From the first day, participants brought different stories, accents, countries, and life experiences. Yet through every shared activity, conversation, and visit, they began to see how much connected them to one another, and to the places their families call home.

Their first week in Kosovë invited them to understand the country through its people, history, memory, and everyday life. In Gërmia Park, outdoor challenges and team-building activities helped turn a group of young people from different parts of the world into a growing community. Through friendly competition, laughter, and teamwork, they learned that some of the strongest connections form outside formal settings, in simple moments of trust, play, and shared effort.

In Prishtina, participants explored the capital’s landmarks and gained a closer understanding of the city’s history, culture, and daily rhythm. A visit to Prekaz gave the group space to reflect on sacrifice, resilience, and the events that shaped Kosova’s recent history. It was one of the first moments in the program where history became personal, not only something to learn, but something to feel, discuss, and carry forward.

The journey continued in Prizren, where heritage, culture, and civic life came together. Participants walked through the city’s historic streets, climbed to the Prizren Fortress, and met Mayor Shaqir Totaj to learn more about the city’s development. Their visit to DokuFest and the screening of Hive opened important conversations about storytelling, resilience, and the role of culture in helping communities remember, heal, and imagine a better future.

One of the most powerful moments of the week came in Krusha e Madhe, where participants met Fahrije Hoti. Her story of turning loss into strength, work, and collective action left a lasting impression on the group. The visit to the Memorial Museum deepened their understanding of the human stories behind conflict and the importance of preserving memory with dignity and care.

In Gjakova, participants were welcomed by Mayor Ardian Gjini before exploring the city’s cultural heritage through the Grand Bazaar and its historic landmarks. The warmth of the city, its architecture, and its sense of community offered another window into Kosova’s diverse identity.

The first week concluded with a visit to Peja and Rugova. Participants visited the Patriarchate of Peja, met Mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri, and took part in a tree-planting initiative that allowed them to leave behind a small but meaningful contribution to the communities that welcomed them. The day ended with a reflection session, giving participants space to process what they had experienced and share how these moments had shaped their understanding of Kosovë, their heritage, and themselves.

As the program crossed into Albania, a new chapter began.

The group travelled from Kosovë through the striking route of Koman Lake, where the ferry ride through mountains and calm waters created one of the most memorable transitions of the program. From there, participants arrived in Shkodër, a city where history, culture, and youth energy came together.

In Shkodër, participants visited the Site of Witness and Memory, where they learned more about Albania’s difficult past and the importance of protecting human rights, memory, and freedom. The day later shifted toward connection and joy, as participants joined local youth for a bike ride along Lake Shkodra. Through conversation, laughter, and the sunset over the lake, the group experienced another side of the journey, one rooted in friendship, exchange, and the simple beauty of shared time.

The journey then continued to Vlorë, where Albania’s history meets the sea. Participants settled near the coast and explored some of the city’s most important historic sites, including Flag Square, the Independence Monument, and the resting place of Ismail Qemali. Through this visit, they learned more about Vlorë’s role in Albania’s independence and the legacy of 1912, when the country declared its freedom.

After days filled with travel, reflection, and discovery, Vlorë also gave participants time to pause. A beach day allowed them to rest, swim, play games, walk by the sea, and enjoy free time together. These quieter moments mattered just as much as the formal visits. They gave the group space to recharge, connect, and create memories that will stay with them long after the program ends.

The visit to Zvërnec added another special moment to the Albania experience. Surrounded by nature, water, and history, participants had the chance to experience one of the country’s most peaceful sites. It offered time to reflect on how much they had seen, how much they had learned, and how far they had come as a group.

The final days brought the group to Tirana, where the program connected heritage with creativity, technology, and youth culture. At 42 Tirana, participants took part in a hands-on introduction to web programming, working through coding activities, peer-to-peer learning, and practical projects. The experience showed that OriginAL is not only about looking back at history. It is also about looking ahead, exploring skills, ideas, and opportunities that can shape the future.

In Tirana, participants also experienced Albanian Night, a celebration of music, food, tradition, and shared identity. After days of travel across Kosovë and Albania, this evening gave the group space to come together, enjoy the culture they had been exploring, and celebrate the friendships formed along the way.

