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 Global Albanians Foundation that helps Albanian diaspora youth connect with their roots through history, culture, and community across Kosovo and Albania.
Before beginning my journey with OriginAL, my intention was to dive deeper into my heritage, but the experience went far beyond culture, it opened new perspectives and friendships.
🇽🇰->🇦🇱 From Prishtinë to Tiranë and everywhere in between, we were led by amazing local tour guides who brought the history of their hometowns to life. As an ethnic Albanian from Shkup (Skopje), I’ve had minimal exposure to other Albanian cities, so learning about their unique stories and identities was something I felt deeply passionate about. One of the most emotional moments for me was visiting Prekaz and meeting Sala Jashari. She welcomed us into her home and spoke about her family’s sacrifice during the war, and the pride she carries for their story is truly inspiring.
🏞️ We also got to experience Albanian culture in so many ways, trying traditional food, dancing valle, and spending time in nature, from the Rugova mountains to Albania’s beautiful coastline. It made me appreciate just how much history and beauty our homeland holds.
🫂What I will cherish most from this trip are the moments we shared together through singing, dancing, and telling our own stories late into the night, creating bonds that felt like family. Meeting Albanians from all over the world showed me how much talent, knowledge, and creativity exists in our diaspora, and how powerful it can be when that energy is invested back into our homelands, whether in Albania, Kosova, North Macedonia, Montenegro etc. The skills and experiences many of us have gained abroad (whether in business, technology, education, or the arts) can create real opportunities for growth and development back home. Through investment and collaboration, the diaspora can have an active role in shaping a stronger future for our communities.
I returned to London from this trip with a stronger sense of identity and a lot of hope for what we can achieve together as a community. It’s an experience that left me wondering how I could perhaps take part in shaping the future of our homelands, maybe even by moving back someday.
👏🏼 I am forever grateful to Lirim Krasniqi, Sihana Bejtullahu, Era Ahmeti, Dafina Kerleshi Alb Muhaxhiri (with his energy) and the rest of the team for making this experience so special for us. Thank you so much for making this possible!
If you’re part of the Albanian diaspora, I can’t recommend OriginAL enough and I urge you to apply next year to experience this all for yourself!
