The executive board of our member Deaconess Foundation is making its initial visit to Kosovo, aligned with the Programme Regional Forum 2023. This isn’t a cursory meet-and-greet but a hands-on engagement with a region facing its share of social and political challenges. Since their first Kosovo-based project in 2016, the foundation has evolved into a critical collaborator with local entities. They are now deeply involved in two significant societal projects under their Development Cooperation Programme 2022-2025.
What stands out is the specificity of their mission. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the foundation zeroes in on marginalized groups—Roma communities, refugees, and repatriated women and girls—enabling them to rise above systemic social limitations. But the focus isn’t solely on inclusion; it also spans the gamut to democratic governance. The foundation is taking its theories to the street, partnering with municipal services and employment offices, making them more responsive and inclusive. Human rights and anti-discrimination aren’t just bullet points in a mission statement; they translate into active advocacy and education, aiming to make legal support and equal rights accessible to those who often go unheard.
The timing of this board visit is far from coincidental. It runs parallel to the Programme Regional Forum 2023, an event designed to fuel discourse and action on the theme, “Minority communities as democratic forces: Local and global struggles and power(s).” Here, the foundation can both share and absorb, tapping into a network of minds committed to tangible, sustainable change.
And let’s not lose the context. The European landscape is in a state of flux, with upheavals ranging from the Ukrainian war to economic volatility affecting Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. Kosovo, like its neighbors, is not an island but part of a complex, interlinked European narrative. As the country navigates the intricacies of a potential EU accession, the foundation’s work shifts from important to critical. Their initiatives aren’t mere philanthropy; they are strategic interventions in a region that’s grappling with its identity, governance, and future.
As the board members immerse themselves in the social tapestry of Kosovo, they’re also encouraged to experience its unique culture—renowned for its warmth, humor, and internationalism. And if all the weighty discussions get too intense, there’s always Kosovo’s coffee culture to provide a breather. After all, as the local saying goes, “Italians invented the macchiato, but Kosovo perfected it.”
In conclusion, this visit isn’t just a milestone for the Deaconess Foundation’s Executive Board; it’s a groundwork for the kind of impactful philanthropy that transcends borders and touches lives. In a Europe where the only constant seems to be change, the foundation is carving out a constant of its own: a commitment to making a transformative difference.