Event
GERMIN’s “Diaspora for Women in Politics” Project
Date: 12/01/2024
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During the period of October 2022 until October 2023, GERMIN has implemented the project “Diaspora for Women in Politics”, which aimed to address the lack of substantial and qualitative representation of women in local-level politics in Kosovo. Specifically, the project`s main goal was to empower 52 elected and prospective elective women from Shtime, Istog, Vushtrri, Suhareka, Lipjan, Rahovec, and Podujevë by building their capacities in key areas of interest, connecting and fostering mutual learning relationships between them and Kosovo diaspora members engaged in politics in developed countries and other activities.

  • Project Achievements and Impact

Through this project, GERMIN utilized its vast network in the diaspora and engaged influential and knowledgeable Kosovo diaspora members involved in politics at local, regional, or national levels.

Women’s political engagement, particularly at the local level, remains a significant challenge in Kosovo. This challenge is exacerbated when working with smaller municipalities, where the patriarchal mindset is more deeply ingrained. Typically, political parties tend to include women in their electoral lists only during election periods to fulfil the mandatory gender quota requirements. This, in turn, further hinders women’s active engagement in politics on a broader scale within Kosovo.

In the municipalities that were the focal point of our project, we were fully cognizant of the difficulty in achieving all our numerical targets. However, this did not render the project unworkable. Although we initially aimed to involve 52 women in the project, GERMIN extended deadlines, conducted meetings with political parties, and made multiple attempts via email and phone to encourage participation.

  • During the project implementation, the main achievements were as below:
  • Compilation of a comprehensive database of over 300 women in politics from the targeted municipalities and political parties.
  • Compilation of a database of over 80 diaspora professionals who can serve as mentors for the project.
  • We have successfully engaged 26 mentors from 14 highly developed countries (such as the USA, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, France, Sweden, etc.), fostering robust connections with their respective political institutions. This inspiring collaboration has given mentees a unique opportunity to share experiences and knowledge with these esteemed mentors.
  • Closing Conference Highlights

The project was finalized with the closing conference, which revealed women’s engagement in politics at the local level and mentors from the diaspora, in the one-year project supported by the National Endowment for Democracy. The event started with the opening speech of Mss Sihana Bejtullahu, Co-Executive Director of GERMIN, the fourth President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mss Atifete Jahjaga and Ms Vera Mjeku, Policy Analyst at the New York City Council.

The conference continued with a panel discussion on “From Challenges to Change” that brought together women from different political parties. Part of the panel were: The Minister of Justice of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, and the Vice-President of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Vlora Çitaku, Vice Chair of the Women’s Forum in the Democratic League of Kosovo, Albulena Mujaj Bajraktaraj, and Diellza Kukaj, Chair of the Women’s Forum in the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.

In the second part of the “Diaspora for Women in Politics” conference, 3 group discussions were facilitated by diaspora mentors: Kendresa Gerlica, Belgium, Selvete Dibrani Istrefi, Finland and Fatima Zekijiri, Germany.

A brief report with the project’s findings was also presented by Diana Morina, an expert on gender issues. The report can be found at this link.

For additional moments and speeches from this conference, click this link to access our Facebook video.

