By Donika Nushi Gojani

Adrian Zhubi’s journey began as a graduate of the University of Pristina in Kosova. He graduated after the war in Kosovo and became highly interested in psychiatry, especially because he witnessed enormous need for mental health services for the victims of war in Kosovo.

In 2001, he received a scholarship by the University of Dartmouth Medical School, Project Kosova, where he participated in the Clinical Clerkship Program. After graduation, Adrian decided to come to Chicago, IL at UIC for his Postdoctoral research study in epigenetic neuroscience research, which resulted in 9 publications thus far. During this period he has finished all the necessary exams and certifications to become a full time resident in Illinois.

Playing in the National Basketball League of Kosovo, and coaching the youth team, Adrian found that he enjoys working with children and came to understand sports as an educational tool. Adrian still returns to the basketball court for fun, plays classical violin, and enjoys blues, jazz, and rock music. In the past 2 years of his residency, Adrian has been working on his Master’s thesis project in Neuroscience.The focus of the project is the study of epigenetic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of Autism spectrum disorder using post-mortem human brain samples. The results of his research have been presented in American Psychiatric Association meeting, Society for Neuroscience meeting and Albanian-American Medical Society meeting.

He is an active Kosovar community member residing in Chicago, IL where he will continue his residency in one hospital in the Greater Chicago Area.

To learn more about Adrian’s publications click on the link below: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=zhubi+a

The video of Adrian presenting his work from the Albanian-American Medical Society Meeting where Adrian Presented his work is available at:

Arben Islami’s story is nothing short but movie-like.  As a 12 year old boy, Islami watched the British Royal Marines march into Kosovo following the 1999 conflict, it was then and there, Islami had found his life goal. In 1999, Islami had left Kosovo for United Kingdom in search of relatives and in July 2012, granted citizenship and full rights to join the marines. “I wanted to join up and give something back to the country that helped me so much” said Marine Islami. 

© Dailymail.co.uk

As a child, Islami had witnessed the Royal Marines enter Kosovo in 1999 and at that point, he realized that he wanted to become one of them. After arriving in the United Kingdom, Islami was placed on a foster home in Birmingham, where he went to school and learned English. Currently, Islami is married and has a family to take care of, thus he also practices the profession of a bricklayer, however, this did not keep him from completing the 10 week long Commando training at Lympstine and becoming a Marine Reservist.

© Dailymail.co.uk

‘It is a huge privilege, particularly coming from another country, to join the Royal Marines because they are one of the best forces in the world.’ claims Marine Islami (Mailonline).
Marine Islami is excited for future deployments and commitment to the Marines, he continues to train with the Reservists and also working his day job of a bricklayer.

The original article was posted at Dailymail.co.uk .  Click here to read the original article.

Manchester City FC invited 19-year-old Sinan Bytyqi to train with the first team. Internet rumors circulated that Bytyqi would debut during Monday’s game against Chelsea yet proved false. Nonetheless, we are all thrilled that he is slowly matriculating onto the first team, showing his promise and future success.

© Dailymail.co.uk

By: Kosovare Mezini

But who is this kid? Bytyqi was born to Kosovar Albanian parents in Austria on January 15, 1995. As he began to find himself on the international football scene, he idolized Barcelona’s striker, Neymar. Before joining the Manchester City team, Bytyqi played attacking midfielder for FC Admira Wacker Mödling. To this day, he still wears the Austrian flag on his chest during international games. It was there that Manchester City noticed his skill, as he scored 4 goals in two games during the U19 qualification in November, 2013. Thanks to him, Austria’s U19 team earned a spot in the Elite Round, prior to the U19 Euro Cup.

ONE TO WATCH: Sinan Bytyqi

He is still known for the goal he scored during the UEFA Youth League. He was the first scorer in the tournament, taking him only ten minutes to score a free-kick goal against Viktoria Plzen.

Unlike fellow Albanian Adnan Januzaj, Bytyqi is still waiting to make his debut in the English Premier League, but his chance is soon. Just imagine in a couple years during the Manchester Derby, Januzaj vs. Bytyqi; now that’s a game I look forward to.

