Blog

In recent years, the IPKO Foundation has taken on an important role in empowering women and girls in Kosovo. Adelina Qarri-Hoxha, Senior Program Manager, provides insights into their latest campaign, "EmpowerHer!", which aims to improve women's and girls' access to non-formal education, particularly in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). 

“Freesia" Paper Factory is the only one in the region with the mission of employing people with disabilities. Founded on 19 May 2023 and with a current staff of 10 employees, this factory produces kitchen and toilet paper, which is sold at around 950 locations throughout Kosovo.

The director of the factory, Endrit Rexhaj, says that "Freesia" was founded by the Golden Eagle Foundation and that the whole process lasted almost two years.

Founded in March 2007, the mission of the “Down Syndrome Kosova” Association is the promotion, respect and protection of the rights of people with Down syndrome in Kosovo and their family members.

The association works to raise their dignity, advocating and lobbying for their rights and respect of these rights, for improving the quality of life and full inclusiveness in society.

Sebahate Beqiri, the executive director, shared how the “Down Syndrome Kosova” Association was founded, its mission, activities and its operation in general.

Founded in 1996, Kosovo Women’s Network was originally an informal network of women's groups and organizations from different regions of Kosovo. Since its inception, KWN has developed into a network advocating for Kosovo women, locally, regionally, and internationally. Representing the interests of its 168 members, including women's organizations of all ethnic groups from across Kosovo, KWN is a leader among civil society organizations in Kosovo and the region.

In an interview with Etleva Malushaj, Coordinator of the Kosovo Women's Network project "Strengthening women's participation in politics" supported by the EU, we discussed her personal motivation to join the nonprofit sector, what are their current activities and she also explained why it is important for their network to strengthen the feminist movement in Kosovo.

Knowing well the challenges that women face within their community, NPO Gruaja Hyjnore (Divine Women) set out to educate women about their rights, empowering them economically by helping them gain their own sources of income.

Besides this, the mission of Divine Woman is to support and empower young people and advance the position of women in Kosovo society by raising awareness of their rights, gender equality, improving education and organizing social activities.

In an interview with Qëndresa Hajdari, project manager of this nonprofit organization, we discovered the most significant challenges they face, how they contribute to the development of philanthropy in Kosovo, and which activities they are the most focused on at the moment.  Qëndresa also provided us with an example of their fundraising activities, that reflects their creative ways of activating their community.