The closing days in Tirana gave participants time to reflect on the full experience. From the first meeting in Prishtina to the final moments in Albania’s capital, Cohort 9 had travelled through places of memory, resilience, history, creativity, and belonging. They had met mayors, activists, educators, local youth, guides, and community leaders. They had walked through historic towns, visited museums and memorial sites, joined cultural activities, learned new skills, and shared long conversations with one another.

Through every city visited, every story heard, and every friendship formed, participants began to understand that reconnecting with one’s roots means more than learning where you come from. It means building relationships, asking questions, listening with care, and finding your own place within a shared Albanian story.

For Cohort 9, this journey became a bridge between memory and future, between Kosovë and Albania, between personal identity and collective belonging.

As the program came to a close in Tirana, one thing became clear: OriginAL does not simply bring young Albanians from the diaspora back to their roots. It helps them understand where those roots can take them next.

Throughout their first week in Kosovo, participants explored the places, stories, and people that have shaped the country’s identity. In Gërmia Park, outdoor challenges and team-building activities helped transform a group of young people from different corners of the world into a growing community. Through shared experiences, friendly competition, and plenty of laughter, they discovered that some of the strongest connections are built outside the classroom.

In Prishtina, participants explored the capital’s landmarks and gained a deeper understanding of the city’s history, culture, and everyday life. A visit to Prekaz offered a powerful opportunity to reflect on sacrifice, resilience, and the events that played a defining role in Kosovo’s recent history.

The journey continued in Prizren, where centuries of heritage met contemporary culture. From wandering through the city’s historic streets and climbing up to the Prizren Fortress to meeting Mayor Shaqir Totaj and learning about the city’s development, participants experienced the many layers that make Prizren unique. Their visit to DokuFest and the screening of Hive sparked important conversations about storytelling, resilience, and the power of culture to inspire change.

One of the most moving moments of the week came in Krusha e Madhe, where participants met Fahrije Hoti. Her story of transforming unimaginable loss into strength and collective action left a lasting impression on the group. A visit to the Memorial Museum deepened their understanding of the human stories behind conflict and the importance of preserving memory.

In Gjakova, participants were welcomed by Mayor Ardian Gjini before exploring the city’s rich cultural heritage through the Grand Bazaar and its historic landmarks. The city’s warmth and character offered yet another perspective on Kosovo’s diverse identity.

The week concluded with a visit to Peja and Rugova, where participants discovered the cultural significance of the Patriarchate of Peja, met Mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri, and took part in a tree-planting initiative that allowed them to leave behind a small but meaningful contribution to the communities that welcomed them. The day ended with a reflection session, giving participants space to process everything they had experienced and share what these moments meant to them.

Through every city visited, every conversation shared, and every story heard, OriginAL Cohort 9 has begun to understand that reconnecting with one’s roots is about more than learning history. It is about building relationships, embracing shared experiences, and discovering a sense of belonging within the global Albanian community.

As the journey continues into Albania, the first week has already left a lasting mark, not only in the memories of the participants but also in the friendships they have formed and the deeper understanding they have gained of themselves, their heritage, and each other.

For participants, the experience often begins when they step off the plane. For the OriginAL team, however, the journey begins months earlier.

Every cohort is the result of countless conversations, planning sessions, revisions, and careful decisions. While participants see the final program, what happens behind the scenes is an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and improving.

Building Each Cohort, One Conversation at a Time

As a cohort approaches, the OriginAL team meets almost daily.

Some meetings focus on logistics. Others focus on educational content, guest speakers, community visits, cultural experiences, transportation, participant wellbeing, and group dynamics.

No part of the agenda is created by chance.

Every activity is discussed with one question in mind:

How can we create an experience that is meaningful, engaging, and memorable for participants?

Learning From Every Cohort

One of the most valuable resources we have is the experience of previous participants.

After every cohort, participants share detailed feedback about what they enjoyed most, what challenged them, and what they would like to see improved.

The team carefully reviews these reflections and incorporates them into future planning.

