Participants in OriginAL will engage in immersive experiences, exploring the cultural heritage, history, language, and traditions of Kosovo and Albania. The program aims to strengthen participants’ sense of identity and deepen their understanding of their ancestral roots.

For the first time this year, OriginAL offers flexibility by allowing applicants to choose their preferred participation period. This innovation ensures that more young individuals can participate in this life-changing opportunity at a time that best suits their schedules.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be of Albanian heritage.
• Aged between 18 and 24 years.
• Interest in cultural and historical exploration.

How to Apply:

To apply or to find out more about eligibility criteria and program details, please click the link below.

APPLY HERE

As the name implies, OriginAL offers a new perspective on Albanian culture and heritage. The dream of OriginAL is to provide a unique and life-changing experience for Albanian youth that will take them on a fascinating journey to the homelands and inspire them to be a part of a Global Albanian community. Hence, program aims to offer Albanian Young Adults a new perspective about the homeland’s culture and heritage, and their connection with it.

OriginAL will be supported by our world-known soprano Inva Mula and the pianist, Genc Tukiçi. They will perform live for the program in the Town Hall Theatre of New York on the 24th of May.

“A dëshironi një udhëtim falas në Shqipëri dhe Kosovë?” – if you think that your descendants will have difficulties understanding this sentence, then it is time you join us and BUY THE TICKET for the concert now.

Take advantage of this unforgettable musical experience while supporting a great cause. Be part of an initiative that will transform the connection of the young Albanian diaspora generations with their origin. Be OriginAL!

The Global Albanians Foundation and GERMIN power the concert and the OriginAL program. Therefore, the renowned photographer Fadil Berisha, alongside Albanian-American community activists Mark Kosmo and Avni Mustafaj, will be your hosts of honour at this event.

#AlbanianDiaspora #homeland #youth #education #heritage #connection #Albania #Kosova

From August 10 to 22, 40 young people born or raised in the diaspora had the opportunity to visit the most important cultural and historical places in Kosovo and Albania.

This program included participants from Kosovo and Albania, with the sole purpose of introducing diaspora youth to their peers from their countries of origin.

The participants were from 15 countries of the world between the ages of 18 and 24. The goal was one and only, for diaspora youth to find their Albanian roots.

About the journey

On August 10, the first day began in Pristina, where participants had the opportunity to get to know each other. Also, on this day they were informed with all the members of the team, revealing in detail the agenda that they would follow for the next few days and how long the program would last.

You can find out more by watching the first day’s video.

The morning of the second day began with a workshop led by social entrepreneur Mentor Dida. The second day began with a workshop led by social entrepreneur Mentor Dida. The purpose of this workshop was to get the participants to know one another. The rest of the day was spent touring the capital of Kosovo’s most important cultural and historical places. In addition, the Municipality of Pristina hosted a reception for diaspora youth. The official launch of OriginAL took place on the same day, August 11, in the courtyard of the American University in Kosovo.

You can also watch the overview video.

The third day started with Rijad Mehmet from Team Rijad, explaining to the diaspora youth what it’s like to live in a wheelchair in Kosovo. The second section was dedicated to the entrepreneur Ardian Hoxha. Following the meetings in Pristina, our OriginAL-s traveled to Prizren. They met with Veton Nurkollari, the Artistic Director of DokuFest, and discussed the festival of short films and documentaries. The rest of the day was spent visiting Prizren’s historical places, including the Castle.

Watch the third day’s video.

We took the road to Prekaz on the fourth day. In addition to the guide, the OriginAL participants were greeted by Sala Jashari the granddaughter of Sala Jashari who is one of the 59 victims of the attack on March 5, 6 and 7, 1998. During this visit, members of the diaspora learned about the Jashari family’s history for the first time. Following Prekaz, our OriginAL-s traveled to Mitrovica. Valdete Idrizi, Director of Culture, Youth, and Sports in Mitrovica, greeted them and explained what it means to live in the city divided into two parts.

About the fourth day, get more information in the video below.

