Everything You Need to Know for Your OriginAL Adventure
OriginAL Blog

3rd generation born and raised in Türkiye, originally from Kosova.
Written by Mert GÜN ZHINIPOTOKU. Being part of the Albanian diaspora in Türkiye came with certain challenges. Even though we weren’t physically far from the

OriginAL 2025 – The 7th Cohort Story
Thirty-nine participants from eighteen states, including youth from North Macedonia and Kosova, came together in August 2025 for the 7th cohort of OriginAL. Their journey

“Roots that Unite Us” – OriginAL Networking Night
GERMIN invites you to a unique evening of connection, culture, and purpose — for the first time in Zurich! This special gathering supports our flagship

Vlera’s OriginAL Journey
Written by Vlera Beqiri, OriginAL alumni, June 2025 In June 2025, I had the great privilege of participating in the program OriginAL for diaspora youth

OriginAL’s 6th Cohort: A journey united by heritage!
Written by Rose Salijevska, OriginAL Alumni, June 2025 Last Month, I had the chance to join OriginAL a program powered by GERMIN and the The

Rooted Together: The OriginAL 2025 Journey Across Kosova and Albania
What happens when 36 young Albanians from 13 countries come together to explore the lands of their ancestors? You get OriginAL — a two-week journey

The Story Behind OriginAL 2025 Participants
OriginAL has become more than just a trip for the fourth year since its inception – a call to return to the roots, a personal

2024: A Landmark Year for OriginAL
OriginAL, a joint initiative by GERMIN and the Global Albanians Foundation, emerged as a transformative program connecting young Albanians worldwide to their roots in Kosovo

Discovering My Albanian Roots: A Journey with OriginAL
By Gjovani CinariBorn and raised in England, with Albanian roots in Shkoder, Albania Growing up as part of the Albanian diaspora in England, I always