Through discussions, group work, and diverse activities, the GERMIN staff and Board of Directors collaboratively reviewed successes, lessons learned, and plans for the organization’s sustainable growth in the next four years. The team assessed the work of the past years and discussed key potentials for the future.

During this workshop, Germin Board members: Anila Hyka Smorgrav from France, Avni Mustafaj from the USA, Anita Gjidoda from the Netherlands, Hilmi Gashi from Switzerland, together with the team members exchanged and shared their ideas and perspectives on several key issues:

• Further improvement of work, organization and activities of GERMIN;
• Advancing working conditions and rules within the organization
• Ensuring the financial sustainability of GERMIN;
• Increasing GERMIN’s influence and cooperation with partners, shareholders, and our primary audience, the diaspora.

The entire workshop was facilitated by Lenhard Hamza, who has been engaged for two years as an integrated expert in the organization, and has a closer look and perspective on Germin’s work and diaspora engagement.

The first presentations made by GERMIN’s Co-Executive Directors, Sihana Bejtullahu and Lirim Krasniqi, showcased the results and impact of GERMIN’s work over the past four years.

Vartan Marashlyan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the ‘Repat Armenia‘ Foundation, a non-governmental and non-profit institution from Armenia, also participated in the two-day workshop.

During his presentation sessions, Marashlyan presented his proposals for diversifying the organization’s funds to the board. He detailed the strategies and paths that led to the success of the foundation he currently leads. Simultaneously, he offered advice to GERMIN to create the mechanisms for a sustainable growth.

The sessions also featured presentations on GERMIN’s current projects and their key outcomes.

Blerta Mexhuani, Project Manager at GERMIN, informed attendees about the Angazhimi i Profesionistëve të Diasporës (EDP) platform. This initiative aims to establish a comprehensive database of diaspora professionals and actively facilitate their connections with institutions, businesses, and organizations in Kosovo and Albania.

Mexhuani next presented the ‘Peer-to-Peer Diaspora Mentorship’ project, where GERMIN connects diaspora professionals with leaders and members of the Sectoral Workforce Councils in the Wood Processing, Agribusiness, and ICT sectors through a virtual mentoring program. This initiative has delivered valuable knowledge and recommendations that contribute to the development of these sectors in Kosovo.

Blerinë Ukshini, Project Manager at GERMIN, presented the ‘Diaspora for Women in Politics‘ project, which aims to strengthen the position of women in politics at the local level in Kosovo.

Ukshini emphasized the key activities planned for the ‘Diaspora for Women in Politics’ project, which are designed to enhance inter-party cooperation in Kosovo. These activities include mentorship from diaspora mentors, thematic training sessions, Agora-style discussions, drafting of policy summaries with actionable recommendations, and the involvement of diaspora professionals in Municipal Offices for Gender Equality.

She also presented the project ‘Diaspora Engagement for the Advancement of Politics in Kosovo‘ whose primary goal is to improve the policy-making processes in Kosovo through the optimization of the contributions of the diaspora.

Ukshini elaborated on the core activities through which GERMIN intends to achieve the project’s goals. These include hosting six Agora discussions in the diaspora, engaging diaspora professionals within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and the Parliamentary Committee on Labor of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, ongoing advocacy efforts, organizing thematic virtual meetings with diaspora members, and drafting recommendations for institutions based on the discussions held.

The presentations also highlighted GERMIN’s efforts in engaging and encouraging the Albanian Diaspora youth through the “OriginAL” program. This initiative is a collaborative project between GERMIN and the Global Albanians Foundation, aimed at achieving effective integration of young Albanians living abroad.

Since its inception in 2022, the OriginAL program has been offering an educational-cultural tour for young Albanians of the diaspora, a practice that continues to this day. This tour includes volunteer experiences and aims to inspire participants to explore and connect with their ancestral roots.

