Sait Balic was born on January 3rd, 1932 in Nis. He was an outstanding athlet and footballer. He became very active in Roma Cultural and Artistic Society KUD "Ibo Ademovic" in Nis. He gathered his generation of prosperous Roma and started his mision of “Roma emancipation”. On his own example of educated, politically and socially active Roma he attracted the others, focused on the idea of human rights, education, preserving the cuture and awaking of the national conscience of Roma in Yugoslavia.

In the Third Congress of IRU, Sait Balic was unanimosly elected the President of the International Romani Union (IRU).

Within two mandates he established a new concept of IRU work and program of activities. This organization was admitted to OUN and got the status of NGO in Organization of United Nations.

New work programs covered the language standardization, cultural exchange, war reparation, protection of human rights (collective and individual), EU and European Council priorities.

For his immeasurable work and results he received many awards and acknowledgements. The most significant of these are as follows:

• Vuk’s award (Vukova nagrada) – golden letter,
• Golden bedge – Cultural and Educational Community of Serbia,
• Award “May 1st” (Prvomajska nagrada) of the City of Nis,
• October Award (Oktobarska nagrada) of the City of Nis,
• Medal of merit (Orden zasluge za narod) with golden rim.

Reformer and "Baro Rom" Sait Balic died on July 20th, 1998 in Nis and was buried in the Roma cemetery in Nis.

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