Kosovo Women's Network

Handikos Mitrovica Trains Staff to Respect the Code of Ethics

25.09.2023

The staff at Handikos Mitrovica on 21 September held a comprehensive training on the Code of Ethics, a crucial document that provides clear guidelines for ethical conduct within the organization.

This training initiative was organized by Handikos Mitrovica, which is a member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), as part of the “Handikos Mitrovica Code of Ethics” project.

Rita Berisha, who has drafted the Code of Ethics and the trainer for Handikos Mitrovica’s staff, stressed the paramount importance of this ethical framework. She emphasized that every employee within the organization should not only understand but also actively apply the code of ethics.

“This Code of Ethics is grounded in the Labor Law, the Law on Protection from Discrimination, the Law on Gender Equality, and the Criminal Code, particularly addressing cases of violence and sexual harassment. Moreover, the Code of Ethics has been developed in compliance with the EU Directive on work-life balance. Therefore, I believe it is imperative for all staff members to stay informed about the updates to the Code of Ethics,” Berisha said.

She further expressed her view that it is crucial to continually update the organization’s work regulations to ensure full alignment with the Code of Ethics.

Meanwhile, Myrvete Hasani, the director of Handikos Mitrovica, emphasized the importance of conducting such training sessions for the staff, as there had been a noticeable gap in this critical area of knowledge.

“I firmly believe that these rules should be adhered to not only by the organization’s director and management but also by every single staff member. This information equips us with the proper conduct when interacting with employees, parents of children with disabilities, women, and all individuals who avail themselves of Handikos Mitrovica’s services,” she said.

She noted that while the organization and its staff were already acquainted with most of the basic rules outlined in the Code of Ethics, the recent update allowed them to become familiar with the newly incorporated sections.

The training initiative by Handikos Mitrovica was carried out within the framework of the “Code of Ethics of Handikos Mitrovica” project, which received support from the Kosovo Women’s Fund of KWN through the 18th round of grants, with financial support From the Sigrid Rausing Trust.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Drita Bakija Gunga – Woman Who Challenged Gender Norms

19.09.2023

Drita Bakija Gunga, the first doctor of science in history, stands out as a pioneering advocate and researcher for gender equality.

Initially, she emerged as a beacon of enlightenment for the women in her family, ultimately becoming one of the 100 stars commemorated in a book dedicated to her remarkable achievements.

Her relative, Lorik Bakija, once remarked, “Anyone who knew Drita would attest that she transformed every obstacle in her life into an opportunity and an accomplishment. She always extracted valuable lessons from her experiences.”

In addition to her contributions to the field of science, Drita Bakija Gunga also earned acclaim for her performances at the Gjakova Theater, where she became one of the first women to grace the stage. Drita was a multifaceted individual who had a passion for dancing.

Driven by her desire to challenge gender norms, she was determined to receive an education and excel in various domains. As she articulated, “Albanian women have endured oppression for far too long.”

She firmly believed that women’s liberation would come through emancipation, active contribution, and the realization of the significance and power of their voices.

Drita’s friend, Mevlyde Mezini Saraqi, described her as a wise and resilient woman—a shining example of Albanian women advocating for the education and emancipation of women and girls during her era.

noted, “She was one of the founders of the women’s association and served as a member of the inaugural leadership of the Women’s Forum of the LDK. She was a role model who lived and acted with unwavering integrity, leaving behind a legacy of written scientific and historical contributions.”

In 1950, Drita completed her primary education in her hometown of Gjakovë. From 1963 to 1975, she taught at the “Hajdar Dushi” Gymnasium in Gjakovë and the “Elena Gjika” Primary School in Prishtina. In 1973, she earned her degree in history from the Faculty of Philosophy at Pristina, and four years later, she completed her master’s thesis on the topic “Women’s Movement in Kosovo between the Two World Wars.”

Her doctoral studies culminated in 1982 with her dissertation on “Women of Kosovo in the Period of Socialist Construction 1945-1978,” making her the first woman from Kosovo to be awarded the title of “Doctor of Science in History.”