For the first time, Kosovar companies have the legal framework set for their businesses to operate in Germany. The two  companies who have quickly become a success story are “Entermedia” and “Elen”, both set on the city of Nurenberg.

Bardhyl Meta form the Kosovar Chamber of Commerce, stated that among the many competing companies from around the world, “Entermedia” and “Elen” have successfully won the tender, thus getting them into the greater European Union market. This indeed is a great step to mutual cooperation between the German and Kosovan economy.

Both representatives from “Entermedia” and “Elen” have explained how this step is indeed a great opportunity as well as a new challenge to be faced. While “Entermedia” is mainly focused on offering entertaining services, “Elen” is a company that has been involved in the electrical appliances business for 20 years now. Both companies have set a commitment to better the cooperation between the diaspora businesses and the domestic ones.

The original article was posted at Koha.net Click here to read the original article

The streets from New York where hip hop was born still bring new and fresh music from talented rappers. This, the person in question is Kosovar Labinot Gashi, better known as G4SHI. With an inspirational sound, flow and lyrics, the charismatic rapper commands his audience’s full attention.

In the late 90s, Labinot “Larry” G4shi moved to the United States with his family and settled down in Brooklyn, New York. He was introduced to the hip hop genre by his brother, a talented DJ. In an interview with NOA.al  G4shi says that he knew that music was a passion he would pursue as soon as he was introduced to hip hop. G4shi started off rapping on lunch tables at high school, and today he is an independent artist with several successful singles and mix tapes. He collaborated with world famous artist French Montana, has been on tour with Joe Budden and opened up a show for Wiz Kalifa.

Even though he has fans from all parts of the world, G4shi points out in the interview with NOA.al that his Albanian fans are the strongest. He adds that they have been with him from the start, and says that he is proud to be from Drencia in Kosovo, which is widely known for hip hop. G4shi frequently mentions his Albanian heritage in his lyrics, videos, tweets etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRNw8zwglok

G4shi debuted with his mix tape Last of Rare Breed in 2011. The mix tape featured hits such as Until the day i die with the famous rapper French Montana and Never coming back with Nipsey Hussle. In 2012, G4shi had his breakthrough in the hip hop scene with the song Rocket but his even bigger success came in 2013, when he released Who made me, a song about the difficulty for an upcoming artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVQeBV8BHcE

Fatmire Bajramaj fled Kosovo with her family when she was just four. Starting over in a new country was hard but opened up fresh prospects. Her talent brought her not only to the national women’s league, but also to the German national team and a world title. Nowadays the 25-year-old is a leading personality for Germany.

© spox.com

As a girl I was best off in goal – or at least that’s what the other kids thought. But I never enjoyed just throwing myself at the ball over and over again. I wanted to dribble, send over crosses and score goals. It took a while for the lads to accept me, but when they realized I had some qualities and wasn’t at all bad on the ball, they let me play outfield. It even reached the point where the lads squabbled about which team I’d be on.

But why football? Lots of people think it’s because I have two brothers, one younger and one older, but it’s not true. Football was my big passion right from the start, although I also liked climbing trees and other rough-and-tumble activities. I grew up with sport in the family: my mum played volleyball and my dad football, so physical activity comes naturally to me. I’d say the turning point in my life was when we fled Kosovo in 1992. I was only four. Home will always be where the heart is, but if we’d stayed in the village of Gjurakovc where I come from, it’s hard to imagine I’d have had a realistic chance in football. Sure, I’d have played somewhere and enjoyed it, but being in Germany gave me the chance to develop and explore my potential.

© footdelles.com

Starting over as a refugee was hard and tough. At first we lived in a hostel for asylum seekers in Remscheid and knew almost no-one. My parents had to borrow money from relatives so we could get by. Once they found work we started looking for a place to settle. The place turned out to be Monchengladbach where I went on to lay the foundations for my career. My parents still live in Monchengladbach and regularly come to watch me. It’s hard to single out a particular highlight in my career.

