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Real Roma success stories
Lora Ushenko
Born in a small village in the Odesa region, Lora overcame discrimination to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a psychologist. Through her involvement with PRC programs, she became a mediator and now supports women and children, works within the community, and teaches music alongside her husband. Her mission is to empower Roma people to discover their inner strength and self-confidence.
I was born in the small Roma village of Poplavka in the Odesa region, in a large family. My childhood wasn’t easy: when I was three, my father left us, and I spent most of my life with my grandparents. At school, I experienced bullying and discrimination because of my Roma background.
Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a psychologist, but first, I got a degree in culinary arts. However, that profession didn’t become my calling. In 2020, I moved to Odesa and worked in different jobs — from waitress to car dealership administrator. But I felt it wasn’t for me.
I started studying psychology: taking courses, reading books, listening to podcasts. During this time, through a friend, I joined the Roma organization “Chiricli” and took part in a program on bullying and discrimination. That became the beginning of my civic involvement.
Later, I was invited to a Christian camp for Roma children in the village of Berezivka. After the full-scale invasion began, I returned to my home village, opened a church, and began working with children and teenagers. It was a difficult but important time in my life.
A year later, I was invited to a two-month missionary training program in Poland. After that, I met the Roma Human Rights Center and joined a women’s retreat, where I was able to discover more of my abilities. That marked the beginning of my active cooperation with the RHRC. Later, I was invited to represent our community at an OSCE event in Poland.
Today, I work at the Center, where I implement educational programs for Roma women from different communities. As a psychologist, I offer support both online and offline. I’m happy to be part of this team, where I’ve found like-minded people and friends. Together, we help the Roma people grow stronger, more informed, and united.
At 24, I married someone who not only supports my ideas but helps me bring them to life. For example, we teach Roma children how to play musical instruments together — my husband is a professional musician.
Currently, I’m pursuing a degree in Practical Psychology at the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary.
My mission is to help the Roma people overcome discrimination and social barriers. I want Roma children to have access to quality education, for women to feel empowered to defend their rights, and for the whole community to become stronger and more self-confident. As a psychologist, I strive to support people in difficulty, help them find their inner strength, and believe in themselves.
I believe every person deserves a dignified life, regardless of their background or social status. And my dream is to help ensure that the Roma community not only overcomes prejudice but is able to fully realize its potential in this world.