Advocacy & Diplomacy
Year in Review GERMIN 2023
Date: 17/01/2024
0 Views

As we reflect on the past year, it brings us immense pride to share the highlights of our tireless efforts in fostering meaningful connections between the Diaspora and our homelands. Through several initiatives and events, we have worked hard towards strengthening the bonds that unite our vibrant diasporic community with our roots in the homeland. From engaging cultural and professional exchanges to forging valuable partnerships, we have endeavored to create a space where the rich tapestry of Albanian Diaspora flourishes. This ‘2023 in review’ encapsulates the spirit of unity, collaboration, and shared aspirations that continue to define our collective ‘diasporizing’ journey.

Know-how and Skills’ Transfer / Exchanges

  • Know-how for Kosova’s Municipalities and CSOs

21 Diaspora Professionals have been linked with Kosova’s municipalities and Civil Society Organizations to contribute in a variety of development and capacity-building projects. From digital educational platforms to development strategies, diaspora’s know-how has been leveraged by local stakeholders. Read about one example.

  • Diaspora Mentorship for Women in Politics

52 elected and prospective elective women from municipalities of Shtime, Istog, Vushtrri, Suhareka, Lipjan, Rahovec, and Podujevë were mentored by 26 diaspora experts in key areas of interest, connecting and fostering mutual learning relationships. A final conference gathered all of them, as well as institutional stakeholders. Read more.

  • Regional Youth Mobility and Exchanges

GERMIN, together with partner organizations from North Macedonia and Montenegro continued the initiative “Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Mobility among Young Researchers in the Western Balkans” under the MOVE Grant Scheme, funded by the Western Balkans Fund. 6 fellows finished a 10-day fellowship in neighboring countries.

Advocacy & Diplomacy

72 hours program, 500+ participants, 74 speakers, 13 sessions, 21 partner organizations and institutions. On May 18, 19, and 20, 2023, GERMIN organized the third edition of the largest Albanian Diaspora Conference, “Diaspora Flet”, in Prishtina. Themed “How can we co-create?” – the conference aimed to explore and foster cooperation in various fields, positively affecting the diaspora communities and making significant changes in the countries of origin. Read more.

  • Kosova Improves Diaspora Voting

The Parliament of Kosova has enhanced the out-of-country voting by amending the electoral law, which includes Germin’s recommendation to allow physical voting in diplomatic missions from the next elections. Read more.

The scaling up of OriginAL Program

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMuH8eP2-gQ&ab_channel=GERMIN
  • Two cohorts in one year: increased demand for the program

Sixty participants from 17 different countries experienced our homeland in a unique way through the OriginAL program. By visiting 15 cities, over 60 sites, and meeting hundreds of local peers, their OriginAL homeland experience was one of a lifetime. The OriginAL 2023 was one of great impact and an increased demand. We are currently fundraising for the 2024 cohorts, and your support is highly appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hre0RgT10J0&ab_channel=GERMIN
  • A succesful Fundraising Concert in New York

An incredible show by our renown Inva Mula together with pianist Genc Tukiçi and the band was organized in New York on May 24. This event, facilitated by Fadil Berisha, gathered over 800 of the Albanian-Americans in Town Hall Theatre to support OriginAL Program and its noble mission to connect young Albanians worldwide. Mark Kosmo of the Global Albanians Foundation pledged $1 million from now to his 100th birthday.

Facilitating Export Promotion & Diaspora Market Linkages

  • Kosova Women Entrepreneurs access Swiss German market

40 women entrepreneurs from Kosovo went to Düsseldorf where they had the opportunity to meet with dozens of diaspora businesses. In collaboration with Albanian-German Business Uninon in Germany, and supported by USAID Kosovo Compete, they also visited the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) of the city of Essen. Read more.

10 local businesses at the Diaspora Business Fair in Vienna

Through MARDI Project, GERMIN supported 20 local producers from Kosova to participate at the Diaspora Business Fair, organized by the Albanian Diaspora Business Network in Austria. The fair was held in Vienna on October 21, 2023. Over a hundred B2B meetings took place from companies of IT, Wood-processing, Food Processing and Textile industries. Read More.

  • Linking Diaspora ICT Businesses with home country

On October 13-14, 2023, we joined the largest technology conference in the region – KosICT, to facilitate the business-to-business (B2B) meetings between local companies and those from the diaspora or with diaspora background. Dozends of companies from the ICT and related sectors explored opportunities for collaboration and partnership. Read more.

Diaspora Philanthropy

  • Korçarët Ndihmojmë Korçarët

Dr. Yvonne Naum from Seattle, originally from Korça, inspired GAF to start this program by pledging  $22,500 as a start. Three projects will be initially supported to Helping Vulnerable Children at Naim Frasheri School; Roma Children at Day Care Centers, and Children with Disabilities in Korça. Watch Yvonne’s message for you.

