Diaspora Briefings
Perspective: “Rethinking Cultural Activities in the Diaspora”
Date: 30/03/2021
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A virtual walk through the pages of social networks where Albanian associations from the Diaspora are presented, on the eve of a national, state or religious holiday, offers us a clear overview of their activities.

The impression is created that many organizations in Stockholm, Basel, Ankara, Toronto, Baden-Baden, Zagreb and other places where the Albanian Diaspora lives today, follow more or less the same motto: the bigger the national flag the more valuable the organization. The stage usually belongs to someone from the Albanian pop scene and the whole organization ultimately offers a lot but at least something Albanian. I can of course most closely evaluate the organizations in Germany, the country where I live, and I conclude that most of these organizations do not differ much from those of the first 30 years.

The Diaspora has changed so much in the last three decades that I doubt that such organizations are the cultural address of most of our compatriots. I do not want to criticize their existence or why and how often these activities are organized but I think it is time to seriously rethink the content of their program. A generation of young people who have come at a young age or even born in the Diaspora, should be offered the opportunity to finally get acquainted with the genuine Albanian culture. In the homes where these young people live, they probably do not have the opportunity to get to know our culture for various reasons, so the associations remain the ones that have to take on this task. When someone takes the step of establishing an association and calling it “cultural-Albanian”, I think it should focus on providing genuine cultural activities. Maybe just to answer the question “what is real culture?” there is disagreement. It does not mean that everyone offers operas, theatrical performances, or literary readings in large halls but some standards would have to be rethought and redefined but also respected so that once and for all oriental turbo-folk would disappear, if not from all, even from most of our organizations.

It has never been easier to organize cultural activities than today. This is often evidenced by some associations established in recent years which brought to their scenes Albanian artists who live in large numbers in the Diaspora. Also, various poets and authors live in the Diaspora and in the countries where it operates, the Albanian school and its students bring a great potential but also the engagement of artists from home countries, although associated with relatively high costs, is not impossible.

When it comes to the necessary material means, the situation is not as bad as claimed. Although not enough, there are funds, starting in municipalities and regions (at least in Germany and some other European countries) to the funds of the European Union. The Ministries of Culture and the Ministries of Diaspora of Kosovo, Albania and Northern Macedonia also have funds for cultural activities in the Diaspora. To get all these means you have to compete in certain competition deadlines and not only when there is a need for an association e.g. a few weeks before the activity. These funds belong to the associations and they should ask for those funds because I have not yet heard that any institution in the home countries has come out and asked the associations where they are in the Diaspora to offer assistance.

Embassies and Consulates could even play an important role in this regard as advisors and supporters in terms of logistics. I am curious whether I will change something with the name of Cultural Attachés announced a few weeks ago by the MCYS of the Republic of Kosovo. It would be good to include here many other artists living abroad who, although extremely successful, are still under the shadow of Dua Lipa and Rita Ora.

There has been a lot of talk about the opening of Cultural Centers in the Diaspora planned by the Governments of the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Kosovo. But it seems that these plans have remained on paper which is very depressing because those centers could play an important role in the cultural reorganization of the Diaspora.

In addition to providing Albanian culture to new generations in the Diaspora, cultural activities are an excellent opportunity and form of cultural diplomacy. In the activities of associations in the Diaspora, there should be as many fellow citizens of different nationalities as well as representatives of the bodies of the countries where they live. To get acquainted with the culture but also with our community.

The activities of several associations in different countries of the Diaspora are promising, which are offering a more alternative program, meeting to some extent the demand of compatriots, especially the younger generations, but also being the favorite address of guests of different nationalities. Some of them participated in a discussion at the Conference “Diaspora Flet” organized by the organization Germin. In addition to exchanging experiences, during the conversation, the panelists concluded that cooperation between associations but also greater engagement of artists in cultural activities, especially those living in the Diaspora, is necessary. Forms of cooperation can be different, such as a joint organization of cultural activities, organization of a workshop to help newly formed associations or interest groups to establish an association, support of young artists in promoting their work, etc. why not the establishment of a cultural platform in the Diaspora that would unite associations and artists, a union that would have extraordinary importance in the cultivation and promotion of Albanian culture in the Diaspora.