Naim Robelli, the OriginAL Project Manager, presented the program’s objectives, its achievements to date, its reach, participants’ feedback, encountered challenges, the need for growth, and future plans for expansion and increased engagement. He emphasized that it is important that this experience offered by GERMIN through OriginAL to the Albanian youth of the diaspora should be continued after the project with other activities that would keep the youth engaged in their country of origin. In this aspect, he revealed the plan for the engagement of OriginAL alumni in this year’s activities and the creation of OriginAL ambassadors around the world.

A key focus of the workshop was on fundraising strategies. Mark Kosmo, chairman of the Global Albanian Foundation, participated in a discussion with workshop participants about effective methods for short-term fundraising and the development of long-term strategies that would ensure sustainable funding for OriginAL and GERMIN overall.

GERMIN, through this workshop, further strengthens its commitment to building bridges between the diaspora and their homeland, while simultaneously enhancing working conditions and developing strategies that amplify the voice and impact of the Albanian diaspora.

The post GERMIN held a Board & Team Strategic Workshop appeared first on Germin.

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

The post OriginAL, a journey to discover the roots appeared first on Germin.

Speakers:

• Liza Gashi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Republic of Kosovo
• Jehona Gjurgjeala, Executive Director, NGO TOKA
• Nevila Dudaj, Adriatik Tours LLC
• Egzon Gashi, Executive Director, Teach for Kosova
• Çlirim Sheremeti, CEO & Founder, 4-H Kosova
• Sokol Haxhiu, Country Representative, Western Balkans Democracy Initiative
  • Moderator: Lirim Krasniqi, Co-Executive Director, GERMIN

The post How local institutions and well established organizations could be part of a program such as OriginAL? appeared first on Germin.

Speakers:

• Ilira Aliai, Educational Coordinator in German-Israeli youth exchanges,
• Richard Lukaj, Experienced Financial Executive, Private Investor, Philanthropist and Public Policy advocate,
• Ilir Zherka, Executive Director, Alliance for International Exchange
• Gezim Qadraku, Masters in International Economics and Public Policy (Germany)
  • Moderator: Mentor Dida, Social Entrepreneur

The post What it means to be Albanian living in Diaspora? appeared first on Germin.

On December 11, we launched the #OriginAL, a program that aims to provide a volunteer, educational and cultural experience for Diaspora Youth that will strengthen their sense of ethnic identity and create long-lasting connections, especially with their youth peers in our homeland countries. During the launching we facilitated a panel aimed to shed light on the importance of engaging the diaspora youth, and showcase some of the most promising programs and practices in this regard worldwide with the following speakers: 

• Mike Bailey, The Practical Fundraiser, Independent Consultant based in Israel with over 20 years experience in fundraising from Israeli Diaspora,
• Vartan Marashlyan, Executive Director, Repat Armenia Foundation,
• Sevan Kabakian, Country Director, Birthright Armenia
  • Moderator: Martin Russell, The Networking Institute – Ireland

The post Why Diaspora Youth, and what are the best global practices? appeared first on Germin.

Why OriginAL?

Youth are our future and most valuable resource.  If we invest in them wisely, all of our lives are enriched. We are ambitious to create a success story of the meaningful connection of thousands of young Albanians around the world with their countries of origin, and that story begins now with your support.

Who Will Participate in OriginAL?

OriginAL will launch in 2022 and we plan to bring at least 40 youth in the first year to Albania and Kosova. Our initial focus will be on youth interested in:

• Entrepreneurship and Information Technology
• Environment and Natural Resources; and
• Arts and Culture.

What to Expect?

The conference will be hosted at the Accelevents online platform as we did last year with Diaspora Flet 2020, and will consist of panel discussions, exhibitions, virtual networking, and much much more. We will soon send you the registration details and agenda.

What’s Next?

You will receive more information from us this next month on social media and in newsletters as we are promoting OriginAL, and the December 11 Conference. We are looking forward to your participation then and for years to come along with thousands of others, and we thank you in advance for that.

The post Save the date – ‘OriginAL’ launching Conference, December 11, 2021 appeared first on Germin.