GERMIN Talks for Policy Development with Germany’s Albanians
Date: 15/12/2023
0 Views
GERMIN organized two crucial meetings in Germany between December 12 and 14, held respectively in Berlin and Hamburg, focusing on engaging the Albanian diaspora in discussions concerning their pivotal role in shaping policies for Kosovo’s development.
The primary objective of these meetings was to analyze the specific needs of the diaspora and contribute to ongoing legislative initiatives aimed at enhancing their involvement in Kosovo. A comprehensive summary of these discussions and analyses will be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to inform the development of the new diaspora strategy and legislation.
In the initial meeting on December 12, convened at the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Berlin, GERMIN engaged with a segment of the Albanian diaspora community in Germany. The focus was on exploring their potential contributions to Kosovo’s policy development, alongside addressing their needs and challenges in connecting and engaging with state institutions.
Snapshot from the meeting with the Albanian diaspora in Berlin to discuss the topic ‘Diaspora for Policy Development’.
At the onset of this meeting, the attendees were introduced by Mr. Faruk Ajeti, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo in Berlin, and Blerta Lazebegu, President of the Organization of Academies and Students of the Albanian Diaspora (OASA) in Berlin. Meanwhile, Lirim Krasniqi, Co-Executive Director at GERMIN, informed the attendees about the purpose of the ‘Diaspora for Policy Development’ project.
During the open discussion, participants shared their opinions and suggestions regarding the new diaspora strategy and law, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora is expected to publish for public consultation soon.
Snapshot from the open discussion with the Albanian diaspora in Berlin.Snapshot from the meeting with the Albanian diaspora in Berlin to discuss the topic ‘Diaspora for Policy Development’.
The discussion highlighted several key challenges, including barriers and prospects for learning the Albanian language overseas, the need for better organization within diaspora associations, and the complexities of bureaucratic procedures for investment and economic involvement in Kosovo. Additionally, the registration of diaspora members emerged as a significant topic of discussion during the meeting.
Meanwhile, on December 14, GERMIN convened the second meeting with the Albanian diaspora in Hamburg, Germany. This gathering was a pivotal part of the ongoing dialogue surrounding the diaspora’s impact on policy development in Kosovo.
Organized in partnership with the association ‘ODA e.V. Hamburg – Organization deutsch-albanischer Akademiker,’ this meeting was also supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Kosovo in Hamburg and held at its premises.
Snapshot from the meeting with the Albanian diaspora in Hamburg to discuss the topic ‘Diaspora for Policy Development’.
The opening speech was held by Mrs. Saranda Osmani, U.D. Consul General of the Republic of Kosovo in Hamburg and Muhamet Idrizi, Chairman of the Chamber of Hamburg. Meanwhile, Lirim Krasniqi, Co-Executive Director at GERMIN, moderated the discussion, which brought together all generations of compatriots in Hamburg, from the first immigrants of the 60s to those who were born or moved to the area in recent years of Hamburg.
Among the key topics of discussion were: learning the Albanian language abroad, the organization of compatriots in professional associations, problems with dual citizenship and documentation on ancestry in Germany, public diplomacy, as well as the organization of an economic/business character in relation to the mother country. The discussion also included the topic of diaspora registration and access to information on services in Kosovo.
Snapshot from the open discussion with the Albanian diaspora in Hamburg.Snapshot of some of the participants in the meeting with the Albanian diaspora in Hamburg.
In the meeting, among other things, the new law and strategy of Kosovo for the diaspora was discussed, which is expected to be published for public consultation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
The summary of discussions from this meeting will be analyzed further with the aim of inclusion in the strategy and new legislation for the diaspora. An advisory group will soon be formed for advocacy to the Ministries and bodies of the Assembly of Kosovo.
This discussion took place with the support of the regional project “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Common Values in the Western Balkans” implemented by Centar za promencije členi društva (CPCD) in cooperation with the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), and the Center for Research and Policymaking (CRPM) and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
The content of this post is the sole responsibility of GERMIN as the project implementer and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
The second edition of the OriginAL program is officially launched
On August 4th, the second edition of the OriginAL program was officially launched. Participants had the opportunity to see the program's insights, its inaugural edition, and its ambitious goals.
This event opened with a surprise performance by Arbër Selmani, journalist and poet from Pristina. He moved the audience with a rendition of his poem called "Kur vdiq baba."