 

About the author: Mr. Salihu was born in Mitrovica and lives in Germany since 1992. Throughout his tenure in Germany, Mr. Salihu was actively engaged in sport and culture through which he maintained connections with his home country and identified collaboration opportunities. Mr. Salihu is one of the co-founders of the cultural association URACult, established in 2014, the core objective of which is to actively promote Albanian culture in Germany. As a President of URACult, Mr. Salihu actively participates in the work of Albanian community in Germany.

Youth and Student Organization and Networking in the Diaspora
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).
Date: 03/12/2024
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OriginAL, a journey to discover the roots
"Find your roots" - a slogan so simple and at the same time so meaningful. Human is always in search of their roots and the past. No matter how far we are from the country of origin, we always return there - to the ancestor's land, either physically or spiritually. There comes the idea of OriginAL, a program launched by GERMIN and Global Albanians Foundation which aims to provide a free educational trip for the Albanian Diaspora Youth. As Victor Hugo, the French poet and novelist once said, "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come", we believe that this is the time for such a program to be implemented.  The OriginAL program was born out of a need to give young people in the Diaspora the opportunity to get to discover their roots. The second and third generations of young people in the diaspora are naturally exposed to diverse communities, but not very much embodied in their native or original culture and countries. New dynamics of migration among Albanians have made it difficult for the parents to pass on ties with their homelands to their descendants. Meanwhile, home countries such as Albania and Kosovo, have not yet built institutional mechanisms to stay close to the new diaspora communities and keep them connected to the origin. OriginAL as well as the name itself is unique in many dimensions. Origin and AL means ‘Albanian Origin’ and is dedicated to all those young people who for one reason or another have not been able to connect to their country of origin. That is why we have designed such a program, which will bring for the first time this year 40 young adults from the diaspora to Albania and Kosova for a two-week free educational trip. The application form was opened on May 25th and will continue until June 15th. While the program will take place in August 10-22, 2022. It is enough to show the Albanian origin (of at least one Albanian parent or grandparent) in order to be eligible to participate.  OriginAL aims to strengthen the connection of the diaspora youth with the countries of their ancestors,  strengthen their Albanian identity, and connect them with their peers living in Albania and Kosova. The program has been modeled based on the Israeli model, particularly that of Taglit - Birthright Israel, which has inspired other similar initiatives such as Birthright Africa, Reconnect Hungary, Birthright Armenia, etc. In order to get acquainted with the program, the co-director of GERMIN, Lirim Krasniqi, and the project manager, Arbnor Mjeku, visited Israel beginning of June, where they studied closely how their program is curated and implemented is realized in this country.  As a pilot year, we aim to bring at least 40 young Albanians from around the world to Albania and Kosovo for two weeks in August 2022, to build this number to hundreds and then to thousands of young Albanians from all over the world in the years to come. The trip will start in Prishtina, capital of Kosova which vibrates positive energy during the summer, and will end - in the capital of Albania - Tirana. Meantime, OriginAL participants will have the opportunity to visit and feel some of the most remarkable landmarks of the homelands and hear about stories that will stay with them for a lifetime. More information about the program can be found at www.original.org.al
Date: 09/06/2022
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How to turn diaspora homecomings into a catalyst for tourism development?
Diaspora members, unlike foreign tourists, visit the homeland mainly driven by motives such as emotional or family ties, preservation of heritage and language, family reunification, re-connection with their roots, culture, and knowledge of the local context, etc. These motives imply a desire to relive or repeat past experiences associated with moments of joy, pleasure, nostalgia, as well as re-construct events of their dark or painful past. The motives greatly shape the experiences of the diaspora at home.  