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).

The organization and networking of Albanian youth and students in the diaspora has been and remains the foundation of community organization in the diaspora and the source of activism for the country of origin. Young people and students in the diaspora play an important role in intergenerational relations within the diaspora and in links with organizations and institutions in the homeland. Despite this great potential, a series of structural, social, and political challenges currently limit youth and student organization in the diaspora. The lack of coordination and institutional support, communication problems, and "space-time" barriers make it difficult for youth to collaborate and build sustainable networks. This limits the impact they can have on the community and their connection to their country of origin.   Current Challenges Albanian youth and students in the diaspora face a number of challenges that hinder their sustainable organization and effective networking. One of the most noticeable problems is the lack of sustainable structures in areas where there has been no tradition of community organization. Although interpersonal connections exist and students often maintain contact with each other, the lack of a shared entity or platform makes it difficult to coordinate activities and projects. Individual efforts often remain fragmented and fail to have the desired impact on the community or on links with the homeland. In some cases, even where there are community associations and organizations, their structure is often weak, and the lack of institutional and financial support exacerbates the situation. In some countries, such as Switzerland, the diplomatic representations of Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia have played an important role in supporting student communities. But in other countries, diaspora representations have been reported as often having no right to participate in public activities, leaving organizations without a trusted institutional partner. Moreover, the lack of financial support from Albanian entrepreneurs and individuals, as well as from state institutions, has created significant gaps in financing projects and activities that could help the community. This situation also appears in the case of Albanian schools in the diaspora, which often operate with limited resources. Another important challenge is the impact of politics on student associations and organizations abroad. The involvement of political parties from Kosovo and Albania has created a polarizing and fragmented environment, often resulting in strong divisions that hinder joint activities. Various associations have become arenas for political party support, pushing away young people who want to contribute independently. An example is the association in Geneva, where its members were closely linked to a political party. This association not only temporarily removed the terms "apolitical" and "nonpartisan" from its statutes but also continued to use the organization's social platforms for political activities, even after the departure of its members. Similar situations have been reported in Lausanne and in the Albanian student federation in Switzerland, where political divisions have hindered cooperation and created an unsafe environment for organizations aiming to maintain an independent and unified stance. Additionally, divisions between Albanians from different regions of the nation represent another challenge. Albanians from North Macedonia, the Presevo Valley, Montenegro, and Cameria often feel left out by Albanians from Albania and Kosovo. This feeling of exclusion comes from the lack of their inclusion in activities by organizations or any institutional support addressing them directly. This challenge highlights the need for a more inclusive approach from all parties to ensure that every Albanian, regardless of regional origin, feels part of a common and equal nationality.   Creating a Unified Platform The role of technology is a very important theme for the diaspora. A large number of Albanian students are oriented towards information technology (programming, engineering, etc.), and it is in the national interest to use their skills as solutions to our challenges. Technology can help overcome geographic and time barriers. Using digital platforms and mobile applications can facilitate collaboration between Albanian students in different countries around the world. A great example of organizations that have created virtual platforms to support students worldwide is "NAYORA" – The National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Lithuanian World Youth Association "Pasaulio". Through these platforms, these organizations have built communication and collaboration bridges, offering educational resources and support for youth, no matter where they are located. These initiatives have helped strengthen connections between students and promoted equal access to global educational opportunities. Furthermore, Albanian organizations also used virtual platforms during the pandemic for national and cultural activities, bringing Albanians together in a virtual environment. However, technology is not a sole solution. The lack of a unified platform for all Albanian students in the diaspora remains a major barrier. A mobile application dedicated to networking and coordination would be extremely useful in uniting Albanian youth around the world.   Recommendations To address the challenges of youth and student organization in the diaspora, here are several concrete recommendations that can contribute to strengthening networking, collaboration, and the positive impact of Albanian youth and students in the diaspora:   Creation of a Unified Platform for Albanian Youth and Students in the Diaspora: One of the main challenges identified is the lack of a sustainable and inclusive structure that unifies the efforts of young people. Therefore, it is vital to create a unified platform that will serve as a forum for all Albanian youth and student associations. This platform should: Allow the sharing of experiences and resources. Create spaces for the development of joint projects and activities that strengthen academic, social, and cultural ties. Provide opportunities for members to meet (even when traveling in a city).   Development of a Mobile Application and Digital Platform for Albanian Diaspora Youth Networking: To overcome geographical and time barriers, a mobile application could serve as an effective solution for bringing Albanian youth into a shared space. This application should offer: Easy registration for Albanian students and youth worldwide. Space for virtual events, thematic discussions, and sharing experiences. Opportunities for professional, academic, and social networking. Features that allow collaboration on joint projects, resource sharing, and building strong connections with countries of origin.   Preservation of Organizational Independence from Political Influence: One of the major problems identified is the interference of political parties, which has led to the polarization of associations and weakened cooperation among youth. To prevent this, it is recommended that: The statutes of student organizations clearly emphasize political neutrality and prohibit political interference. Oversight mechanisms be created by parent organizations to ensure the independence of associations and new organizations. State and diplomatic institutions provide support but maintain a neutral political stance in relation to these organizations.   Increasing Inclusion of Albanians from All Regions (Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, the Presevo Valley, Montenegro, and Chameria): To address divisions and feelings of exclusion among Albanians from different regions, it is essential for organizations to be inclusive. This can be achieved by: Creating internal rules that promote diversity and inclusion. Providing equal opportunities for all Albanians, regardless of regional origin. Undertaking special initiatives to encourage the participation of Albanians from North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Chameria in national and international activities.   Encouraging Academic Links through International Programs like Erasmus+: International programs such as Erasmus+ can play a key role in strengthening connections between Albanian students in the diaspora and institutions in the countries of origin. For this: Albania and Kosovo should intensify efforts to involve more Albanian students in these programs. Student associations in the diaspora can create partnerships with local universities to promote opportunities for academic exchanges.   Drafting a Manual for New Organizations: The establishment of new organizations often faces numerous challenges. To ease this process, a manual or guide could be created containing: Recommendations for structuring and managing associations. Guidelines for accessing financial support and resources. Proposals for ways to collaborate between existing and new associations.   Raising National Awareness for Youth in the Diaspora: To avoid divisions and the sense of "marginalization," it is crucial that every organization, institution, and individual works to promote a sense of national belonging. Activities and projects should emphasize common values and traditions, encouraging greater unity among Albanians. These recommendations offer a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges and leveraging the extraordinary potential of Albanian youth in the diaspora. Through cooperation, organization, and sustainable support, these initiatives can have a strong and lasting impact on the development of the Albanian community both within and outside the country. Co-authors: Arbër Gashi, Representative of the "Shoqëria e Re" Association, Switzerland. Andi Zhaveli, President of the Albanian Student Organization "Vlera," Belgium. This article was created with the support of the regional project “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Values in the Western Balkans” implemented by the Center for the Promotion of Civil Society (CPCD) in collaboration 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 content of this article is the responsibility of the authors alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).

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.