Ram Hadroj
Fellow
Émile Durkheim Forschungsstelle: Krisenanalysen
November 2025
Mr. Ram Hadroj currently serves as Senior Researcher and Executive Director of Roma NGO “Walk in my shoes”, located in Albania, while continuing doctoral research at Bielefeld University, Germany.
Mr. Ram Hadroj is a social scientist with extensive experience in research on Roma inclusion, minority rights, and education policy across Europe and the Western Balkans. He is the author of three books:
1. 12 Essays and Studies for Albania
2. Walk in my shoes ( 30 poems dedicated to Roma Discrimination in Albania)
3. Walk in their Shoes ( 30 Successful Accademic Stories of Roma Children and parents in Albania)
Since 2022, Mr.Ram Hadroj has been pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociology at Bielefeld University, where the doctoral project examines the “Europeanisation of Roma Education in the Western Balkans.” The research explores how European norms, policy frameworks, and institutional arrangements influence national education systems and shape concrete practices affecting Roma communities in post-socialist societies.
Methodologically, he works with both qualitative and quantitative approaches, including the development of research designs, literature reviews, data collection, statistical analysis, and interpretive evaluation. This methodological versatility has supported collaborations with major international and academic institutions such as the Roma Education Fund, the OSCE, the Auschwitz Institute, and partners at Harvard University.
During his fellowship at Émile Durkheim Forschungsstelle Mr. Hadroj will be researching on the topic: “The Role of Historical Memory and Structural Crisis in Shaping Roma Integration Trajectories in the Western Balkans: An Inquiry into Solidarity, Exclusion, and Moral Economies.”
Academic Profile
Ram Hadroj holds a Master of Science in Sociology of Social Development from the University of Tirana (2016–2020), a postgraduate certificate in Divinity & Theology with a focus on leadership from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (2010–2011), and a Bachelor of Science in Behavioural Sciences with a major in Sociology from Andrews University in Michigan (2006–2010).
With more than eleven years of professional and academic experience, Ram Hadroj has developed a strong expertise in Roma issues, human rights, minority protection, education policy, and social inclusion. As the founder and Executive Director of the Roma NGO “Vish Kepucet e Mia” (“Walk in My Shoes”) in Tirana, he established community-based programs, guided research-driven interventions, and engaged directly with Roma communities to address structural challenges. The organization’s publication series “Ndikimet,” initiated and supervised by him, has become an important reference for understanding the situation of Roma people in Albania and is currently in its fifth edition.
- Good Will Ambassador for Roma and Egyptian, UNDP Albania, 2013.
- 100 Best Young Leaders of World, IREX Community Solution Program, July 2017
5/10/2023 – Ongoing
Co-Author - Strategy for teaching history of Roma and Travellers in Western Balkans “Euro Clio “ Netherlands
1/20/2022 – Ongoing
Senior Researcher, “The center for Education Research”, Bielefeld University, Germany, conducting Research for the situation of Roma Education in Western Balkans, identifying the best practices of Roma Education in Europe through policies.
15/09/2021 – 15/05/2022
Researcher, Evaluation of Roma Policies in western Balkans, “The Auschwitz institute for the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities” New York, USA & Harvard University USA.
01/2018 – on-going
Executive Director and founder/ Senior Researcher, “Walk in my Shoes”, Roma NGO, Tirana, Albania. Evaluation and research project for the situation of Roma minority in Albania and Kosovo.
07/2020 – 09/2020
Junior Researcher, Leicester University UK - Conducting resarch for the situation of Roma Minority during COVID-19 in western Balkans.
07/2018 – 05/2019
Junior Researcher, Georg Eckert Institute Roma Education Fund, Budapest Hungary. Conducting Research for the representation of Roma in textbook and curricula in Europe.
08/2017 – 12/2017
Assistant Manager/ Junior Researcher, My Block My Hood My City, Chicago USA. Leading youth programs of minorities in Chicago, and conducting research for adaptable European minority policies from European countries.
03/2015 – 08/2017
Vice Executive Director/Junior Researcher, Roma Gate for Integration, Kruje Albania. Conducting Education programs in Albania for 9 Segregated areas of Roma minority
10/2014 – 09/2015
National Concultant for Media Department, OSCE Presence in Albania. Conducting research for the represationg of Roma in Media in Western Balkans.
07/2012 – 06/2013
Junior Researcher, Soros Albania, Tirana, Albania. Conducting research for the education of Roma minority in Albania.
07/2012 – 06/2013
As/Project Manager, Wrold Vision, Tirana Albania. Conducting educational programs of Roma and Egyptian minorities in the segregated areas of Albania. Evaluating European minority programs that impact the situation of Roma in Western Balkans.
05/2007 – 06/2012
Sales and official assistant, Sports Direct , Bracknell, UK
03/2002 – 10/2006
Project Coordinator, Seventh Day Adventist Mission, Tirana Albania
- “The Psychological Strategy of Academic Success of Roma Elite in Albania” Open Society Albania, 2013. (Research Paper) https://www.osfa.al/sites/default/files/book_4_gjitheperfshirja.pdf
- Human Rights Activism, blog site: https://vishkepucetemia.wordpress.com/
- The effects on the education of Roma children in Albania.Walk in My Shoes – 2019 (Supported by USA embassy)
1. Self-evaluation of health conditions and relationship with health
employees, of the inhabitants of Roma community, in the segregated
areas with social housing, in Lanabregas and Shkoza.
2. The effect of technology in helping the illiteracy of Roma children
- Ndikimet 1. The effect of COVID-19 to Roma community in Albania Walk in my shoes – 2020 Supported by German embassy. (Editor and Senior Researcher)
- Ndikimet 2. The effect and the consequences of COVID-19 in the education of Roma children and youth in Albania. September 2021.(Editor and Senior Researcher)
- Ndikimet 3. Addresing issues of Roma Minority in Albania through research in segregated areas. (Co-Editor, Senior researcher)
- 2 Essays, Analyses and Research Papers from MSC in Sociology. Book Published in December 2020 (Author Ram Hadroj) Book
- “Walk in My Shoes” 60 poems dedicated to racism and discrimination of Roma community in Albania. (September 2021) Book
- “Walk in their shoes” 30 Stories of successful Roma children and parents from Roma community of segregated areas. (June 2023) Book