The fifth day was entirely dedicated to sports. From Prizren, one group split up to do mountain climbing known as Via Ferrata and another group to do mountain biking. The afternoon was then dedicated to the mountaineer Mrika Nikqi, who showed in front of the participants the challenges she has faced while climbing the highest peaks in the world.

You can find the  fifth day’s video below.

On the sixth day, we traveled to Gjakova. The OriginAL-s had the opportunity to see up close the most important cultural and historical objects in Gjakova, led by the guide. In addition to the monuments, they were able to learn about the sad story of Mother Ferdonije.. She welcomed us to the house-museum, where she told the young diaspora people about her family’s history.

The sixth day’s video is available at the link below.

On the seventh day we left Kosovo, we did it through Lake Koman. After the ferry ride, the first stop in Albania was at ‘Mrizi i Zanave’ in Fishtë. In addition to delicious food, they had the opportunity to visit the place, which is known for agrotourism. The OriginAL-s spent the night in Vlora.

The summary for the seventh day is available in the link below.

The eighth day was all about the sea and the sun. The entire day was spent exploring Vlora’s beautiful islands such as: Sazani, Karaburuni, and Haxhi Ali Cave.

The video for the eighth day is available at the link below.

The OriginAL-s were accompanied by Albania’s Deputy Minister for Tourism and Environment, Vilma Bello, on a tour of Vlora’s most important historical places. In the afternoon they traveled to Berat and were greeted by the Municipality of Berat, who took care of the tourist visit to the city of 1001 windows.

Watch the video summary of the ninth day, which is available below.

On the tenth day we took the road to Tirana. Tirana Youth Capital greeted us and had an information session, and OriginAL-s had the opportunity to meet their peers in Tirana. They were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Andi Seferi, on the Municipality of Tirana’s terrace in the evening. He described the best projects of Albania’s capital. Following this meeting, the evening was spent learning Albanian dances.

Click the link below to view the content video.

The eleventh day began in the historical city of Kruja, where participants had the opportunity to learn more about the history of Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbeu. After Kruja, they went to Bun’Art 1, where they learned more about Albania’s 50-year communist history through the guide.

The summary of the eleventh day is available at the link below.

On the twelfth day, the participants visited the Tumo Center, where they learned more about ‘digital rights.’ After the workshop, participants were able to spend time at Mali I Dajtit.

Watch the twelfth day recap video by clicking on the link below.

OriginAL is a program launched by GERMIN in partnership with Global Albanians Foundation. It offers Albanian diaspora youth aged 18 to 24 a free two week educational experience in Albania and Kosova. Through study visits, open discussions, workshops, and meetings with public institutions, civil society actors, and local communities, participants strengthen their connection to identity, culture, and community.

Impact so far:

• 600+ volunteering hours conducted from participants
• 257 young people from more than 25 countries have participated (20% from the United States)
• 90% of participants say this program was a life-changing experience
• 4 participants chose to move and live in Albania (1) and Kosova (3)

OriginAL shows that when young people experience their roots firsthand, they return home not only with memories, but with purpose, commitment, and lasting connections.

Application for 2026 are open, and you can apply via www.origin-al.org

The famous Albanian singer, Dua Lipa, is one of the best ambassadors that our country, Kosovo, has. Ever since Dua started gaining popularity in public, she has not hesitated to reveal her origins.

Dua occasionally promotes the culture, art and beauties of her native country. But recently, the world-famous artist has been present at the opening of the first Albanian language school in Texas, USA.

During this event, Dua Lipa gave a speech about the promotion of the Albanian language, culture and art. She has even published some photos on social networks, where she appears in the presence of children.

Dua also gave a speech in which she recalled her youth and the difficulties she had faced while learning Albanian.

“When I was informed about the opening of this school, I remembered my childhood and the time when I came from Prishtina to London.”

She recalled the time when she had to speak English while she was growing up and attending school, but always spoke Albanian at home.

“I spoke in English with friends and others when I was in London, while at night I spoke Albanian with my parents so as not to forget my roots and language.”

“An honour to be at the opening of the first Albanian Language School in Texas today. The center promotes Albanian culture, art and music while offering language lessons for 5-15 year old “, writes the famous singer in her Instagram story, attached to the photos in question.

