As a child growing up in Romania, Alexandra Bahor hid her Roma identity because of the discrimination she faced. Today, the Liverpool based Roma activist is using her voice to challenge stereotypes and build stronger partnerships between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities and the organisations that serve them.
Born into a Roma family in Romania, Alexandra was the first in her family to go to university. She studied law before moving to Liverpool to complete her LLM at Liverpool John Moores University, a journey that strengthened her commitment to Roma rights and social justice.
“I understood from school that I was hiding my identity because of the discrimination,” she says. “I wanted to show people that Roma children can do something with their lives, and that education is the key.”
That belief has shaped her career ever since. She previously worked as a Roma community development worker, helping families connect with Liverpool City Council, and now works in community inclusion, supporting asylum seekers, refugees and other minority communities to access health and education services.
History, made personal
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is not something Alexandra grew up celebrating. In Romania, Roma communities mark International Roma Day on 8 April instead. She first came across the UK’s history month while organising school events in Liverpool in 2022 and has been involved every year since.
For Alexandra, it is deeply personal.
“If you understand your history, you understand your background, and you know how to accept the present,” she says.
“I have a 10 year old daughter. This is for me to show her our story, and to help her understand why it’s important to know the past.”
She describes GRT History Month as an opportunity to honour generations of persecution, resistance and survival while celebrating the culture, creativity and contributions of GRT communities.
Three communities, not one
One of Alexandra’s biggest frustrations is the assumption that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are all the same.
“They are three different ethnic minorities with different histories, cultures and experiences,” she says.
Within the Roma community alone there is enormous diversity, with families in Liverpool tracing their roots to countries including Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Germany and France.
“People find it easy to put us all under one umbrella,” she says. “But there are different needs, and you can only meet them if you understand those differences when designing policies and services.”
She also wants to challenge the idea that Roma communities are “hard to reach”.
Many Roma families are settled, working and raising children in the same neighbourhoods, rather than travelling from place to place as people often assume.
“It’s not about being hard to reach,” she says. “It’s that services don’t always have the skills to engage with our communities. When services are respectful, culturally aware and consistent, Roma communities do engage.”
What meaningful partnership looks like
Having worked alongside universities, the NHS and Liverpool City Council, Alexandra believes meaningful partnership starts with treating Roma communities as equal partners rather than simply consulting them.
“Meaningful partnership means people are not just consulted once, but involved from the beginning in designing, delivering and reviewing projects,” she says.
“It’s about co-production, shared decision making and long-term commitment rather than short-term pilots.”
She also believes Roma professionals should be recognised for the expertise they bring.
“It was so hard for some partners to see me as a professional,” she says. “Real partnership means recognising what we bring to the table.”
Trust, she says, is built by showing up consistently, not just during a crisis or when funding becomes available.
The everyday challenges
Behind the policy language are real, everyday challenges.
Alexandra points to discrimination in housing and employment, barriers to healthcare, language barriers and children being misunderstood or stereotyped at school. Many families also carry a fear of authorities shaped by experiences before arriving in the UK.
“These challenges limit choices,” she says. “Which jobs people apply for, whether they feel safe going to the doctor, how confident children feel in the classroom, and whether families trust services enough to ask for help.”
She has also seen what is possible when barriers are removed. Through a Roma Aspiration project delivered with Liverpool John Moores University, young Roma people in Liverpool have gone on to study and graduate from university, demonstrating what can be achieved when opportunities are made accessible.
Looking ahead
Alexandra wants to see Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities recognised as partners, not problems. She hopes to see more Roma voices represented in leadership, advisory boards and research, alongside better joined-up support across housing, health, education and employment. She also believes anti-Gypsyism should be recognised and addressed as a specific form of racism.
“It could mean Roma families feeling safe enough to be open about their identity,” she says, “and young people seeing a future for themselves in Liverpool that includes university, meaningful work and being part of the city’s life.”
A simple ask
Alexandra’s message to readers is simple.
“Question your assumptions.
“If you catch yourself thinking about Roma, Gypsy or Traveller people through a stereotype, ask where that image came from. Listen. Learn. And when you hear prejudice, challenge it.”
She hopes that by hearing more stories from Roma people themselves, perceptions will begin to change.
“Roma is not what you see on TV,” she says. “Roma is your neighbour. Roma is me. We are all human, in the end.”
Every June, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of GRT communities while raising awareness of the discrimination they continue to face. Liverpool is proud to be a welcoming city where everyone belongs and every community’s story matters.
