By supporting each other

By Anna Paoli

“I think this is how things will change, how society will change. By supporting each other”. On a warm June day, in the heart of Pristina, Gresa was explaining to us that women empowerment and solidarity is the key to trigger social change. My group and I had the chance to meet these two incredible women, Adelina and Gresa, owners of Tartine, the first women-owned restaurant in Kosovo, as part of our project. 

Katharine, Stefanía, Mathilde and I interviewed some of the lovely people of Kosovo throughout the ten days of our stay on the topic of female empowerment in Kosovo. We ultimately created a magazine which includes all the insights, experiences and advice they have given us. Adelina and Gresa’s story, journey, accomplishments and motivations were equally inspiring and truly taught us a lot. I also think that their story somewhat reflects the journey Kosovo has made since the end of the conflict in 1999. As our trip progressed and our meetings with local NGOs and governmental agents took place, I came to realise that many grassroots organisations and movements have a direct impact on decisions that are taken at the governmental level in Kosovo.

Conducting these interviews not only made me aware of the importance of female empowerment in peacebuilding, but our project also made me realise the significance of everyday idols. Mothers, their constant dedication, the sacrifices they make and the responsibilities they take on, was the answer that came up the most when people were asked who they looked up to. Although these answers did take us by surprise at first, we came to realise the importance of these commonplace idols in our lives too. This is why we decided to dedicate a whole part of our magazine to mothers, in an attempt to bring these lessons to life. 

From the warm and lively streets of Pristina to the late-night card games in the kitchen of our hostel; everything we got to experience made this trip unforgettable. Mitrovica, Prizren and Pristina were all beautiful in their own way: the astonishing view from the top of the hill in Prizren, the peace bridge of Mitrovica, our hostel street which we walked up and down more times than I can remember to get drinkable water from the 24h shop. The warm weather of Pristina, the kindness of the people met, the city’s hidden markets, Euro football games being shown everywhere, the night life, 1-euro coffees, the saxophone player standing on the pavement of the main street, even the sunscreen I had to frantically apply every two hours - these are all things I like to believe that I’ll never forget. Faleminderit to all the people who contributed to making this trip such an amazing experience!