Some activities become stronger because participants asked for more time. Others are redesigned entirely. New destinations, speakers, workshops, and community engagements are often added because former participants inspired new ideas.

OriginAL continues to evolve because every cohort helps shape the next one.

Balancing History, Culture, and Connection

Designing an OriginAL agenda involves more than selecting places to visit.

The challenge is creating a balance between learning, reflection, exploration, and fun.

Participants visit historical and cultural sites, meet community leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and changemakers, engage in discussions about identity and belonging, and experience contemporary life across Albanian communities.

At the same time, some of the most meaningful moments happen outside the formal schedule.

Conversations on the bus. Shared meals. Late-night discussions. New friendships.

These moments cannot be planned, but the conditions for them can be created.

The Details Matter

As the June cohort approaches, spreadsheets grow longer, calendars become fuller, and team meetings become more frequent.

Every hotel confirmation, every bus route, every speaker invitation, every meal, every workshop, and every cultural visit requires coordination.

The goal is simple: when participants arrive, they can focus entirely on the experience rather than the logistics behind it.

A Program Shaped by Its Community

What makes OriginAL unique is that it is constantly shaped by the people who participate in it.

Each cohort leaves behind lessons, ideas, and memories that influence the next one. The program today looks different from the first cohort because hundreds of participants have helped make it better.

Their feedback continues to guide how we think about identity, heritage, learning, and connection.

Looking Ahead to June 2026

As we prepare to welcome our newest participants, there is a familiar feeling throughout the team: excitement.

Excitement to meet a new group of young Albanians from around the world.

Excitement to watch new friendships form.

Excitement to see participants experience places, stories, and connections that may stay with them long after the program ends.

The June 2026 cohort is almost here, and while participants are packing their bags, the OriginAL team is making final adjustments, reviewing last-minute details, and counting down the days.

Because every OriginAL journey starts long before arrival.

And every cohort begins with a team working together to make the experience even better than the last.

For many participants, this was an encounter with one of the moments that helped shape Albanian identity across regions, religions, and generations… Inside this building, history feels close. The rooms hold the memory of the Congress of Manastir of 1908, where Albanian intellectuals gathered to unify the Albanian alphabet and establish a common written system for the language. What may seem today like a technical decision was, at the time, a profound act of national and cultural unity.

Participants moved through the museum listening to stories about the delegates, the debates, and the importance of language in preserving identity. For diaspora youth who often navigate multiple languages in daily life, the visit carried a particular emotional weight.

Many reflected on how language connects them to family, memory, and belonging, even when distance has shaped their upbringing differently. Some spoke about hearing Albanian at home but never learning to write it fluently. Others shared how certain words or expressions still carry emotional meaning no matter where they live.

The visit created space to think about Albanian identity not as something fixed, but as something continuously protected and rebuilt across generations.

Manastir itself added another layer to the experience. Walking through the city, participants encountered a place shaped by multiple cultures, histories, and political transformations. The city became a reminder that Albanian history has always extended beyond modern borders and that understanding the Albanian experience also means understanding the wider region and its complexity.

For OriginAL Cohort 8, the journey to North Macedonia marked an important expansion of the program’s map and mission. By including Manastir and other locations outside Kosova and Albania, OriginAL continued building a fuller understanding of Albanian heritage across all homeland spaces.

The visit to the House of the Alphabet left participants with more than historical knowledge. It offered perspective on the power of language, the responsibility of cultural continuity, and the generations of people who worked to preserve a shared identity under difficult circumstances.

For many in the group, it became one of the most meaningful moments of the entire journey.

Because sometimes identity begins with something as simple, and as powerful, as learning the story behind the letters we use every day.

OriginAL is one of those stories.

What started as an idea in 2022, to reconnect young Albanians from the diaspora with their roots, identity, and homeland, has grown into a movement that has already touched hundreds of lives across the world. Today, more than 257 participants from 25 countries have experienced OriginAL, carrying home memories, friendships, purpose, and a deeper understanding of who they are.

But none of this happened alone.

Behind every participant who stepped foot in Albania,Kosovë, or North Macedonia for the first time, behind every emotional reunion with heritage, behind every young person who returned home more connected and inspired, there were people who quietly chose to believe in this mission.