Throughout her career, Drita Bakija Gunga focused her research and professional studies on the women of Kosovo, especially illuminating their roles and activities before, during, and after the Second World War. In the 1990s, she also became actively involved in the political landscape of Kosovo Albanians. One of her significant contributions was her election to the inaugural presidency of the Women’s Association in March 1990, later transformed into the Women’s Forum of the LDK.

Over the years, Drita published approximately 20 scientific research papers. She was born in 1943 and passed away in 2020, leaving an enduring legacy of empowerment and dedication to gender equality in Kosovo and beyond.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

MWAHR Advocates for Gender Responsive Budgeting in the Municipality of Mitrovica

15.09.2023

The member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), the Mitrovica Women’s Association for Human Rights (MWAHR), has advocated for gender-responsive budgeting in the municipality of South Mitrovica. During the public consultations on the 2024 budget and the forecasts for 2025/2026, women invited by MWAHR addressed the issues that directly affect women and girls.

Women’s demands for healthcare institutions include setting up a menopause counseling center, operationalizing mammography services, and contracting radiologists for early cancer detection.

Women entrepreneurs have requested tax reductions for small businesses, such as tailoring, hairdressing, agriculture, beekeeping, traditional food production, etc. They also advocated for lower interest rates for business loans and the creation of a dedicated fund to support women entrepreneurs through municipal cooperation with banks.

Additional demands include harmonizing inheritance laws and subsidy criteria for women who do not own property, planning specific subsidies for women-owned businesses, establishing a cooperative for the employment of victims of domestic violence, and providing training for municipal officials to prevent violence. In this context, the need for cooperation with NGOs to provide training for municipal officials regarding local and international mechanisms for protection from violence was emphasized.

It was also requested that the allocation of the budget for grants for civil society women’s groups be increased along with the increase in the amount of grants.

The request also included the needs of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities for the opening of a clothing business in the Roma neighborhood to employ Roma women and provide winter clothing for underprivileged children.

A few days ago, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has signed a contract with MWAHR for a new initiative which aims to engage men, women, girls and boys as full and equal partners in government planning, programming and budgeting. The project is titled “Gender budgeting, a transformative budget tool for municipal institutions”.

This initiative is part of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network’s action, supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

KWN Participates in the Regional Forum on Gender Equality in the EU Accession

12.09.2023

KWN’s Gender Mainstreaming Officer has shared her remarks the “CSOs Engagement in SAA Structures: Experiences and Opportunities” panel, as part of the regional forum on gender equality in the EU Accession.

She is sharing the experience of KWN and its members into providing inputs to inform SAA structures meetings between the EU and the Kosovar government, providing a timeline of WCSOs engaged in this matter ever since Kosovo signed the first Stabilisation Association Agreement in 2016.

“We as KWN have tried listening to diverse women, and ask what their priorities are in relation to the EU Accession. For a long time now, the EU Accession has been presented as a distant political concept, creating the illusion that it is separate from its citizens and it belongs to decision-makers solely. KWN helped debunk this concept, and increase the gender perspective of the EU Accession Process.”

Jeton Karaqica, head of the Department for Economic Criteria in the Prime Minister’s Office in Kosovo also emphasized the role of WCSOs in the EU Accession process, noting that consultations with WCSOs provide a platform for better-preparing input for the SAA Subcommittees, information exchange and complementarity of expertise. He added that they can facilitate the policy discussions to guide the overall direction of EU Accession reforms.

The Gender Equality Forum is organized by the Coalition for Gender Equality in the EU Accession Process (EQUAPRO), in Skopje, North Macedonia, through the action funded by the EU and SIDA, called “Furthering Gender Equality through the EU Accession Process”, in a regional partnership between Kosovo Women’s Network, Reactor – Research in Action, Women’s Rights Center and Rights for All.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Moravski Biser Raises Women’s Awareness of Access to Health Services

08.09.2023

Therefore, the member organization of Kosovo Women’s Network, Moravski Biser, is striving to raise women’s awareness of their right to access health services in their homes or in the nearest cities through training sessions.

On Friday, September 1, this organization convened a meeting with 12 women from the Serb community to address these issues in the framework of their initiative “Equal health care for all”, supported by KWN.

Many women from the municipality of Partes do not have the right information about access to health services in public institutions.