I’ll never forget winning the World Cup in 2007. But our triumphs at the UEFA Women’s EURO (in 2009 and 2013) and with Turbine Potsdam (two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League) also mean a lot to me. I’m still only 25 and, after making a comeback last summer [from a torn cruciate], I want to achieve lots more with FFC Frankfurt and the national team. I have an eventful past and that’s shaped me in its own way. If I have kids, maybe I’ll be able to pass on what happened to me as a girl: the chance of having a future with good prospects.

© zimbio.com

The original article was posted at The FIFA Weekly. Click here to read the original article

Mirela was born in Fier, Albanian and finished her undergrad studies in Electronic Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Tirana. As a young student, she participated in the student uprising of December, 1990 that brought along political changes in Albania. Today, she works as a freelance interpreter and translator. She recently published a book named “Redeemed by Christ.” It is a fictional novel inspired by the love story on how she met her husband Mike.

© siouxcityjournal

Mirela was 25 years old when she met Mike. She was working for the Soros Foundation at the time while her husband Mike worked as a U.S. Customs special agent for the United Nations Sanctions Assistance Mission which enforced the oil and weapons embargo on Serbia during its war with Bosnia in 1995. Both of them felt an immediate attachment to each other. Mike fancied Mirela’s bubbly personality while Mirela liked his muscular chest and the fact that he had a car.

Mirela dreamed of marrying Mike in her evangelical church and had her dream come true a few months after she started dating Mike. At this moment, Mike is a retired Homeland Security investigator and lives with Mirela and their three sons in Iowa.

Mirela’s book Redeemed by Christ was published this January. “It very closely follows my personal experience with love, loss, faith, second chances and ultimately, God’s redemption and salvation”, says Mirela.

Mirela saw some of the drawings her 17-year old cousin drew on Facebook and asked her to do the drawing for her book. The two-headed eagle represents the Albanian flag and the eagle from the U.S. emblem.

© siouxcityjournal

Mirela is connected to Albania through her large extended family and friends there: “It feels like home and is the setting of many of my dreams. I took my three sons to Albania in the summer of 2006 and they remember it as the best family vacation ever. They loved all the attention they got from all the aunts and uncles and still ask me often to take them back for another extended vacation.” For the future, Mirela humbly says that it is her heart’s desire “that God would turn Albanian hearts back to Him and continue to bless her beloved homeland.” She adds: “I am currently translating Redeemed by Christ into Albanian, hoping to touch a life or two with the same love and encouragement Christ gave me, despite my many failures.”

Redeemed by Christ is available through Friesen Press and as an e-book at Amazon, Google, Barnes & Noble.

The following is a quote from the abstract provided on the webpage of Mirela’s book:

“During the post-communist years that defined the early nineties, Mirela, a young, independent, strong-willed Albanian woman, is studying electronic engineering at the Polytechnic University of Tirana. In the midst of her vibrant social life and rigorous studies, as well as the shifting social and political climate, she falls in love with Teo, a medical student, and embarks on a relationship with him, which is continually waylaid by distance, circumstance, family expectations, social conventions, indecision and, eventually, the spiritual evolution and maturing of Mirela. Through the breaking of her heart by experiencing disappointment and loss, her spirit is expanded, thus launching her to new and distant horizons that she could never have foreseen.”

More details on her story may be found under: www.redeemedbychristthebook.com

Kosovo played its first FIFA-sanctioned international friendly match against Haiti in Mitrovica, Kosovo on 05 March 2014. The six-year old country made history. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.  Despite no goals, the game did spark a lot of enthusiasm among Kosovo people, across the diaspora and football lovers world wide. News agencies have closely followed the long journey of the Kosovo team in creation. The following are some snapshots of world renown websites covering the game:  from Fifa.com to BBC to the Guardian.

(Snapshot of BBC news site on 05 March 2014).

(Snapshot of Repubblica.it  news site on 04 March 2014).

(Snapshot of The New York Times site on 28 February 2014).

