In an effort to encourage camaraderie and share experiences with activists elsewhere, KWN hosted an Austrian delegation this month. In cooperation with the Austrian organization Sudwind and with support from the Austrian Development Agency, women activists from Austria spent five days in Kosovo, learning more about the position of women in Kosova.
Their visit began in Prishtina, where they learned more about KWN’s work and members. Discussions with the Agency for Gender Equality and the European Union Rule of Law mission enabled them to learn about Kosovo’s legal framework. They then visited NGO Open Door, which works towards women’s economic empowerment. The third day they traveled to Gjakova and met Mimoza Kusari-Lila, the first woman mayor elected in Kosovo. They also visited a women’s shelter, sharing their own experiences working at shelters and learning about the situation of shelters in Kosovo.
“The women’s shelter is doing a great job. We face similar problems and our work is so similar,” a participant remarked.
On the way to Prizren, they visited Krusha e Vogel village and met Dile Prekpalaj from the Krusha e Vogel Women Farmers’ Association. They learned more about milk production in this area. Then, upon arrival in Prizren, they met Xhejrane Lokaj from the Women’s Initiative Association, which is working towards women’s economic empowerment in Dragash.
On their final day, the group visited NGO Rikotta, which empowers women economically by producing and selling sweets. They sampled these treats: a wonderful way to end the visit!
Women activists from Austria were very impressed by the work of Kosovar women at all levels.
“You have so much energy to work,” said a participant. “You changed so many things in a short time, even to amend a law or to push the government to create new ones. And this is amazing.”
