Through direct community-based work, NRAEWOK empowers women and girls to understand their rights, raise their voices, and participate in decision-making. 

The Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations of Kosovo (NRAEWOK) began as an informal group of women who wanted to work together and address the challenges they faced. The initiative was formalized in 2007. 

Based in Prishtina and working with communities across Kosovo, NRAEWOK supports and empowers women and girls from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities and promotes their rights and inclusion. Its work covers education, healthcare, gender equality, women’s and children’s rights, as well as their participation in public and political life. 

The results of its work are also evident on the ground. As part of its cooperation with the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), NRAEWOK conducted a door-to-door and digital awareness-raising campaign on gender-based violence and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, directly reaching 1,450 people from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, including 39 persons with disabilities.  

During this campaign, the NRAEWOK team conducted door-to-door visits and distributed leaflets and educational materials on different forms of violence, how to prevent and report them.  

Through meetings, workshops, and awareness-raising campaigns, NRAEWOK provides women and girls with information about their rights and creates spaces where they can share their experiences, needs, and concerns. The organization also conducts research, exchanges experiences, and uses data gathered from the field to engage with institutions and advocate for policies that reflect the needs of women and girls from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. 

An important part of its work is improving women’s and girls’ access to education and healthcare services. The organization also works to strengthen their economic and political empowerment, with the aim of ensuring their equal participation within their families, communities, and institutions. 

As part of the “Our Safe and Strong Circle” initiative, NRAEWOK organizes support and empowerment sessions for Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian women. These sessions enable women to exchange experiences, build trust and solidarity, and support one another in addressing everyday challenges. 

Alongside these sessions, the organization conducts direct community-based work, providing women with psychosocial support, information, referrals to relevant services, and practical assistance based on their needs. 

Over the years, NRAEWOK has addressed early marriage, domestic violence, and gender-based violence, engaging women, girls, young people, and men in raising awareness of different forms of violence, their consequences, and ways to report them. 

During a meeting with Shpresa Agushi, Executive Director of NRAEWOK, KWN discussed NRAEWOK’s achievements, the challenges faced by women and girls from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities, and opportunities for continued cooperation. 

A KWN member since 2007, NRAEWOK has exchanged experiences with other member organizations and contributed to joint initiatives aimed at advancing women’s rights and gender equality. 

KWN will continue to cooperate with NRAEWOK and other member organizations, supporting their efforts to advance the rights and empowerment of women and girls and promote their inclusion in Kosovo. 

Learn more about NRAEWOK’s work and activities on its official website.