Diaspora helping flood-affected areas in Kosova

In response to the January 2023 floods in Kosova, organizations, five diaspora-based organizations from the US and Germany initiated the “Diaspora for Kosova” fundraising campaign to support affected families and buildings. The Technical High Schools of Skenderaj and Mitrovica were supported to renovate their facilities damaged by the floods.

Diaspora Organizations Network

This initiative seeks to channel the collective influence of the Albanian Diaspora into a force for positive change. Our objectives consist on supporting Advocacy efforts of different organizations; supporting Cultural Preservation and Anti-Defamation; and empowering youth to actively engage in community-driven initiatives.

latest
Related News
Explore the latest developments, initiatives, and discussions shaping advocacy and diplomacy within the diaspora community.
Diaspora Professionals
Success Story: Transforming Education Through Diaspora Mentorship
Empowering Educators with Cutting-Edge Technology In a small corner of Kosovo, a remarkable partnership between a diaspora expert and a high school has reshaped the way education integrates with technology. Shkëlqim Sina, a Senior Software Engineer based in Germany, brought his global expertise to the "Peer-to-Peer Diaspora Mentorship" program. Through Germin's matching efforts, he collaborated with the teachers of “Lutfi Musiqi” High School in Vushtrri, Sector Workforce Innovation Grantee of the PSWD, to drive impactful change. Together, they embarked on a mission focused on developing a joint project to develop an application for registering students’ absences at the School.   The Challenge Like many educational institutions in Kosovo, “Lutfi Musiqi” High School, faced challenges in adopting modern technological solutions to support their teaching and administrative tasks. Tracking student attendance was a cumbersome and time-consuming process, often prone to errors and inefficiencies. The school needed a practical, user-friendly digital solution that could be seamlessly integrated into their workflows.   The Solution Over 12 intensive mentoring sessions spanning May to July 2024, Mr. Sina introduced the high school teachers to .NET Core Web API, Entity Framework Core, and essential software development practices. The mentorship program focused on a collaborative project: developing an application to track student attendance.   Guided by Mr. Sina's expertise, the teachers:                Designed and built a robust application leveraging SQL Server for efficient data storage.                Learned advanced coding practices, including API documentation using Swagger and testing with Postman.                Implemented secure authentication and role-based authorization to ensure data privacy.   Key Outcomes The mentorship not only resulted in the successful development of the student attendance application but also equipped the teachers with the skills to sustain and expand their technological capabilities.   Teacher Fatime Azemi reflected on the experience: "We have successfully developed a student attendance application aimed at evidencing the number of students’ absences during the school year. The mentorship increased our knowledge of using .NET Core Web API, and we greatly benefited from Mr. Sina's professional expertise and cooperative approach. We are optimistic about the potential for future collaboration and will soon start using the developed application."   Teacher Adil Jusufi highlighted the broader impact: "This mentorship has provided us with technical and practical knowledge that will serve to advance our teaching methodology and improve communication with parents. This collaboration has been a big step towards improving education in our school."   The Impact The collaboration demonstrated the transformative power of diaspora engagement in education. By bridging global expertise with local needs, the program not only addressed immediate challenges but also laid the groundwork for long-term improvement.   The mentorship program equipped the teachers of “Lutfi Musiqi” High School with the knowledge and skills needed to develop a digital solution for tracking student absences. As a result, they are now prepared to adapt and implement the project, marking a significant step toward modernizing administrative processes and embracing digital tools in education.   This success story underscores the profound impact of connecting local educators with global expertise, proving that mentorship can truly transform ideas into lasting impact.   This activity is implemented within the framework of the USAID Private Sector-led Workforce Development Activity financed by USAID and implemented by IREX and GERMIN.  
Date: 17/01/2025
0 Views
Advocacy & Diplomacy
List of Polling Stations for the Diaspora
To facilitate the voting process for the diaspora, Germin has prepared a detailed list of polling stations, including the addresses of embassies and consulates where you can vote in person, as well as postal addresses for sending ballots.   Click on the links below to download the complete documents, depending on the country where you reside: AUSTRALIA   AUSTRIA   BELGIUM   CZECHIA   DENMARK   FRANCE   GERMANY   NETHERLANDS   HUNGARY   ITALY   CANADA   KOSOVE   CROATIA   MONTENEGRO   NORTH MACEDONIA   UNITED KINGDOM   NORWAY   USA   ALBANIA   SLOVENIA   SWEDEN   TURKEY   SWITZERLAND   In these documents, the addresses are linked to Google Maps, enabling fast and accurate navigation. You can access the document covering all countries here.   For more information, join our official WhatsApp channel: GERMIN WhatsApp Channel.  
Date: 17/01/2025
0 Views
Diaspora Professionals
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
0 Views
Advocacy & Diplomacy
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
0 Views