The co-director of GERMIN, Lirim Krasniqi, spoke about the importance and impact that this program has had and expressed that he is proud to be part of an initiative of historical importance and thanked all the supporters of this project.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, said that she is very proud of last year's result and of the group of the second edition of the OriginAL program.
Acting President at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), Michael Hess, talked about the important connection that the American University in Kosovo has with the diaspora.
We also had supporters of the OriginAL program among us. Investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist from the Diaspora in Bulgaria, Elvin Guri. He talked about how this program helps the youth of the diaspora to understand not only their roots but also their parents and their sacrifices.
One of the main pillars of this program is the founder and Chairman of the Board of the Global Albanian Foundation (GAF), Mark Kosmo. Unable to come from Boston, USA, through a video message, he once again expressed his support and told the participants that he really looks forward to starting this journey.
From Paris, we also had GERMIN's co-chair of the board, Anila Smørgrav, who greeted and thanked the participants, supporters, and partners of OriginAL.
At the event, seven esteemed alumni of the OriginAL program graced the gathering. Among them, Diellza and Elsa Vejseli, who once participated and now volunteered for the second edition, took the stage to recount their enriching experiences, the enduring friendships forged, and offered valuable insights into the program's overarching objectives and impact.
Date: 24/12/2024
0 Views
Discussion Roundtable – Advocacy and Public Diplomacy of the Diaspora
GERMIN organized a discussion roundtable on “Advocacy and Public Diplomacy of the Diaspora.” Panelists shared how their efforts have elevated Kosovo's international profile, improved diplomatic relations, and contributed to the development of social and economic initiatives.
The discussion explored contributions to digital diplomacy, grassroots advocacy, and cultural promotion, highlighting the vital role of diaspora professionals in creating connections and strengthening global ties.
Behar Xharra, Co-Founder of GERMIN, began his opening remarks by sharing the inspiration behind GERMIN's creation. He described it as a seedling that initially leveraged the internet as a platform for digital diplomacy.
Blerinë Ukshini, Project Manager at GERMIN, presented the achievements and outcomes of the “Diaspora for Policy Development” project, supported by the regional Smart Balkans project. She emphasized that all activities aimed primarily to influence the improvement of policymaking processes in Kosovo by optimizing the contributions of the diaspora.
Elvira Dushku, Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of Kosovo, shared her experiences within the Federation, focusing on international competitions, the development of sports diplomacy, and gender balance within the Federation.
Vartan Marashlyan, Executive Director of Repat Armenia, shared examples from the Armenian diaspora, addressing the various challenges faced by countries like Armenia and Kosovo. He highlighted the importance of having ambitious goals
with practical objectives.
Ariana Krasniqi, from the Civil Diplomacy Program in Denmark, a young woman born in Germany and raised in Denmark, shared her experience and her goal to return to her country of origin and contribute to civil diplomacy.
Bahri Cani, Moderator from Deutsche Welle, Germany, shared his perspective on categorizing the diaspora into three aspects: the first wave, which migrated for economic reasons; the second wave, which migrated for political reasons; and the
third wave, which migrated for educational purposes.
Avni Mustafaj, Co-Chair of GERMIN’s Board, USA, underlined the importance of civil diplomacy, starting at the individual level and extending to larger communities to achieve common goals. He shared various advocacy examples, including efforts to meet leaders and convey clear messages about objectives. He emphasized the skill of capturing attention and making others listen to our demands.
The roundtable highlighted the significance of organized advocacy efforts, digital engagement, and cultural initiatives in strengthening Kosovo’s relationships and global impact.
