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OriginAL’s Fourth Cohort Visits Gjirafa HQ in Prishtina
Date: 03/06/2024
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On the second day of the OriginAL program, the fourth cohort visited Gjirafa HQ in Prishtina, Kosovo. Made possible through a collaborative effort between GERMIN and Gjirafa, the visit provided participants with a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the operations and innovative spirit of one of Kosovo’s leading tech companies. OriginAL is a program designed to help young Albanians from the diaspora connect with their cultural roots, and this cohort comprises 32 young Albanians from over 10 countries.

Guided by Greta Kamberi, Head of People and Culture at Gjirafa, the participants were introduced to various departments and activities and they got an inside look at how Gjirafa’s products are developed and the processes that drive Gjirafa’s success in the digital world.

Engaging with the Gjirafa Team

OriginALs had the opportunity to engage with Gjirafa’s talented team members, who shared insights into their roles and responsibilities and answered the participants’ questions without hesitation. Participants were particularly inspired by the stories of team members, some of whom have returned to Kosovo from the diaspora to contribute to the country’s already growing technology industry.

A Story of Return and Success

A highlight of the visit was a conversation with Salvi Tony Hoxha, an Albanian professional who returned from the USA to further his career in Gjirafa. His journey back to Kosovo is proof of the opportunities that the country offers to its diaspora. Among other things, he spoke about the differences between working for large corporations in the US and his current role at Gjirafa, emphasizing how his experience at Gjirafa is one of his career successes. His story resonated deeply with OriginAL participants, who are themselves part of the diaspora exploring their roots and opportunities in their homeland.

This visit was made possible through the collaboration between GERMIN and Gjirafa. GERMIN’s mission to engage the diaspora and create meaningful connections with their homeland aligns perfectly with Gjirafa’s vision of leveraging technology to drive Kosovo’s development. This partnership amplifies the power of collaboration in creating impactful experiences for the youth and the diaspora, encouraging them to contribute to the socio-economic development of our countries.

It also highlights the importance of programs like OriginAL in bridging the gap between the diaspora and their homeland, fostering a sense of belonging and commitment to our home countries’ future.

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
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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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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
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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.
Date: 04/10/2024
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