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This time, Resmije Kurbogaj-Ajeti was not standing alongside her husband, the ambassador of Kosovo, but was herself the center of attention. The chairwoman of the association “ZA Aktiv” presented the goals of the new organization she founded herself to diplomats and prominent figures from Berlin at a reception. As a political scientist who studied in Vienna and Graz, she spoke in German about a society in which no child should be left behind.

The work of ZA Aktiv therefore focuses on inclusive education, particularly in Kosovo and the other Western Balkan countries. . Children should have equal opportunities for learning and personal development from kindergarten to secondary school, regardless of their ethnic origin, religious affiliation, and social status. Mentoring programs, learning support, workshops, exchange projects, and age-appropriate educational opportunities are planned.

ZA Aktiv wants to educate children and young people in youth forums to become independent and teach them to raise their voices and actively participate in society. “Investing in children means investing in their ability to think critically, make informed decisions, and contribute responsibly to the common good. Educating young people is a strategic investment in the future of our entire society,” said the founder.

One focus is on helping kids with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. They use personalized learning methods and work with psychologists, speech therapists, and special education teachers to help these kids fit into society. The group also wants to make things easier for them by providing books, learning materials, transportation, and other resources they need.

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Parents are also to receive counseling and stable support networks. To this end, cooperation between children, parents, and institutions is to be strengthened. ZA Aktiv sees itself as a partner to politics, educational institutions, business, civil society, and international organizations.

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Personal experiences of fear

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The personal part of her speech was particularly moving. Her experiences as a child, which had a profound impact on her, were the motivation for founding the association. “I know only too well what it means to go to school every day full of fear.” Born and raised in Kosovo, she experienced schooling under extremely difficult conditions—in improvised “home schools,” accompanied by uncertainty and existential worries. “I cannot forget the cold nights in the mountains, the days when food was scarce or there was not enough water.” Even today, she can hardly believe “how we managed to live with this fear every day, trying to survive and go to school.” But she learned something extraordinary: "the value of a helping hand, especially when it comes from a stranger. That gave me courage, hope, and strength."

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“Education is the most valuable investment in the future!” The association was founded on this conviction. She asked the guests from the diplomatic corps and Berlin society for “cooperation through ideas, contacts, or financial contributions. You can't change the whole world, but you can certainly change the world of a single child.”

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In the reception hall of the Titanic Hotel on Chausseestraße, it was clear that she had the support of at least three gentlemen: Thorsten Klose-Zuber, secretary general and managing director of the HELP organization, which has already implemented numerous important projects in Kosovo; Gunnar Schellenberger, president of the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, who maintains close contact with Kosovo; and, last but not least, Faruk Ajeti. Ajeti is the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo in Berlin – and her husband.

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(More information: https://za-ev.org/our-mission/)

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