People who gave not because they had to, but because they understood the importance of belonging…. People who saw the value of investing in the next generation… People who believed that identity, connection, and community are worth protecting.

To our earliest supporters and major donors, thank you.

Your generosity helped transform an idea into reality. Your trust gave OriginAL the strength to grow year after year. Because of you, hundreds of young Albanians found a part of themselves they did not know was missing.

We are deeply grateful to:

Elvin Guri
Mark Kosmo
Rich Lukaj
Albanian American Community of Illinois
Ardi Shita & Shita Family Foundation
Global Albanians Foundation
Eliza Dushku
Etrita Ibroci
Fatos Koleci
Guljed Birce
Avni Mustafaj
Anila Hyka Smorgrav
Nevila Dudaj
Albanian American National Organization, New York Chapter
Dorjan Puka
Florent Ilazi
Gazmend Kapllani
Massachusetts Albanian American Society, MAASBESA
Mentor Ahmeti
Mira Puka
Samy Agolli
Agron Abrashi
Danny Blloshmi
Daniel Hyseni

These names represent more than donations. They represent belief. Belief in young people.
Belief in connection. Belief in a future where the Albanian diaspora remains deeply connected to its roots and to one another.

Because of your support, OriginAL continues to grow into something far bigger than a program. It is becoming a lifelong community, a bridge across generations and borders, and a reminder to young Albanians everywhere that home is never as far away as it may seem.

Thank you for standing with us from the beginning.
Thank you for continuing to believe.
And thank you for helping bring the next generation home.

Hosted by Fadil Berisha

There are moments in life when something awakens inside you… A feeling you cannot fully explain… A voice calling you back to your roots, your story, your people.

OriginAL was born from that feeling.

What began in 2022 as a simple idea has now become a movement that is changing lives across the Albanian diaspora. At its heart was one belief, that young Albanians around the world do care deeply about where they come from. What they often lack is not love for their heritage, but access, connection, and an invitation to truly experience it.

So we created that invitation.

OriginAL offers young members of the Albanian diaspora a free, life changing journey through Albania, Kosovë, and north Macedonia not as tourists, but as ‘VAJZA dhe DJEM’ returning home. A journey where history becomes personal, where strangers become lifelong friends, and where identity transforms from something inherited into something deeply lived.

In just four years, more than 1,200 young people from 25 countries have applied to be part of this experience. Eight cohorts and 257 participants have already completed the program. More than 90 percent describe the journey as life changing. Some have even moved to live in Albania and Kosovë after reconnecting with their roots. Many continue giving back through volunteer work, leadership, and community action.

But behind every number is a human story.

A young person hearing Albanian spoken around a dinner table and feeling, for the first time, that they belong. A participant standing in the homeland of their grandparents with tears in their eyes. A friendship formed across borders that continues long after the trip ends. A generation rediscovering pride, purpose, and connection.

And none of this happened by accident.

OriginAL exists today because people believed in it before the world could see its impact. People who opened doors, gave their support, shared the vision, and understood that investing in young people is one of the most powerful ways to protect a nation’s future.

Everything we have built so far has been possible because of individuals who chose to believe. And who continue to believe.

This is why our fundraising evening in New York matters so deeply.

On June 10, 2026, we invite you to join us for an evening dedicated to hope, heritage, and the future of our diaspora community. Hosted by the extraordinary Fadil Berisha, this will be more than a celebration. It will be a night where every ticket purchased and every donation made helps another young Albanian reconnect with their identity, their homeland, and their purpose.

Because OriginAL is not only about remembering where we come from… It is about shaping where we are going.

The young people who experience OriginAL return home changed. More connected. More confident. More committed to giving back to their communities and building bridges across the world.

And with your support, thousands more can experience that same transformation.

Some investments create profit… Others create belonging… This one creates both memory and future.

Join us in New York on June 10.
Help us continue this journey.

But in that space, there is something powerful, your roots.

Your roots give you a sense of identity

Knowing where you come from helps you understand who you are. Your history, your language, your traditions, they are not just things from the past. They shape how you think, how you connect with others, and how you see the world.

