad group of partners. His fundraising efforts have resulted in thousands of Romani children going to school and completing their education. His eloquence has persuaded many EU, national and local partners to further REF’s mission to close the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma. His unique contribution to the growth and the professionalism of the Fund has made it what it is today and the Fund wishes him the best in his future endeavors in Romania and beyond.
Before a successor is appointed, REF’s Vice Chair, Mr. Robert Kushen, will function as the Interim Chair, and he is joined by three new board members, Mr. William Lazarus Bila, Ms. Nicoleta Bitu and Mr. Andrzej Mirga. Mr. Pierre Gassman and Ms. Henna Huttu have stepped down from the Board.
For more biographical details on the REF Switzerland Board, please click here.