Dragana Petrović, the deputy director of the Moravski Biser organization, stated that 15 women who are members of this organization, along with other volunteers, consistently organize meetings to provide further information about obtaining health services and how to address potential violations of their rights.

“As for participation, it is equally important because it allows us to engage with new topics, contributing to the education and empowerment of women. New knowledge is always a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, very few women are aware of their rights regarding health access, particularly due to the existence of two healthcare systems in our country, which often leaves them disoriented. In the Municipality of Partesh, there is no primary healthcare system, making it challenging for women to determine the exact location to seek medical care,” she explained.

According to Moravski Biser, many women in the municipality of Partesh have rarely visited a gynecologist. However, after being informed that regular visits to a gynecologist should occur every six months, they began doing so.

Sevdije Musliu emphasized the crucial need for such training because Serb women are often unaware of healthcare laws. In her role as a trainer, she educates them about their rights within the healthcare system. Initially, when she started as a coach, these women lacked essential information. Over time, they have become more knowledgeable about their legal rights. “Now, Serb women visit the hospital in Gjilan, and the information they receive during these training sessions also guides them on where to report if their rights are violated,” she explained.

These training sessions have made a significant difference in Verica’s life. She mentioned that before becoming a member of this organization, she used to rely on private healthcare services. However, now she prefers the public healthcare system and knows exactly where to seek medical assistance. Verica has learned from the training that regular check-ups are essential. Additionally, she mentioned that she underwent a mammogram through a mobile mammogram service, which has been highly beneficial for her.

Moravski Biser carried out this activity as a beneficiary of the grant from the 18th Round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, through the initiative of the KWN “Further Advancing Women’s Rights in Kosovo II,” which is financed the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), with co-financing from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Marte Tunaj, the Woman Who Dared to Report Sexual Assault

05.09.2023

Marte Tunaj, the woman who provided hope for the raped women during the Kosovo war, bravely stepped forward as the first to testify before the court. Her testimony shed light on the horrors of violence, suffering, abuse, and mistreatment that she and others had endured during the war.

She aimed to seek justice for the crime perpetrated against her body and bring the epilogue to light, demonstrating how sexual violence as a weapon of war had brutally assaulted her in the most barbaric ways imaginable.

“The world must know what happened to us, and we must confess,” was the message that Marte Tunaj conveyed to the other victims while she was still alive.

The violence against Marta occurred in May 1999. Her powerful statement led to the immediate arrest of the perpetrator, Milosh Jokic, by KFOR forces. However, her story did not conclude there. It was exceedingly challenging for her to disclose everything that transpired to her family and husband after the war.

“I summoned the courage and took it upon myself to report Jokic to the police. I did this not only for my own sake but also for the countless mothers and pregnant women who had suffered at the hands of Jokic. My husband only learned of this after the trial, and I am immensely grateful to him for standing by me until the end,” she confessed.

Tunaj reveals that her determination to testify as an Albanian woman from Kosovo was also motivated by her son Sherif, who was a member of the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) and was the sole minor in the entire Vitia region.

Sherif himself had issued an appeal to all other women and girls in Kosovo who had suffered sexual and physical violence at the hands of Serbian forces, urging them not to remain silent but to report the crimes against them. He emphasized that this crime must be punished and not ignored by the institutions.

Feride Rushiti, the director of the Kosovar Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (KRCT) expressed that Marte Tunaj’s courage to testify publicly and expose these crimes has been “immensely inspiring.”

“To publicly disclose such trauma entails not only confronting personal anguish but also grappling with stigma, prejudice, and injustice. Despite these challenges, Martja exhibited remarkable courage and heroism,” she remarked.

Even the director of the Civic Initiatives Forum, Dajana Berisha, acknowledged, “Marte Tunaj should be honored for her courageous testimony against the crimes committed against women and girls in Kosovo. She broke the taboo surrounding this crime in Kosovar society.”

Following their harrowing experiences, not only Marte Tunaj but all survivors of sexual violence during the last war had to contend with recognition of their status by the Government of Kosovo. Martja herself spoke out on this matter, stating, “I have the courage to speak on behalf of all victims of sexual violence so that the state will consider and do everything possible to provide them with a more dignified life. It is a tragedy that survivors of sexual violence are left to rely on charity. They require proper care and various medical treatments.”

