Meeting Belgjyzare Muharremi, Honorary Board Member of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and Executive Director of “Open Door,” immerses you in the stories she shares and invites you to see the world from a different perspective. Yesterday, when we met with her, our conversation began as a journey through her history of activism and the history of women’s activism in Kosovo: from the years of war and the post-war period, to women’s organizing, solidarity, and the continued efforts to create greater opportunities for women. 

Like many activists, Muharremi began her activism for women’s rights in the 1990s as a member of the LDK Women’s Forum and the Mother Teresa Association. She also worked with the Red Cross. During this time, she supported the collection and packaging of humanitarian aid for distribution to areas affected by the war, including rural and mountainous areas. Together with other women’s rights organizations, such as Sisters Qiriazi and the Center for the Protection of Women and Children, she became involved in supporting forcibly displaced women and children, including mothers who had given birth while hiding in the mountains. 

In 1999, while she herself was a refugee, she collaborated with Motrat Qiriazi and women’s organizations in Macedonia to support women and children who had fled Kosovo during the war. In refugee camps in Macedonia, she and other activists came face-to-face with the needs of women who had experienced both war and displacement. Psychosocial support, healthcare, and information about women’s rights became part of their daily work. 

After returning to Kosovo, this experience developed into a long-term commitment. On January 1, 2000, the “Open Door” Women’s Center opened in Pristina, with the aim of responding to women’s needs and creating spaces where they could gather, learn, and become empowered. She recalls the early days of KWN, when activists came together with the support and leadership of Igballe Rogova to formalize the network. 

“Open Door” has worked continuously to empower women and advance their position in Kosovar society. Immediately after the war, the organization brought women together to learn new skills, including English, computer skills, sewing, and marketing, among others. The organization provides trainings, courses, and workshops, while its work with handicrafts and women-made products creates opportunities for women’s economic empowerment. These learning spaces also gave women an opportunity to discuss trauma, coping strategies, and ways to support one another. Over time, the organization facilitated further discussions on women’s rights and eventually brought Albanian and Serbian women together to discuss their shared past and opportunities for cooperation in the future. 

The organization’s work has gone beyond training. By creating opportunities to sell their products, women have been able to generate income and build greater economic independence. One example is the “E Shpis” initiative, which created jobs for women, giving them opportunities to use their skills and gain experience in employment and management. Muharremi also spoke about connecting women with designers such as Blerina Kllokoqi Rugova, through whom the women created garments that were later showcased outside Kosovo. 

Craft fairs have also been an important part of this work. For years, “Open Door” has created spaces where women artisans can promote and sell their work, connecting the preservation of cultural heritage with women’s economic empowerment. 

Belgjyzare Muharremi’s experience is also closely connected to the history of the Kosovo Women’s Network. She has served as both a Board Member and Chair of the KWN Board and later continued as a Board Member, also representing “Open Door” 

During our conversation, we remembered not only her work and the work of “Open Door” but also KWN’s journey and the contributions of women’s organizations in Kosovo. From providing direct support to women in times of crisis to advocating for institutional change and more equitable policies, women activists have demonstrated that solidarity can become a powerful force for change. 

For Belgjyzare, activism is not simply a role or a profession. 

“Activism comes from within, from the soul,” she said. 

KWN is fortunate to have had the support, experience, and leadership of women like Belgjyzare Muharremi throughout the years. Her contribution, both through “Open Door” and on the KWN Board, is part of a broader history of women who have worked to create more spaces, opportunities, and rights for women in Kosovo. 

If you would like to support “Open Door” you can make a donation by contacting the Kosovo Women’s Network or by reaching out directly to the organization at c_opendoor@hotmail.com.