Viktor Teru
teru@resdi.org
Co - Founder, Statutory
Viktor Teru is a Roma activist in Slovakia with nearly 20 years of experience working with marginalized Roma communities. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from St. Elizabeth College of Health and Social Work and is currently pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, focusing on the green transformation of marginalized Roma communities through social innovation. He has extensive experience in fundraising, advocacy, and grant facilitation, collaborating with organizations such as the Roma Education Fund and Minority Rights Group Europe. In 2022, Viktor founded Roma for Humanity Slovakia, an initiative that provided critical support to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, for which he received the Lúč z Tmy award. He has also served as an advisor to the President of the Slovak Republic, providing strategic counsel on Roma inclusion and social policy.
Jakub Csabay
csabay@resdi.org
Co - Founder
Jakub Csabay currently teaches at the Institute of European Studies and International Relations, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University, after having recently completed his PhD research on Institutional Dynamics of State-Minority Relations in the Broader Post-Soviet Space at the Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge. He is a research affiliate of the Cambridge Central Asia Forum, and he co-founded and convenes the Cambridge Central European Conference. He previously worked as a supervisor and teaching assistant at the Department of Politics and International Studies and Judge Business School in Cambridge. In Slovakia, he co-founded two civic associations, EDUSOC and RESDI, focused on educational and sustainable development projects for minorities, in particular Roma communities. Together with Anton Marcinčin, he co-edits the Yearbook of Regional Development in Slovakia, and he is also a collaborator of the Friends of the Earth-CEPA, working on energy poverty and engagement with research and academic institutions.
Katarína Csabayová
csabayova@resdi.org
Statutory of EDUSOC, Education Specialist
Education specialist with over 30 years of experience at all school levels as well as public sector and project management, having previously coordinated national and regional (vocational) dual education programmes (e.g. Volkswagen Academy), and currently involved in design and leadership of a number of projects on interactive learning of vulnerable groups. As one of the EDUSOC co-founders, she acts as the organisation’s statutory in addition to leading projects in the areas of vocational and multicultural education.
Kristína Grejtáková
grejtakova@resdi.org
Project Coordinator and Research Fellow
Kristína Grejtáková is a student at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University where she finished her Bachelor’s degree in European Studies and International Relations. During her studies at FSES, she became interested in the environmental injustice of marginalized communities and would like to expand her research further. She is currently pursuing a Master´s degree, on Erasmus, at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
Mikuláš Lakatoš
lakatos@resdi.org
Visibility and Communication Lead, Research and Health Policy Fellow
Mikuláš Lakatoš is an accomplished Inclusive Health Policy Analyst and Health Policy Maker at the Office of the Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities within the Government of the Slovak Republic. A passionate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advocate, he also serves as a Visibility and Communication Strategist, as well as a Teaching and Research Fellow at the Slovak Medical University in Bratislava. With a background as a Nurse Anaesthetist and extensive experience in youth work, Mikuláš is dedicated to empowering marginalized Roma youth by fostering their active participation in local, regional, and national decision-making processes through local non – governmental initiatives. In 2023, he was honored with the prestigious Young European of the Year Award by the Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa Foundation and the European Commission for his contributions to the strategic development of Slovakia’s Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation Strategy 2030.
Rudolf Valovič
valovic@resdi.org
Research Fellow
Rudolf Valovič is a student at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in European Studies. During his studies, he developed a strong interest in systemic oppression and its impact on health and socioeconomic outcomes. His research focuses on the intersection of healthcare access, chronic stress, and social disparities, particularly in the context of policy interventions. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the same faculty.
Ahmad Asaad
asaad@resdi.org
Tech Solutions and Graphic Design Lead
Ahmad Asaad is a graduate of Tishreen University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and graduated top of his class with three certificates of academic excellence. He later pursued a Master’s degree in Computer Science Engineering at the University of Miskolc, Hungary, where he was awarded a Silver Certificate of Merit for outstanding academic performance. In addition to his studies, Ahmad is actively involved in the university community as a student mentor and Communication Coordinator for the International Student and Alumni Network, where he manages social media content and promotes engagement among international students. With a strong background in data analysis, full-stack development, and digital design, Ahmad now serves as the Tech Solutions and Graphic Design Lead at RESDI. He is passionate about applying innovative technologies and creative solutions to support social impact, inclusion, and sustainability within marginalized communities.