Marte Tunaj passed away in 2016, never witnessing the decision of the Kosovo institutions, which, for the first time, officially recognized April 14 as the Day of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the last war. This day, as declared by the authorities, was established to “acknowledge the pain” of all survivors of sexual violence during the war and contribute to the collective memory.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

At the Membership Meeting, Members Approved the Updated Statute of KWN

04.09.2023

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held today the second meeting of its membership this year.

The meeting was started by the Executive Director of KWN, Igballe Rogova, who highlighted the fact that Kosovo is an example in the region of the movement for gender equality, and how what women should do today is to increase solidarity with each other. This campaign for promoting solidarity, known as #RedShoesTuesday, was initiated by the KWN in March. Every Tuesday, messages of support for each other are shared through posts, and the members are also invited to participate.

“They are telling me that there is no chance for women to show solidarity with each other. You know how hard we fought to break the stigma for survivors of sexual violence. We did years of lobbying, and the stigma slowly began to disappear and solidarity began. Even with the Red Tuesday campaign. We started this year, but you should do it too, together with us. All these positive changes are useless if we don’t have solidarity among ourselves,” said Rogova.

Further, Rogova presented the updated KWN statute to the membership, which had been approved through a membership vote. According to legal guidelines, membership organizations are not typically advised to establish a Management Board. Nevertheless, the members reached a consensus that the KWN Board, nominated and elected by the Assembly, should persist in its role, providing ongoing approvals and support for the KWN staff. Additionally, a proposal to communicate through alternative channels, such as the joint Viber platform group for information exchange, was suggested and approved.

Rogova congratulated the members for increasing their capacities, which has also been observed in the implementation of projects financed within the 18th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF). Next, she presented to the members the findings of the Members’ Evaluation Report.

“This evaluation helps us both as a KWN and as a KWF to see the capacities and know where we are. It is a great strength for the Network that there are 140 active organizations that have the capacity to continue working with both small and larger grants,” she said.

The Manager of the Program for Addressing Gender-Based Violence, Adelina Berisha, has spoken about the tireless advocacy that has been done by KWN and its members who provide services to victims of gender-based violence, towards the creation of a budget line Basic Services for Shelters in Kosovo’s annual budget for supporting the work of shelters. From this advocacy, this year the shelters have been supported throughout the year, offering services and safety to women and girls who have experienced violence.

Meanwhile, Program Director and Lead Researcher Nicole Farnsworth, while talking about gender-responsive budgeting, asked the members if they have suggestions for writing advocacy letters at the time when the budget is reviewed in the municipalities, they should contact the coordinator for gender-responsive budgeting.

In the end, the members discussed the problems and challenges that organizations face while doing their work.

Today’s meeting was made possible by Kvinna till Kvinna.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Kosovo Women’s Fund announces 19th-round, €90,000 will be allocated

25.08.2023

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) through Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) announced the 19th round of grants, totaling 90,000 Euros, made possible through the generous contributions of donors such as the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish Agency for Development and International Cooperation (Sida).

Igballe Rogova, the executive director of KWN, has informed the KWN members that, in this round, nine grants worth 10,000 euros each will be allocated, thanks to the trust and unwavering support of donors ADA and Sida.

Rogova, during an informative meeting held with KWN members via the Zoom platform, emphasized:

“While we have together formulated the four-year strategy of KWN, we continue to implement this strategy through grants together.”

She also commended KWN members for the successful implementation of the 18th-round projects and expressed hope for continued success in the 19th round.

In the meantime, Donjeta Berisha, the manager of KWF, provided comprehensive information about the projects supported in this round and detailed instructions on how to apply.

KWN member organizations can submit applications that will contribute to furthering women’s rights and gender equality. Applications should demonstrate how organizations propose to contribute to implementing the strategic goals identified by KWN members in the KWN Strategy for 2023-2026, towards supporting, protecting, and promoting the rights and interests of women and girls; involve a rights-based approach; and support sustainable changes. KWN strongly encourages initiatives that involve advocacy on local and/or national levels.

