LeadersLearnersCreators

is an architect who graduated in 1990 from the University of Prishtina in Kosovo. In July 2009 she established her own Consultancy Firm called M Studio where she offers consultancy advice and expertise for the Central and Local Governmental institutions, and other interested parties in construction of the buildings according to international standards and Urban Regulatory Plans. Currently she is involved in a World Bank project with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and to the Urbanism Department in Prishtina Municipality by offering her expertise. Merita has been active in the field of Engineering /Architecture and Economic Development for 17 years. Over this time she has encountered the legislation gaps in Kosovo. Therefore in Washington, DC she researched construction law. Merita’s research site was Building Performance Institute (BPI) where she focused specifically on gaining information on building regulations and construction standards for housing and school buildings with an emphasis on environmental protection. Merita joined our program because she believes that participation of women leaders in Kosovo is essential, especially in a newly created state searching for a new identity. Merita sees this new identity as one that is trying to leave behind patriarchal forms of leadership. She sees herself as a leader by working and contributing for the development and betterment of citizen.s lives in Kosovo. Merita lives in Prishtina with her husband and two daughters.

graduated from the Law Faculty in the University of Prishtina in 1984. She finished her MA degree in EU Policies and Law at Europa-Kolleg Hamburg in Germany. She is currently undertaking the MA degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at AAB University. Apart from formal education Evliana participated in the Fellow Program on “Media and Democracy” in USA; in training of trainers from the European Centre for Broadcast Journalism; Legal Response to New Communications Technology at Oxford University in the UK, etc. She is an Executive Director of an NGO called Ingo Globi which mainly deals with conducting surveys and generating debates regarding some of the most sensitive issues in Kosovo. She is also a Pro-rector for Academic Issues and Coordinator for International Relations and Development Policies as well as a Lecturer at the Institute for Bachelor Studies “Pjetër Budi in Prishtina. Evliana is in charge of project development, establishing international relations, and designing and implementing various initiatives to generate debates. As a lecturer she lectures on the basics of law, marketing research and EU Policies and Law. Prior to this she was involved with BBC World as a Media Analyst; UNDP as Project Manager; AAB University as Dean and Lecturer; New York University, USA as Media Development Researcher, etc . Evliana's research project is to enhance the capacity of independent media organizations to contribute to the development of stable democratic institutions as well as to help associations and informal networks on the ground, whose activities contribute to the consolidation of the rule of law in target countries such as Western Balkan countries that aim to become part of a larger European family. Evliana’s research site in Washington was Congressman Elliot Engel’s Office. Evliana has proven to be a dedicated women leader by working very hard in the last twenty five years in Kosovo and abroad. It is clear that she has taken every opportunity to advance her professional skills in order to help people and communities wherever they are – whether in Kosovo and or other developing countries.

studied law and graduated in 2001 from the Law Faculty at the University of Prishtina. She started her Masters studies in 2008 in International Relations at the University of Prishtina. She currently serves as Head of the Division for Implementing and Developing Laws within the Legal Department at the Ministry of Local Government and Administration (MLGA). Flutëra is responsible for drafting laws for the Ministry, providing legal support to the Director of the Legal Department, and cooperating with Municipalities in Kosovo regarding law implementation. Prior to this position, Flutëra was Political Adviser to the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Administration. In Washington, DC researched how the local authorities function, policies followed during the drafting of the legislation, drafting methods of legislation for functional local government and local self-government reforms. Flutëra’s project focuses on how to Increase Capacity of Kosovo for Legislation drafting and she did the research with Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Montgomery County. Flutëra believes that in order to develop democracy and strength the rule of law in Kosovo, one should continuously invest in human capital through the education system. Flutëra is from Gjakova but currently lives and works in Prishtina.