(Snapshot of The Guardian site on 04 March, 2014).

(Snapshot of Vavel news site on 05 Martch 2014).

(Snapshot of  The National news site on 04 Martch 2014).

The Albanian Community in Michigan will soon have its library with over  four thousand books and titles. It is the first time the community in Detroit has had the chance to access such a great variety of books and titles in Albanian. A special corner in the library is dedicated to books and short stories for children, poems and history books written for youngsters, such a contribution is  important since it will engage the Albanian youth and help maintain identity.

Within the various sections that the library is divided, a special place is dedicated to Albanian Literature of heightened importance. The library includes works such as the first ever Albanian writing, historical narratives and academic studies concerning the Albanian Culture. Among the many titles, the library features the Kanun of Lek Dukagjini and numerous publications and studies concerning the Kanun and its impact within the Albanian Culture. Roughly 700 books are dedicated solely to the Albanian Language and studies concerning the people speaking it. Thus, including writers such as Barleti ,Bichikemi, Dom Ndoc Nikaj e At’ Doçi, Gjeçovi, Çabej, Frashëri, Shuteriqi.

Based on Don Fran Kola, one of the many priests responsible for the successful opening of the library, the institution will soon have its own functional committee that will secure the well running of the library, the committee is sought to gather people from the Albanian community from all regions and beliefs.

The original article was posted at Illyriapress. Click here to read the original article.

The moment you hear her sing she captivates you with her distinguished voice. This is Njomza, she is a singer, songwriter and performer.

© njomza.net

Njomza started singing at a young age in talent shows and eventually formed her band called ‘Scarlett’ in Chicago where she was able to play the Warp Tour. In 2012, she broke out in her solo career by signing with Mac Miller’s record label REMember music and started posting Youtube videos.  She is a native of Chicago, IL from Kosovar Albanian parents. When I asked her about her heritage she replied that she tries to best represent the Albanian community and is mindful of the support she receives from her community.

At the age of 20, she rocked her first headlining show in Chicago, IL. Her short-term future plans include her show in Texas, finishing her second project, working on music videos and touring across United States. She hopes one day she can work with Drake and looks up to artists such as Amy Winehouse and Janis Joplin.

I am certain this is just the beginning of her journey as a performer. She has the talent and determination to be a superstar. She can rest assured the Albanian community will be supporting her every step of the way.

Follow her on twitter: @NJOMZA

Check her website: Njomza

“Tuchlaube” theater will be hosting this years play festival. Gjyle Krasniqi, the co-founder and promoter is excited to talk about “Secondove” and this years theme “Tolerance”. 

Today marks the beginning of the seventh annual theater festival “Secondove” (second generation immigrants) themed “Tolerance”. Up to 15th of March, the public will have the chance to see five different plays and organized events.

Actors from over 20 different nationalities are expected to perform in plays that explore the various problems that foreigners and second generation immigrants experience in Switzerland. All five plays are nominated for the festival’s best, thus encouraging competition between casts from Aarau,Berlin/Kassel,Bochum,Versacio and Zurich. Apart from plays, the festival is intended to host lectures, workshops and debates.

The leader and co founder of the Festival is Gjyle Krasniqi from Kosova, who living for 26 years now in Switzerland has given her the inspiration and dedication to explore the nature of the diaspora and the daily challenges this community faces.

The original article was posted at Kultplus. Click here to read the original article

By Alban Pruthi

Shqipe Malushi is a writer, an empowerment coach, a leadership trainer, a visionary and an inclusive lover of people worldwide. Most importantly, Shqipe is an energetic, inspiring and ahead of time human being who is constantly on the move, often times living in the world’s most trouble spots.

Born and raised in Peja, Kosovo during the Cold War, Shqipe always felt and acted somewhat different from her peers. After her father passed away, she strived to break the cycle of tradition and discipline in her patriarchal hometown. At the age of 14 she ran away from home to see and seek the world. Her first itinerary was Istanbul where after a movie-like journey and a month of a hippie life, she was sent back to Kosovo by Interpol. A year of home confinement had Shqipe attempt a suicide which she fortunately survived. Finally, Shqipe was let go to be herself. In spite of many challenges and a faire dose of good and bad adventures, Shqipe has found a way to excel in her constant seeking.

