Prishtina, 7 June 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated today in the WinforVET Conference, a formula for social inclusion through the promotion of Education, Employment and Gender Equality, organized by the implementing partners “Roma Versitas Kosova” and the Roma Education Fund (REF) within the Project “Education, Employment, Partnerships and Gender Equality: A Winning Formula for Roma in VET”, which has been supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
In his opening speech, the Prime Minister Kurti, began by congratulating and expressing his thanks to the Austrian Development Agency, RomaVersitas, Roma Education Fund, as well as students, workers, entrepreneurs, mentors and tutors, for the results achieved and for their commitment to the rights of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.
According to the Prime Minister, thanks to the support provided, it has been possible for 150 students to continue their studies, who, with the development of their careers, contribute more to our society. Another 50 people have been qualified through vocational training, who will be able to enter the labour market and start work, as well as 40 paid interns, experienced for the first time what working is like, benefiting from new knowledge and contacts and proving to the businesses and organizations where they were engaged that everyone benefits from diversity in teams.
With the establishment of the Inter-institutional team for the promotion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians employment, as well as the participation of RomeVersitas in this initiative led by the Office for Good Governance in the Office of the Prime Minister, it was possible for 104 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians to benefit from training at the Professional Training Centers, while scholarships to 500 high school students and 100 public universities students were also allocated.
Prime Minister Kurtistated how the Government is offering opportunities for all our young people, and those who have benefited from the initiatives created by WinforVET, to continue their professional journey.
At the end of his speech, Prime Minister Kurtiemphasized that he is grateful for the contribution and commitment, hoping for the deepening and expansion of the latter, and for achieving common goals.
Participants in this conference were Sandra Horina, Director of the Austrian Development Agency, Avni Mustafa, Executive Director of Roma VersitasKosova, as well as Redjepali Çupi, co-director of Roma Education Fund.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech:
I am very glad that we are together here today discussing an important topic that has to do not only with the Roma but with people with society and how we should have more development but also less inequality. I believe that the topic is adequate, since from my experience in the Prime Minister`s Office, whenever we start talking about the economy, we end up talking about education, and whenever we start talking about education, we end up talking about the economy.
If there is one thing that is more important than both education and the economy, then this seems to be the connection between education and the economy.
So how to have a job from a degree and at the same time how to make an economic development that for the jobs that will be created there will be degrees from the education system.
Honorable Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Mr. Sylejman Elshani,
Honorable Mrs. Sandra Horina, Director of the Austrian Development Agency,
Honorable Mr. Avni Mustafa, Executive Director of Roma Versitas Kosova,
Honorable Mr. Redjepali Çupi, Co-Director of Roma Education Fund,
Honorable, Mrs. Majlinda Rizvanolli, advisor in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation,
Honorable WinforVETproject partners,
Ladies and gentleman,
I congratulate all of you, the Austrian Development Agency, Roma Versitas, Roma Education Fund and definitely the students, workers, entrepreneurs, mentors and tutors for the results achieved and for your commitment to the rights of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities.
Thanks to the joint support, 150 students have been able to continue their studies and now they can achieve more in their careers, but they can also contribute more to our society.
50 people have been qualified through vocational training who will be able to start work, and contribute as examples to others as employers and as taxpayers.
40 paid interns experienced for the first time what working is like, by gaining new knowledge and contacts. Also, they have proven to the businesses and organizations where they were engaged that everyone benefits from diversity in the team, with different experiences and approaches in solving common problems.
As you know, our government is engaged and working for more equality and more welfare. We have supported students, expectant mothers, children, pensioners and various social categories without distinction. Our government has supported all communities through implemented measures and allocated grants.
We have planned the continuation of support and cooperation, with a priority on education and employment, in our Strategy for the Advancement of Community Rights. In such case, we are convinced that education and employment offer a way out of poverty, and pave the way for integration in society and for a better life.
Last year we established the Inter-institutional Team for the Promotion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians Employment. I thank RomaVersitas for participating in this initiative led by the Office for Good Governance in the Office of the Prime Minister. We are proud of the work of the team, together with other NGOs, with my advisors and representatives of relevant ministries and partners. And on this occasion, allow me to give a special thanks to Mrs. Elizabeth Gowing, for all the commitment and work that we have achieved so far.
Thanks to this commitment, in the last round of recruitment for the Kosovo Police, we ensured that over 20 percent of the cadets were from the non-majority communities of Kosovo, including 3 women and 6 men from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. Also, last year we managed for 104 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians to benefit from training at the Vocational Training Centers compared to only 34 people the year before – a number that is three times more.
We also offered scholarships for the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities – 500 for high school students and 100 for public universities students. We have established a newsletter detailing employment opportunities, which is sent not only in Albanian and Serbian, but also in Turkish and Romani languages every two weeks to more than 400 organizations and individuals who are interested in opportunities for non-majority communities, especially in internships, scholarships, jobs and training.
For paid internships, the Ministry of Finance is collaborating with UNICEF and businesses on the Kosova GenerationUnlimited platform, which aims that 15% of the internships provided be for members of non-majority communities. We also have the Superpuna platform where jobs are subsidized for young people, and I encourage all of you who are now able to find a job, or employ someone in business, to take advantage of this great opportunity for both businesses and job seekers.
Also focusing on the employment of communities, the Ministry for Communities and Return last week published the call for grants for 3 million euros, including initiatives from existing and new businesses, and non-governmental organizations work. In addition, the Office for Community Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister has now announced a competition for grants to increase employment for Non-Governmental Organizations, media and scholarships for non-majoritycommunities.
From Superpuna, but also from other measures, whether it is the economic recovery package or the package for dealing with inflation, we have over 50% percent of the employment of girls and women, from the total number of employments
For twenty-one months, there have been over 37,000 jobs, of which over 50% are for women, as well as in employment with the Superpuna program, over 50% are employed girls and women. Therefore, let me also congratulate you that even in this conference, there are many women and girls who show that both the majority communities and the majority community and the minority or non-majoritycommunities must move forward with both sexes, that is, both women and men.
There is no social equality without gender equality wherever you live, work, act, study, encourage as many women and girls as possible to be active, participate and be equal. It is inspiring to see in this hall also people who are examples for their communities as well as for others, people who have challenged themselves and overcome obstacles to take advantage of opportunities for a better life.
Thus, we as the Government are offering opportunities for all our young people, including those who have benefited from the initiatives created by WinforVET, to continue their professional journey.
We are very grateful and thankful to you for your contribution and commitment and I hope for the deepening of the expansion of the cooperation in achieving common goals.
I wish you success and achievements in the future, a brighter future for you, for your families, for the communities, and also for our common country which belongs to all
Thank you!
Last modified: June 15, 2023