The Albanian diaspora plays a key role in preserving culture and maintaining strong ties with the homeland. However, challenges such as assimilation and lack of institutional support require concrete measures to safeguard national identity.   GERMIN has published a policy brief on the national and cultural identity of the Albanian diaspora, written by Dr. Klement R. Camaj. This brief highlights the importance of the Albanian language, government engagement with the diaspora, and the role of technology in strengthening cultural connections.   What does this brief cover? 🔹 The importance of preserving the Albanian language and the challenges the diaspora faces 🔹 Strategies for more effective cooperation between governments and the diaspora 🔹 The use of technology to support the Albanian language and culture   Read the full publication here.

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.  

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.