What is the name of your organisation and what do you do?
Roma Entrepreneurship Development Association is an ecosystem builder focusing on developing tools to increase vulnerable communities’ economic empowerment. Led by a team of young Roma Professionals from different European countries, REDI aims to provide access to affordable finance for Roma entrepreneurs in Central, and Eastern Europe, and the Balkans and provide technical assistance for the selected pool of entrepreneurs to increase their expertise and skills. REDI is the first-ever institution dedicated to facilitating funding for start-ups and businesses among Europe’s most vulnerable group – the Roma people, leveraging on the ground presence and institutional relationships. We believe that enabling entrepreneurs to develop a business will lead to long-term employment and boost job opportunities in the communities.
Our main accomplishment is establishing the first-ever Roma financial institution (REDI Economic Development) capable of developing a strong partnership with the European Commission, Council of Europe Bank, European Investment Bank, and other public impact investors. We aim to use this vehicle to distribute funds allocated to Roma communities and Roma beneficiaries.
The mission of REDI is to economically empower Roma communities by promoting existing entrepreneurs and their businesses using business development services, coaching, and access to finance.
To achieve this mission and vision, REDI is reaching out to Roma communities and helping them to develop and grow their communities from within, supporting them to connect across borders and voice out their interests.
Can you present yourself and tell us more about what you do
Cristian Toma, Financial Assistant for REDI Romania and REDI Economic Development; handling the financial management of the Non Governmental Entity in Romania and working on financial reports and situations for REDI Economic Development (an investment vehicle-based in Luxembourg)
What is your role and your responsibilities in this project?
Coordinating the team and working on the Project Results within all the activities proposed by the projects
Tell us, what is the purpose of the Mosaic Project? What made you want to join this project?
I wanted to join the Mosaic Project because it perfectly fits the activities that I am currently involved in. I want to connect the financial aspect of my work with the technical component proposed by the project.
What strategies have been put into place to ensure the success of this project? What do you think Mosaic needs to draw attention to, that previous projects with a similar aim has not yet achieved?
Within my overall involvement in the project, I tried to use the elements of the professional experience gained up until now, so I provided a field-based experience within the Project Results.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
I want to be more involved in project coordination, having also touched on the technical side of project implementation and working on the Project Results on the Mosaic Projects while having some coordination responsibilities is providing me with professional accomplishment.
To find out more about REDI, head to - https://redi-ngo.eu/