When you know your roots, you do not feel lost between cultures. Instead, you learn to carry both with confidence.

Culture is more than tradition, it is connection

Culture is not only about food, music, or holidays. It is about shared experiences, values, and ways of seeing life. It is the stories your grandparents tell, the words that do not translate easily, the small habits that feel like home.

For diaspora youth, staying connected to Albanian culture creates a bridge. It connects you to your family, your community, and to others who share similar experiences, no matter where they live.

Knowing your roots builds confidence

There is strength in understanding your background. It gives you something solid to stand on, especially in environments where you may feel different.

Instead of seeing your identity as something divided, you begin to see it as something expanded. You are not less because you belong to two cultures. You are more.

Your roots help you shape the future

Understanding your culture is not about staying in the past. It is about carrying forward what matters and shaping it in your own way.

Diaspora youth have a unique role. You bring new ideas, perspectives, and experiences, while staying connected to your origins. This combination allows you to build something new, whether in your career, your community, or your connection to Albania.

It is a choice to stay connected

Knowing your roots does not happen automatically. It takes effort. It means asking questions, learning the language, listening to stories, and staying curious.

But every step you take brings you closer to understanding your place in the world.

In the end

Home is not always one place. For many in the diaspora, it exists in pieces, in memories, in people, and in moments.

Knowing your roots does not limit you. It grounds you.

And from there, you can go anywhere.

Located near Skanderbeg Square, this experience gives participants the chance to step into Albanian traditions through music, dance, storytelling, and shared celebration.

More Than a Performance

Albanian Night is not something participants simply watch. It is something they become part of.

Participants wear traditional Albanian clothing, learn the meaning behind regional garments, and see how dress has reflected identity, family, and heritage for generations. For many members of the diaspora, this becomes a special moment, wearing symbols of a culture they may know through family stories, but are now experiencing firsthand.

Culture That Moves

Throughout the evening, music and dance bring tradition to life. Participants witness a traditional Albanian wedding reenactment, hear the sounds of UNESCO recognized Iso Polyphony, and join in valle, the traditional circle dance that brings everyone together.

These moments often become some of the most joyful memories of the program. Laughter fills the room, strangers become friends, and participants connect through movement and celebration.

Why It Matters for OriginAL

OriginAL is about helping young Albanians from the diaspora connect with their roots in meaningful ways. That connection does not happen only in museums, institutions, or historic sites. It also happens around the dinner table, in shared songs, and on the dance floor.

Experiences like Albanian Night remind participants that culture is not only history to study. It is something living that can be felt, shared, and carried forward.

A Night Participants Remember

Many OriginAL alumni look back on Albanian Night as one of the most energizing evenings of the journey. It is where tradition feels present, community feels natural, and identity feels joyful.

Because sometimes, understanding where you come from begins not with words, but with music, movement, and the people beside you.

And yes, participants traveled to Tetovë, walked through Shkup, and stood in Manastir, at the place where the Albanian alphabet was unified. For many, these were names they had heard before, places tied to identity, language, and history.

But what defined this experience was not only where they went… It was how they experienced it.

Entering a Different Layer of Identity

Crossing into North Macedonia brought a different feeling to the journey. The language was familiar, yet the context was different. The culture felt close, yet shaped by another reality. Participants were no longer just visiting places connected to history. They were experiencing what it means for identity to live across borders. In Tetovë, through activities with local organizations, the group connected with peers who live that reality every day. Conversations moved quickly from introductions to shared understanding. Stories reflected similarities, but also differences that made the experience richer.

This was not just a visit. It was recognition.

The Structure of the Day, The Meaning in Between

Each day followed a rhythm. Mornings began with shared breakfasts. Travel brought the group from one city to another. City tours, visits, and cultural moments filled the agenda. From Tetovë to Shkup, and then to Manastir, the program created a clear path. But just like every OriginAL journey, what mattered most happened in the spaces around it. Bus rides turned into long conversations. Walks through the city extended beyond the planned route. Free time became the moment where everything started to connect.