This roundtable was conducted with the support of the regional project “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Values in the Western Balkans,” implemented by the Center for Promotion of Civil Society (CPCD) in cooperation with the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA). The discussions during this roundtable are the sole responsibility of GERMIN as the project implementer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
Date: 24/12/2024
0 Views
25% ROI in 100 Days: Diaspora Mentorship Boosts Albanian Women Entrepreneurs
About the projectIn early 2024, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Tirana’s Small Grants Program, Germin launched “Diaspora Supporting Albanian Women Entrepreneurs.” This initiative strategically connected experienced mentors from the Albanian diaspora with women entrepreneurs in Albania, aiming to address critical challenges that women-led startups face, such as limited digitalisation, investments, and global expansion. Among the impactful pairings was London-based AI & Strategy expert Arta Statovci with Eldisa Cirogu, co-founder of Albanian startup Commercey/ Bot Medics Care - this case study reveals how their collaboration led to transformative results.Goal: Transitioning from Local → Global, Traditional → Tech-firstEldisa Cirogu, founder of Commercey / Bot Medics Care, had a clear goal: to scale her healthcare business and compete on the global stage. However, she faced a dual challenge. Externally, the global healthcare sector was rapidly advancing with AI-powered health tech, becoming more competitive and presenting high barriers to entry. Internally, despite her determination to embrace a tech-first approach, she struggled to compete with global giants in the healthcare space due to her startup’s limited advanced AI expertise, skills, and resources.Action → Scaling with AI: Blended strategic & tech approach To address these challenges, her mentor designed the mentorship around three core principles:
AI-powered design thinking & product-market fit: Use AI to uncover the root cause (not symptoms!) and refine the portfolio to focus on delivering products that meet both local and global market needs.
Investor & revenue-driven AI roadmap: Set ambitious targets for AI to deliver measurable results within 100 days - outcomes no investor or client could ignore.
No-code AI upskilling and solutions: First, validate demand and deliver results with no-code AI tools that don’t require deep AI expertise, then partner with AI companies for the next level.
100-Day AI Results: →Boosting ROI, growth, and operations
By following these principles and a clear strategic direction, Commercey /Bot Medics Care achieved significant progress, transforming from a traditional healthcare startup into an AI-driven health tech model. Within the first 100 days, the company reported a 25% increase in ROI, a 20% growth in its client base, and a 30% reduction in operational costs. This transformation not only boosted efficiency but also demonstrated how AI can enhance customer service through personalized, data-driven solutions. As a result, Commercey Botmedics Care emerged as a competitive, innovative player in the global health tech industry, highlighting the profound impact AI can have on empowering women entrepreneurs.
Firsthand, mentee’s advice for women entrepreneurs, particularly from traditional backgrounds:→ “Don’t be afraid of AI. The right mentors will guide you in using AI to overcome challenges, grow your business, increase revenue, and enhance your brand—no matter your tech expertise or industry background - Eldisa Cirogu”.
Next steps: → Creating a domino effect for Women Entrepreneurs with AI The Diaspora Supporting Albanian Women Entrepreneurs project has demonstrated that women-led startups, both in Albania and globally, can overcome systemic challenges and position themselves on a global scale by strategically leveraging mentorship and deploying AI—even without deep tech expertise. The strength of the AI mentorship model lies in its ability to offer personalization and scalability. It’s not limited to helping just one startup at a time; instead, it’s scalable, and with a community-driven approach, women can create, collaborate, and deliver with confidence. Reflecting on the experience, both the mentor and mentee, alongside Germin, expressed excitement to continue expanding this momentum and pursue purpose-driven collaborations. With support from program sponsors and investors, they aim to open new opportunities for other women entrepreneurs. For more information, feel free to directly connect with Germin, the AI & Strategy mentor Arta Statovci, or mentee and co-founder Eldisa Cirogu.
Date: 12/11/2024
0 Views
Come to Support Diaspora Youth in New York, October 17
On October 17, a special evening will be organized in New York City to support OriginAL, a program dedicated to reconnecting Albanian Diaspora youth with their cultural roots. Through immersive cultural, educational, and volunteering experiences across Albania, Kosova, and soon North Macedonia, OriginAL offers young Albanians the chance to rediscover their heritage and form connections with their peers around the world.
This event will be co-hosted by Richard Lukaj, Mark Kosmo, Fadil Berisha, and Avni Mustafaj, who have long been champions of the program’s mission. We are happy to welcome Dr. Vjosa Osmani, President of the Republic of Kosovo as a special guest.
Additionally, alumni of the OriginAL program, will share their personal stories about how this experience has impacted their lives and strengthened their ties to Albanian history and culture.
In the last three years, over 140 young Albanians from 25 countries have participated in OriginAL, gaining a deeper understanding of their identity through this transformative journey.
If you believe in giving Albanian youth the chance to connect with their roots and experience their family’s homeland, you can make a difference by donating HERE.
Your support will help them create lasting memories and deepen their connection to their heritage.
