Prishtina, 21 March, 2024
“I am very happy to welcome you all to the Prime Minister’s Office, on World Down Syndrome Day, which makes us even more aware of the responsibility we have to provide the most equal and dignified conditions and access for all without leaving anyone behind”, said the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, in the meeting with some of the employees through Measure 1.6. Support of Persons with Disabilities.
“I am happy to welcome you as an employee and I am interested to know more about your experiences in the workplaces you have,” said the Prime Minister.
In the cordial meeting at the Prime Minister, they shared their experiences in the workplaces, as well as the internship with dual education: Vjosa Asllani, Hanife Raci, Genc Beqiri and Agron Bilalli.
We talked about the work done in the five Down syndrome centers in Kosovo, in Prishtina, Prizren, Ferizaj, Mitrovica and Gjilan, where direct beneficiaries of the services are over 300 people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.
“For us as an association, it has not been an easy journey to get here. We have achieved together with the support of institutions, friends and colleagues”, said Sebahate Hajdini Beqiri, Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association Kosovo.
“The State and the Government must prove themselves the most and first where the needs are the greatest and the opportunities the least. Therefore, we want to discuss how we can do better and more than until now”, said the Prime Minister.
While the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Agon Dobruna, reiterated the commitment of the MFPT for further support for the implementation of rights for people with Down Syndrome and those with disabilities.
In the meeting, the goal of inclusiveness and equality in education was emphasized, for which the Government has hired 250 assistants for children with special needs in schools, and by the end of the mandate we plan to have 500.
It was emphasized that while the studies were done for free, scholarships were allocated to 13 students with disabilities. Whereas, through measure 1.6 Support of the employment of persons with special needs, 239 persons have been employed, of which 119 are men and 120 are women.
Prime Minister Kurti thanked Down Syndrom Kosova for the cooperation, the contribution both in the form of ideas and the activities it develops. “I’m glad you’re part of the policy developments of the Prime Minister’s Office, including the Disability Strategy 2024-2029,” he said.
Last modified: March 22, 2024