In the professional realm, she has been using storytelling to raise awareness, provide capacity building, strengthen leadership skills, implement change management, and promote vision building and understanding of cross cultural issues.  She works on peace building and strengthening relationships in Afghanistan, Lebanon, India, Kosovo, Albania, and the United States.  She is involved in humanitarian causes, overcoming racial, cultural and religious differences. She motivates, inspires and influences a positive change.

As an Executive Director for Albanian American Women’s Organization (AAWO) in New York, Shqipe empowered refugee women and enabled them to integrate into the cultural fabric of American way of life. Shqipe led Albanian American women through education, cultural exchange, human rights and psycho-social programs. She was a founder and an editor of “Shpresa” (Hope) Magazine. During the conflict in Kosovo, Shqipe provided psycho social counseling, guidance and financial support to the refugees in the camps in Albania. As a writer,Shqipe has been published internationally, including but not limited to a book of poetry “For You” in Albanian, “The Gift of the Prophets“ and among the translations “The Wisdom of Sufism.“

Shqipe has been a catalyst for change in many countries. Some of her successes stories lie on enabling others to achieve their long desired dreams. For example:

Nisrin from Lebanon writes: “I am in Tripoli and I wish I can see you before you leave! You are my Idol. If there are 1% in the world like you it would have been a better World“

Ruqia from Afghanistan writes: “When I write to you, I imagine you are hearing my words. I’m happy I have someone who advises me and gives me positive energy to go ahead.“

Vaishali  fron India writes: “ I’m from India, I just heard your interview on TV. and I really loved it. I called my aunt and told her to switch on the TV and watch it. You changed my mindset. I’m happier and energetic now just hearing you for 30 minutes.“

Shqipe Malushi changes lives wherever she goes. She is an advocate for peace promoting love among people, inclusiveness, and caring for humanity. She holds a Masters of Sciences in Liberal Arts from New York University, including a Bachelor’s of Arts and Sciences from Sarah Lawrence College, N.Y. She is also certified in Leadership and Executive Management from Columbia University.

Basketistat have been active for 17 years now and a new generation is already on its way to continue their legacy of sports, fun and charity. Artor Behluli, one of the founding members explains that Basketistat is an informal club who does its bit for charity. “Jokingly, we call ourselves ‘Beer and Basketball Club’. Charity is something we do because we are lucky and privileged enough to be able to do it.”

Riding bikes for charity.

As the name already suggests, members share at least one common thing: Basketball. “That’s exactly how the story starts. And, as one of our members said, will end with wheelchair basketball.” As Artor explains, the core of the group has been there from the very beginning in 1997. That’s when the Society of Albanian Students was founded, and their sports activities consisted mainly in playing basketball. “We never thought that 17 years later we would be doing the same thing.” The number of Basketista members has remained the same. According to Artor, “it has to do with the number of players on the court, and the size of the tables in the pub. I’m sure you’ve gathered already that these two are our main outlets. Members change as people return to the homeland, but we always manage to find replacements. Modesty aside, we’re quite popular and a very likeable bunch.”

Below is the second part of the interview:

Do you have members that are not Albanian?

“We have guests and associates who are not Albanian. In principle everyone is welcome to join our sessions, as long as they are not too bad (or too good) at basketball, and enjoy a drink or two.”

Do you cooperate with other charity groups?

“We have established a very good working relationship with the Kosovar Red Cross. While we raise the funds and decide on what they’ll be spent, they do all the ground work. We hope to carry on with the partnership, as we’re both very happy with each-other.”

What is it that makes you proud to be a Basketist?

“Never thought of that, but I guess I am proud to belong to a club that has survived for so many years. Someone told me the other day, “Your club is the longest-running establishment in the Albanian community in London”, which really caught me by surprise. We must be doing something right, if that’s the case. What people see in us is camaraderie, support and the bond we have with each-other.”