KWN members are eligible to apply until September 20th, with further application details available here.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

WAI Raises Awareness Among Girls and Women in Lipjan Regarding Mental and Sexual Health

23.08.2023

More than 20 Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian women and girls gathered at the primary school in Gadime, Lipjan, to discuss mental and sexual health, as well as to be informed about the numerous rights they have and can enjoy.

The driving force behind this initiative is the KWN member organization, Women Alliance for Integration (WAI), which conducts these lectures as part of the ‘Mobilization of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian women and girls for mental and sexual health rights’ initiative, supported by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

Adelina Qorraj Emini, the director of WAI, emphasizes the significant progress they have achieved in empowering women in the municipality of Lipjan.

“Our primary goal is to make them aware of the need to protect their rights and not remain silent. The more they overcome their fear, the more they mobilize to demand their rights. This is our primary objective,” she says.

Many participants from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities have limited formal education, and in some cases, individuals among them may not even possess basic literacy skills. Consequently, addressing sensitive topics like mental and sexual health can present a challenge for the psychologists working with them. Nevertheless, during the lecture in Gadime and in numerous other sessions conducted by WAI, Fjolla Ibrahimi Starabaja strives to adapt her approach to meet the needs of women and girls, ensuring that the information is as accessible and understandable as possible.”

“The topics covered included stress, anxiety, and depression, both before and after childbirth. Given the limited or sometimes nonexistent formal education of these groups, I also conduct discussion sessions based on recommendations from the working groups, addressing the topics that interest them,” says Fjolla. She emphasizes that in each lecture, she endeavors to inform women about their rights.

“Very few women are aware of what they can demand from institutions, their rights, or how to report cases of violence. I can confidently state, not just as a psychologist but also as a social worker, that as a result of these meetings, a significant number of women have taken steps to report domestic violence,” she adds.

Both Fjolla and Adelina have engaged in discussions with women and girls from these communities regarding early marriages, exploring their legal and psychological implications. During these lectures, the significance of education was emphasized as a means to break the cycle of poverty and foster well-informed and empowered families.

WAI is the grant recipient of the 18th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, under the auspices of the KWN initiative “Further Advancing Women’s Rights in Kosovo II” funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by the Swedish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AIDS).

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

“Have Hope” Unites Support Group for Women Affected by Breast Cancer

21.08.2023

Sitting in a circle, over 15 women, cancer survivors, exchange their experiences in the battle against breast cancer with each other.

Thanks to the initiative “Protecting the health of women and girls – raising awareness about cancer in women,” by Have Hope, a member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), these women and girls come together every Thursday to share their journeys in the collective fight against cancer.

Arnisa Osmani, the director of Have Hope, emphasizes the importance of these gatherings. She believes that these courageous women not only exchange their experiences but also gain valuable knowledge to aid them in their medical treatments. This underscores the profound significance of uplifting one another, showcasing the strong bond these women have found within this support group.

“During these meetings, we offer each other support, both emotionally and by sharing information that doctors might not have covered. Listening to each other’s experiences helps us better handle our own challenges,” she clarified.

Elhame Krasniqi, who is battling breast cancer, stressed the importance of connecting with fellow women and sharing their experiences. She pointed out that hospitals often fall short in providing thorough explanations due to the large number of patients, which can result in patients feeling neglected.

“Meetings are vital and essential. Having access to a psychologist during hospital treatment is greatly needed, but regrettably, this service is currently absent. Although it’s been mentioned that a psychologist is employed, none of us in this group have had the chance to meet with them or receive the guidance that is crucial for our progress. Personally, I find the support I need within this organization,” explained Krasniqi.

Meanwhile, Lindita Cimili, who has been living with a breast cancer diagnosis for four years, expressed how uplifting it is to have organizations like this and willingly participate. She emphasized that sharing their experiences with the disease motivates them to keep moving forward.

“Giving each other morale and strength fills us with hope and helps us navigate our shared illness as smoothly as possible.”

Have Hope carried out this activity as a beneficiary of the grant from the 18th Round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, through the initiative of the KWN “Further Advancing Women’s Rights in Kosovo II,” which is financed the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), with co-financing from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

18.06.25