Numerous and frequent visits of the Albanian diaspora to the homeland, especially during holiday seasons, have taken on the dimension of what is called "diaspora tourism". These types of visits have a potential to influence tourism development and its related sectors. In order to capitalize on diaspora tourism, it is necessary to take into account some factors from the homeland perspective: Understanding the motives of diaspora visits. First of all, it is very important to understand the motives that push diaspora members to visit the homeland so often. This is because their experience and impressions are shaped by the motives of the visits. Consequently, entities that provide services or products should keep in mind that if someone has come with the main purpose of reminiscing with relatives and homeland, he / she has less time to spend on other activities. Therefore, touristic offers must be tailored to demand - specific and clearly defined in time and space. Local and authentic oriented tourism. Diaspora tourism by nature creates or already has strong links with the local economy, to which the diaspora contributes greatly. Diaspora tourists are mainly looking for local and authentic experiences and products. Therefore, for them the quality is more important than the quantity of things. This is very important for the local economy, as the cultivation and promotion of products has a multifaceted effect in many other sectors such as: cultural and historical heritage, handicrafts, agriculture, livestock, etc. Moreover, it should be noted that the local economy can build a comparative advantage in tourism by cultivating and offering local products and authentic experiences rather than imported ones. Direct support to the local economy. Diaspora tourism is characterized by not very exclusive or expensive trips. Visiting local and often unknown shops, eating in traditional local restaurants with local owners, sleeping in small, less popular places, etc, is what makes in general diaspora tourism in the homeland. According to global data, the diaspora tourist spends on average less than a regular foreign tourist. Not because of financial impossibility but because of knowledge and desire for local experiences. Diaspora tourists also buy or order directly to local suppliers rather than through intermediary operators, thus directly supporting small local economic operators. Putting in the map "unknown" places. By visiting places that ordinary tourists do not visit as much as e.g. rural destinations on the occasion of family visits, local cultural or sports events, natural attractions with poor transport infrastructure, diaspora tourists put new places/locations on the tourist maps of the homeland countries. This affects the geographical distribution of tourist destinations and increases the quantity of the offer for foreign tourists over time, while boosting local and a balanced regional development within the country. More than seasonal tourism. While most tourism is seasonal, diaspora tourism may last longer. A large part of the diaspora members visit the homeland outside of the holiday season as well, because of the family visits as well as lower travel costs. This is an element that can lead to the extension of the holiday season, thus affecting the sustainability of tourism and revenues coming from it. Given the driving factors for diaspora tourism, even if supply does not change, the number of visits is unlikely to fall, at least from the first generation of immigrants. The motives shape the experiences (even if negative) of this group as well as their assessment for services they get during the homecomings. "Diaspora tourists” are likely to disregard the quality of services in the country when making the decision to revisit the homeland. Consequently, it is assumed that there is a lack of demand for increased service quality.  However, the changing dynamics and demographics/generations of the diaspora will change over time the push factors for homeland visits. This may affect the number and intensity of diaspora visits to the homeland depending on the offer and quality of services we provide. New generations in the diaspora have less emotional ties to the country of origin, hence fewer motivating factors to visit it. Therefore, from the perspective of tourism development, it is necessary to discuss the offer of Kosovo as a major tourist destination for the diaspora. There is potential to turn diaspora homecomings into catalysts for tourism development, but there is also a risk that this potential will be lost if we do not properly understand current demand and trends. This opinion was motivated by the organization of the first edition of the festival "Go-to Sharr Fest", where, among other things, was the discussion of 'tourism and diaspora' topic.
Date: 04/10/2021
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Perspective: “Rethinking Cultural Activities in the Diaspora”
A virtual walk through the pages of social networks where Albanian associations from the Diaspora are presented, on the eve of a national, state or religious holiday, offers us a clear overview of their activities. The impression is created that many organizations in Stockholm, Basel, Ankara, Toronto, Baden-Baden, Zagreb and other places where the Albanian Diaspora lives today, follow more or less the same motto: the bigger the national flag the more valuable the organization. The stage usually belongs to someone from the Albanian pop scene and the whole organization ultimately offers a lot but at least something Albanian. I can of course most closely evaluate the organizations in Germany, the country where I live, and I conclude that most of these organizations do not differ much from those of the first 30 years. The Diaspora has changed so much in the last three decades that I doubt that such organizations are the cultural address of most of our compatriots. I do not want to criticize