The opening of the school took place as a result of the Albanian National Movement that aimed to enable national rights within the Ottoman Empire.

March 7, 1887, the Albanian Renaissance opened the first Albanian School with a secular character.

Albanian patriots who contributed to the opening of this school were: Pandeli Sotiri, Petro Nini Luarasi, Nuçi Naçi, Thoma Avrami.

Global Albanians Foundation and Education

During its existence, GAF has helped many young people with donations. You can read about them in the following paragraphs.

• The Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës has received the donation of 58 laptops in our efforts to help the youngsters affected by the 2019’s Earthquake in Albania. With the help of Figen Prifti and the U.S. Embassy-Tirana, we managed to deliver these laptops to the aforementioned students.
• In 2021 GAF has offered therapy for children with disabilities in Lezhe. With its donations, GAF provided: Eyeglasses for Orphans, Secure Computers and Internet Access for Vulnerable Children, etc.
• The earthquake of 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic have been extremely challenging for all Albanians. Especially for 40% of Roma families in and around Durres. Therefore, we (GAF) and IRCA helped by donating children that come from marginalized groups.
• Through the “Building the Future, Today!” campaign five schools in Shkodra received 800 books.

The Global Albanians Foundation and GERMIN are happy to announce the first podcast/vodcast series that will be focusing on the “Albanian Stories” of our diaspora members.

The weekly series is for people to share OriginAL stories about “What it means to be Albanian living in Diaspora”. These are personal stories of how they relate to the homeland, in what ways they draw strength from the homeland, how life is adjusting in the diaspora, or stories on how they contribute back home even from afar. Our main objectives are:

• Inspiring Albanians around the world with our collective success stories;
• Connecting Albanians around the world through our different and unique personal stories;
• Encouraging Young Albanians to Participate in our New Program “OriginAL”

OriginAL is a joint program of GERMIN and GAF, that aims to provide a volunteer, educational and cultural experience for Diaspora Youth that will strengthen their sense of ethnic identity and create long-lasting connections, especially with their youth peers in our homeland countries.

We believe that the podcast/vodcast series “Albanian Stories” will be an excellent way to reach thousands of Albanians around the world and in our homeland countries, and that OriginAL will attract hundreds and later thousands of Albanian Diaspora Youth to be more engaged with their homeland in the years to come

Stay tuned

During that period Down Syndrome Albania has successfully aided 320 families and people with disabilities during COVID-19 as well as those impacted by the disastrous earthquake in Albania, by delivering essential food and hygienic supplies to those most in need.

With the support of GAF, Down Syndrome Albania supported 85 families, 50 of which were also part of the families victims of the earthquake.

Amount of Funds Raised

3240 dollars

The families were from: Shkodra, Durrës, Mat District, Korca and rural areas of Tirana.

“1 in every 30 people in the world is a migrant. Saturday’s #MigrantsDay is an opportunity to celebrate the millions of migrants that are integral members of the societies in which they live, and their contributions to both their home & host countries” – IOM on Migrants Day 2021

It is estimated that over 3.5% of today’s world population is composed of migrants. According to the “International Migrants Highlights 2020” Report of IOM, growth in the number of international migrants has been robust over the last two decades, reaching 281 million people living outside their country of origin in 2020, up from 173 million in 2000 and 221 million in 2010.

Today, we also celebrate the #AlbanianDiaspora Day, set by the Albanian State 3 years ago, in order to recognize and appreciate the contribution of all Albanians abroad. On April 5, 2018, the Albanian Parliament, with the proposal of the Council of Ministers, approved Law no. 16/2018, which, among other things, designates December 18 as the national diaspora day in Albania.

Albanian Diaspora today constitutes a number of over 2.8 million people, including those with origin from Kosova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Presheva Valley (Serbia). The Republic of Albania alone is estimated to have over 1.5 million citizens living abroad, or over 35% of the resident population. The Albanian Diaspora today is one of the most vibrant communities in many countries, especially in those in #Europe and the #USA. With hard work and integrity, our diaspora is representing our nations’ values in the best way, making an extraordinary contribution to the host societies as well.

Happy December 18th to all migrants, being grateful for their contribution to world society.