Over 100 young Albanians from the diaspora will start their journey to our homeland through the OriginAL program in 2024. The first group of young people, aged 18 to 24, will begin their adventure on May 31 from Prishtina and will conclude in Tirana after two weeks, with visits to places of historical and cultural importance, meetings with protagonists of events and characters from the daily life of Albanian cities.
The second and third cohorts for 2024 are expected to return in July and October, respectively. This year, OriginAL brings young people from the diaspora from over 25 countries of the world, originating from all Albanian territories. These young people will have the opportunity to discover their roots, connect with our culture, and strengthen their sense of national belonging and solidarity with their peers.
OriginAL is a program founded by GERMIN and Fondacioni Global Shqiptar (GAF), which offers educational and cultural experiences to the youth of the Albanian diaspora, to inspire them to be part of a global community of Albanians connected to Albania, Kosova, and other mother countries.
Testimonials
OriginAL made me reflect on how to treat others and how to build a respectful community. It reminded me how important it is to live in a community, and I felt that I could care for people without expectations and with genuineness and sincere love.
Andrew Shkreli, USA
This experience has helped me to speak more of my native language, which I have had difficulty practicing with new people. We each had different accents and dialects, and I realized that was the beauty of it. We all expressed ourselves with our way of speaking.
Stella Mishi, Italy
If I had to sum up my experience in one word, it would be “Enchanting”. Each person had a story to tell, and the atmosphere was filled with warmth. Everyone offered something, learned about history, and embraced the culture of the first.
Endrit Ipekli, Belgium
OriginAL Partners and Supporters