studied Law in the Katholieke Universiteit Brussel (Catholic University of Brussels) and her Master.s Degree is in Public Law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Free University of Brussels). Since August 2008 Suzana has been Director of the Office for Legal Issues, Treaties and Human Rights, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prishtina, Kosovo. She is responsible for: keeping the office informed about the progress of the International Law and International obligations and proving legal advice to the cabinet of the Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister and their advisors on all issues of international law and legal obligations after the independence, etc. Previously she worked in the Office of the Prime Minister as Coordinator of the Legal Office. In this position, Suzana dealt with coordinating the processes for the preparations of the statehood Legislation envisaged in the Comprehensive Proposal of the President Ahtisaari. Suzana's research project is focusing on international agreements and human rights treaties. Her main goal was to explore the possibilities and gain experience in establishing a standard system of treaty publication and adopting appropriate approaches towards multilateral treaties. Suzana also aimed to gain knowledge on principles of procedure and content of human rights reporting to human rights treaty bodies that monitor implementation of the international human rights treaties. Her research site in Washington, DC was Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law - American University (AU), the Washington College of Law (WCL) and her mentor was Melanija Radnović, International Programs Coordinator. Suzana's wish for Kosovo's further development is investment in human capital in order to strengthen and develop Kosovo institutions. She believes in women's leadership potential however she believes their capacity needs to be developed further. Suzana was born in Kosovo, lived in Germany and Belgium and returned to Kosovo in 2007.

graduated in 1999 from the University of Tirana. She majored in Language and Literature. She is currently working as a Political Analyst for a daily newspaper in Kosovo called “Kosova Sot.” In May 2009 she established her own production company, Studio Al, in Prishtina, Kosovo where she produces documentaries. Since 2003 she has been a regular correspondent for Osservatorio sui Balcani in Italy, and for a daily newspaper and monthly magazine in Albania called “Shqip.” She also contributed through publishing articles for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Transitions Online, United Press International, and the Washington Times. In addition, Alma has published political analyses in daily newspapers in Kosovo such as Koha Ditore, Express and Lajmi. Alma is passionate about investigative journalism and she had the opportunity to have her investigative stories published in Koha Ditore and Epoka e Re. Alma worked at Top Channel as a Senior Correspondent in Kosovo for three years prior to and while working at the above mentioned positions. Since she did investigative journalism in war crime cases, and corruption affairs, she focused her research in DC in this field. Alma learnt new approaches to media and discovers answers to the questions: How can a journalist be free and independent? How does media in the U.S. deal with big cases? How do they protect themselves from political pressure? Alma did a research at the Accuracy in Media which is a non-profit, citizen, and grassroots watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that have received slanted coverage. Alma sees the biggest challenge in Kosovo to be the functional Rule of Law. She is also not very happy with women's role in society and she believes that women in Kosovo accomplish most of the tasks but they are not heard and are not being promoted enough in the media. She also feels that women leaders are enforce the rule of law more so than men and are thus less apt to breaking the law. Therefore she sees a better future with more women leaders. Alma originally is from Kruja, Albania but now lives with her husband and two children in Prishtina, Kosovo.

Ariana Qosaj – Mustafa joined Hope Fellowship Program in November 2009. As of May 2011 Ariana is an Adviser to President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga. Ariana is specialized in the field of development, international law, and institutional capacity building. She has over eight years of work experience in research and capacity building activities related to women’s human rights, discrimination and rule of law in Kosovo. Other areas of experience included protection of vulnerable groups (i.e. women and children), anti-trafficking, legislative reform, gender equality and institutional capacity-building. She worked as Director of Special Research where she led special projects related to the fulfillment of the KIPRED mission to promote and strengthen democracy and democratic values in Kosovo and the region. Prior to this position she was an Executive Director for Community Development Fund. Ariana's education includes MSc in Gender, Development and Globalization from The London School of Economics and Political Science-UK and BA in Law studies in Law Faculty from Prishtina University. Ariana is also on the Board of Directors of the Kosovo Women's Network; Member of the Board of Directors for the Fund for Democratic Initiatives based in Gjakova; and Board Member of the Centre to Prevent and Protect Victims of Trafficking based in Prishtina. During Hope Fellowship Program in Washington, DC, Ariana supported her on-going research and advocacy on areas of rule of law within KIPRED's mission. Ariana did her research at the Women & the Law Program –American University (AU), the Washington College of Law (WCL), and upon her return to Kosovo she successfully implemented her leadership initiative.  Ariana lives in Prishtina with her husband and three daughters.