Discussion Roundtable – Empowering the Workforce in Kosovo: Human Capital and Mentorship
This roundtable highlighted the role of the diaspora's human capital in shaping Kosova’s workforce. Diaspora mentors and local beneficiaries mentees engaged in the Peer-to-peer Diaspora Mentorship Programme” showcased some of the achievements and feedback on the program’s impact over the years. In his welcoming remarks, our GERMIN Board Co-Chair Mr. Avni Mustafaj emphasized that these events celebrate the unwavering commitment of all involved in connecting the Albanian diaspora and fostering impactful mentorship and professional engagement to empower Kosovo’s workforce and communities.” Our dedicated moderator, Ms. Fatlume Halili, Senior Ecosystem Relationship Manager under the USAID Private-Led Workforce Development Activity, skillfully guided the discussion, ensuring diverse perspectives were shared. Mr. Xhelal Derguti, Coordinator of the Migration and Diaspora GIZ Project, underscored the importance of inclusivity in diaspora knowledge and skills exchanges. He highlighted that tailoring programs to address the unique challenges of women and non-majority groups, while creating equitable opportunities, significantly amplifies the broader social and economic impact of these initiatives. Diaspora mentors shared compelling stories about their mentorship experiences: Agnesa Belegu, Senior Game Designer, and Darsej Rizaj Co-founder and CEO of Digital School detailed their work on enhancing the gamified learning system, Houses 2.0. Focusing on narrative development and player engagement has helped the school create a dynamic learning environment that effectively balances educational content with gamification elements like goals, interaction, and feedback. R&D is important and this is a step in that direction. Shkelqim Sina, Senior Software Developer, discussed his guidance for teachers at Lutfi Musiqi High School in creating a student absence tracking app. The app not only improved administrative efficiency but also boosted teachers’ confidence in integrating technology into their daily routines, reports Adil Jusufi, a teacher of the school. Erblin Gashi, Executive Director of Eurofruti Company, shared insights on how mentorship around organic certification, packaging, and branding has positioned his company to compete more effectively in local and European markets. While unable to attend, Ilda Bruzja shared her reflections, noting, “Diaspora mentors are deeply motivated by the opportunity to give back, and their impact is enhanced when local counterparts are open to implementing innovative ideas and strategies.” Panelists concluded by highlighting the value of mentorship in bridging global expertise with local needs and the importance of adapting approaches to Kosovo’s unique context. Opportunities to come together, engage in discussions, and collaborate were highlighted as crucial for fostering agility and adaptability in addressing workforce challenges and driving impactful solutions. This roundtable discussion and the Peer-to-Peer Diaspora Mentorship Program are supported by the USAID Private-Led Workforce Development Activity, implemented by IREX, in partnership with GERMIN.
Date: 24/12/2024
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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
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Invitation to Discussion – National Identity in the Diaspora – Where Do We Stand?
👉 Germin is pleased to invite you to join a virtual discussion on the topic "National Identity in the Diaspora – Where Do We Stand?"   🟩 What will we discuss? This discussion will focus on maintaining national identity and its impact within the Albanian diaspora. Topics will include: The role of younger generations in preserving language and culture. The influence of globalization on identity formation. Challenges of maintaining identity in different social and cultural contexts.   🔍 Why should you participate? This discussion aims to provide a space for reflection and exchange of ideas about diaspora identity, offering concrete ideas on how to preserve and strengthen our connection to our roots.   🖇 To be part of this discussion, register via the following link: https://bit.ly/49EODpP Date: December 23, 2024 - Time: 18:00 - Platform: Zoom This event is organized by Germin as part of the regional project “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Values in the Western Balkans.” The project is implemented by the Center for Promoting Civil Society (CPCD), in collaboration with the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), with financial support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA). The topic of this meeting is solely the responsibility of Germin and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA). Join us for a fruitful discussion!
Date: 24/12/2024
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Celebrating Diaspora Day in Kosova: Networking Event with Global Professionals
On August 2nd, GERMIN hosted a Diaspora Networking Breakfast in Prishtina to celebrate Diaspora Day. The event brought together diaspora professionals from Europe and the United States dedicated to Kosova's growth and development. Bringing Together Kosova’s Diaspora We had a diverse group of diaspora professionals at our gathering. They have been key players in various projects by GERMIN and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora's Citizen Diplomacy Fellowship Program. These individuals have been making a real difference in their homeland by sharing their expertise and knowledge across many sectors, including policy-making, policy development, project writing, technology, fundraising, media, and public relations. Inspiring Stories and Fresh Ideas During the breakfast event, we were presented with compelling narratives showcasing the contributions of professionals to Kosova. The stories emphasized the positive impact made by the diaspora in various areas, including technological advancements, healthcare enhancements, and educational improvements. The event also served as a brainstorming session, where participants shared new ideas to further enhance their contributions from the diaspora to the local communities. There was a lot of excitement as people discussed innovative ways to strengthen the connection between the global diaspora and our homelands. Acknowledging the Power of Community This event was more than just a celebration; it was a heartfelt thank you to our diaspora for their ongoing support and contributions over the years. Their commitment has been crucial to Kosovo’s success, and this gathering was a way to acknowledge and honor their efforts. Building a Stronger Future Together At GERMIN, we believe that the diaspora is a key asset to Kosova’s future. We aim to co-create by working together to drive positive change and innovation. We’re committed to strengthening these important connections and creating more opportunities for collaboration. Over the past five years, through the Engaging Diaspora Professionals Platform, we have facilitated the engagement of over 120 global professionals in Kosova and Albania. As we look ahead, we’re excited to build on this momentum and continue fostering partnerships that will benefit Kosova. With the support of our global community, we are confident in our ability to create a brighter future for everyone. Join us in celebrating Diaspora Day and stay connected with GERMIN as we work together to empower our communities and build a better future for Kosovo.
Date: 02/08/2024
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