Migration, Feminism and Community building

12 June 2020

By Emilie Tesch

Our morning started with a meeting with IOM, the International Organization for Migration. Hearing about how this global organisation deals with the very particular issues of migration in Kosovo was both surprising and inspiring. The meeting differed greatly from the ones we had before, not only because we used a different online platform but also because we had four passionate project leaders, who proudly presented their work. These four men, who were all from different ethnic backgrounds, explained to us (alongside several technical difficulties) how Kosovo’s history and the demographic landscape is shaped by migration. 

Kosovo has a large diaspora in Switzerland and Germany and IOM is helping migrants who return to Kosovo to settle in in their respective communities. This is challenging because Kosovo is facing large rates of unemployment, especially among youth. Today, Kosovo (and the IOM) is facing the challenge of “Brain Drain”, meaning the emigration of qualified workers and youth. When I learned this, I realised that this adds yet another layer to the challenges Kosovo is facing in its state- and peacebuilding process.  

The second meeting was with the Kosovar Gender Studies Centre (KGSC), which was founded in 2002 and has since been publishing reports on gender issues in Kosovo. The KGSC has consistently been pointing out the discrepancy between Kosovo’s modern and progressive legal system and the realities of gender inequality in Kosovo. The frustration felt by women in Kosovo also came across when we were discussing these realities with the women of KGSC. For example, economic participation is below 10%. They explained in great detail how despite all efforts of the KGSC and other similar NGOs, women are still marginalised in Kosovo. This is even more so the case, if those women belong to the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minorities. This helped me realise that in Kosovo, and anywhere else in the world, an intersectional approach to feminism is key to building an equal society.

Lastly, our tired spirits lifted when we talked to Elizabeth Gowling, the founder of The Ideas Partnership (TIP), and Anita. Despite discovering all the hardships and discrimination people from the Roma, Ashkati and Egyptian minority groups in Kosovo have to endure every day, our meeting with TIP ended our long day on a positive note. This positive note was that small grassroots organisations can have a positive and lasting impact on a community. As Anita said, “It’s always nice to make big changes with little things.” Furthermore, Elizabeth Growling, a former schoolteacher, also reminded us of the importance of education in peacebuilding, peacemaking and peacekeeping. She said, “Education is not just about getting a job”. This expression also reminded me, as a university student, to value the education am I receiving and to not take it for granted.