Standing Where Language Became One

In Manastir, at the site of the Congress of the Alphabet, the experience shifted. This was not just another historical stop. It was a moment that carried weight. Participants stood in a place where language, identity, and unity were shaped in a decisive way. But the impact did not come only from the explanation or the facts. It came later. In the quiet moments after. In the conversations that followed. In the realization that the Albanian language, something so natural in everyday life, was once a question, a challenge, a decision. History became personal.

Connection Without Effort

As the days unfolded, the group dynamic deepened. Small groups formed naturally. Some explored the cities together. Others stayed back, talking for hours. Laughter, shared meals, spontaneous plans. Nothing forced, nothing scheduled. Friendships did not need time to build. They happened quickly, and they felt real. There is something about being in a place that connects to your identity, while surrounded by people who are discovering it at the same time. It creates a sense of belonging that does not need explanation.

Learning Beyond the Agenda

Every visit introduced something new. Every place added context. But understanding did not stay within the structured program. A visit in Tetovë continued as a discussion later that evening. A moment in Shkup turned into reflection the next morning. The experience in Manastir stayed with participants long after they left. Learning moved from information to meaning.

More Than a New Destination

For the first time, OriginAL expanded into North Macedonia… And this step mattered. Because it showed that the journey is not limited to one place. Identity is not tied to a single location. It exists across cities, across countries, across experiences.

This part of the program did not just add a destination… It added depth.

What Stays After

Participants will remember Tetovë, Shkup, and Manastir. But more than that, they will remember: The conversations that started on a bus and continued for days… The feeling of standing in a place that suddenly meant more than expected… The realization that identity can feel both familiar and new at the same time. These are the moments that stay.

Beyond Visits, Toward Understanding

OriginAL in North Macedonia was not only about exploring new places. It was about understanding how identity lives in different contexts. It was about meeting others who carry the same roots in different ways. It was about feeling connected, not just informed. Because in the end, the journey is not only about where participants go. It is about how each place changes the way they see themselves.

But what truly defines OriginAL does not happen only during these visits. 

It happens in between.

The Space Between the Agenda

Every day of the program follows a structure. Mornings begin with shared breakfasts. Days unfold through city tours, institutional visits, and cultural experiences. Evenings often include reflection, preparation, or group activities.

Yet, the program is designed with moments intentionally left open as “free time.” These are not empty spaces. They are where connections take shape.

Where Friendships Actually Begin

After a full day of activities, participants step out of the structured program and into something more personal. Small groups form naturally. Some walk through city streets together. Others sit for hours talking, sharing stories about growing up between cultures, comparing experiences, or simply laughing.

No facilitator leads these moments. No agenda defines them. And still, they become some of the most meaningful parts of the entire experience.

Learning Without a Schedule

Workshops, visits, and discussions introduce ideas, history, and perspectives. But understanding deepens later, in conversations that continue long after the official activity ends.

A visit to a historical site becomes a personal reflection during a late-night walk.
A discussion about identity continues over coffee the next morning.
A shared experience turns into a new perspective, shaped through dialogue among peers.

This is where learning becomes personal.

Freedom to Experience, Not Just Follow

The program creates a shared journey, but it also gives participants space to shape their own experience.

Some choose to explore cities more deeply. Some prefer quiet moments to refelct. Some engage in spontaneous activities, from dancing together to discovering local spots that are not on any official itinerary. This balance matters. Because OriginAL is not designed for participants to simply follow a path. It invites them to live it.

Moments That Stay After the Program Ends

Many participants later recall not only the places they visited, but the moments in between:

The conversations that lasted longer than expected. The friendships that formed unexpectedly fast. The feeling of belonging that arrived quietly, without effort. These moments cannot be scheduled… But they are not accidental either…They are part of what makes OriginAL what it is.

Beyond Visits, Toward Connection

OriginAL goes beyond introducing participants to places of historical, cultural, and national importance. It creates space for connection… It allows identity to be explored, not explained….It builds relationships that continue long after the program ends. 

Because in the end, what participants take with them is not only what they saw…. It is what they felt, what they shared, and who they became during those days together.

Germia Park, June 2025

Komani vibes, Albanian style

Outdoor activity by the seaside