their existence or why and how often these activities are organized but I think it is time to seriously rethink the content of their program. A generation of young people who have come at a young age or even born in the Diaspora, should be offered the opportunity to finally get acquainted with the genuine Albanian culture. In the homes where these young people live, they probably do not have the opportunity to get to know our culture for various reasons, so the associations remain the ones that have to take on this task. When someone takes the step of establishing an association and calling it "cultural-Albanian", I think it should focus on providing genuine cultural activities. Maybe just to answer the question "what is real culture?" there is disagreement. It does not mean that everyone offers operas, theatrical performances, or literary readings in large halls but some standards would have to be rethought and redefined but also respected so that once and for all oriental turbo-folk would disappear, if not from all, even from most of our organizations. It has never been easier to organize cultural activities than today. This is often evidenced by some associations established in recent years which brought to their scenes Albanian artists who live in large numbers in the Diaspora. Also, various poets and authors live in the Diaspora and in the countries where it operates, the Albanian school and its students bring a great potential but also the engagement of artists from home countries, although associated with relatively high costs, is not impossible. When it comes to the necessary material means, the situation is not as bad as claimed. Although not enough, there are funds, starting in municipalities and regions (at least in Germany and some other European countries) to the funds of the European Union. The Ministries of Culture and the Ministries of Diaspora of Kosovo, Albania and Northern Macedonia also have funds for cultural activities in the Diaspora. To get all these means you have to compete in certain competition deadlines and not only when there is a need for an association e.g. a few weeks before the activity. These funds belong to the associations and they should ask for those funds because I have not yet heard that any institution in the home countries has come out and asked the associations where they are in the Diaspora to offer assistance. Embassies and Consulates could even play an important role in this regard as advisors and supporters in terms of logistics. I am curious whether I will change something with the name of Cultural Attachés announced a few weeks ago by the MCYS of the Republic of Kosovo. It would be good to include here many other artists living abroad who, although extremely successful, are still under the shadow of Dua Lipa and Rita Ora. There has been a lot of talk about the opening of Cultural Centers in the Diaspora planned by the Governments of the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Kosovo. But it seems that these plans have remained on paper which is very depressing because those centers could play an important role in the cultural reorganization of the Diaspora. In addition to providing Albanian culture to new generations in the Diaspora, cultural activities are an excellent opportunity and form of cultural diplomacy. In the activities of associations in the Diaspora, there should be as many fellow citizens of different nationalities as well as representatives of the bodies of the countries where they live. To get acquainted with the culture but also with our community. The activities of several associations in different countries of the Diaspora are promising, which are offering a more alternative program, meeting to some extent the demand of compatriots, especially the younger generations, but also being the favorite address of guests of different nationalities. Some of them participated in a discussion at the Conference "Diaspora Flet" organized by the organization Germin. In addition to exchanging experiences, during the conversation, the panelists concluded that cooperation between associations but also greater engagement of artists in cultural activities, especially those living in the Diaspora, is necessary. Forms of cooperation can be different, such as a joint organization of cultural activities, organization of a workshop to help newly formed associations or interest groups to establish an association, support of young artists in promoting their work, etc. why not the establishment of a cultural platform in the Diaspora that would unite associations and artists, a union that would have extraordinary importance in the cultivation and promotion of Albanian culture in the Diaspora.   About the author: Mr. Salihu was born in Mitrovica and lives in Germany since 1992. Throughout his tenure in Germany, Mr. Salihu was actively engaged in sport and culture through which he maintained connections with his home country and identified collaboration opportunities. Mr. Salihu is one of the co-founders of the cultural association URACult, established in 2014, the core objective of which is to actively promote Albanian culture in Germany. As a President of URACult, Mr. Salihu actively participates in the work of Albanian community in Germany.
Date: 30/03/2021
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