What would you say about your fellow Basketistat? From which professional background do they come?

“They are all well-educated professionals, coming from various backgrounds like IT, engineering, real estate, retail management, catering etc.”

Do you plan any initiatives in the near future?

“We do our annual charity bash around Albanian Flag Day, but we’ll try to squeeze in couple of other smaller events, like Summer Picnic and such. We’ll probably do a Bike Ride as well, for British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research or Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.”

How do you see your role as a Diaspora member?

“Not sure, really. After spending more than 20 years here, your perception of ‘here’ and ‘there’ tends to get blurry. What I never fail to do in my role as a ‘Diaspora member’, though, is to do my bit as an ambassador for my nation. “Hello, my name is Artor and I’m an Albanian” is the first two things people find out about me. Most of the time the second part does not matter, but I can’t be one without the other. It’s part of my identity. It is who I am.”

What connects you back to Kosovo?

“My parents and brothers live there and I try to visit at least twice a year. I have also friends, most of them who have been in the UK at some point in their lives but have decided to go back.”

What legacy do you want to leave for your fellow Albanians?

“‘Legacy’ is exactly what we are aiming for, and we have already started ‘recruiting’ the new generation of ‘Basketistat’. Most of us have young children, and our dream is to make them feel the connection with each other, and ultimately the land and people of their fathers. Not primarily for some patriotic reasons, but to help them understand who they are, to get them to know their roots and identity.”

Businesses and organizations around the world can now use Goodwerp to manage their tasks and projects, maintain a positive pipeline, chat with their team in real-time, and invoice their clients without the need to switch between several online applications to control their workflow.

© goodwerp.com

Meet Valon Sopi – the founder and the product architect of Goodwerp. The ambitious Kosovar had the fortune to work with several talented people during his career. He has been building an online application for national clients and worked for the National Basketball Association – Oxfam America. Valon also ran a design firm in New Jersey. Today, he loves spending time with his 2-year old toddler. “My main occupation now is teaching colors, numbers, and shapes to an energetic 2-year old toddler who keeps me in check on a daily basis.”

“In 2009, the idea behind Goodwerp started to evolve as an online project management solution that is built specifically for service firms and consultancies around the world” says Valon in an interview with Kosovo Diaspora. “The platform offers all the tools needed for one to run their business. Some of the features are: -teams can manage their projects, invoice their clients and collaborate with one another and also get a feel on the pulse of their business.

© goodwerp.com

This idea evolved as an operating design for a firm which manages several projects. Valon expresses how challenging it can be to manage 30-40 projects and serve demanding clients. The firm used different online applications in such cases but missed a feature that would simplify the process.

Namely, Valon says that “separate apps were in charge of various aspects of the business: management, pipeline, finance, collaboration.” He adds that he “could never get a real-time pulse of what was going on in the business and had to manually gather data through an excel data sheet.”

Goodwerp became what it is as a solution to this problem and as a response to the need to gather all information needed from the entire company and provide the team with useful information to work on. Goodwerp has already influenced many companies and helped them save time and be more productive. The teams behind Goodwerp are working hard on developing it even further with many innovative ideas. The current team consists of six people – Tyler Wetzel, Erman Belegu, Ideal Bakija, Anbullena Krasniqi, Valmir Hazeri and Valon Sopi himself. They all work together on a daily basis and have different backgrounds, from computer science engineering through design and market analysis.

When asked what makes Goodwerp different from other similar platforms Valon says: “Goodwerp is highly accessible and adaptable to users of various skill levels. It helps clients get rid of up to 3 other applications and get a bird’s eye view on their business operations. Its pricing model offers companies scalability based on their needs and usage. The beauty of it all is that a company does not have to install a third-party application and stumble in managing their business. Everything is presented in real-time.”

Majlinda Kelmendi has continued her uphill journey of success by recieving gold medal at the Samsun Judo Competition held in Turkey.

Majlinda has managed to gather much attention for her stellar performance within the 52 kg category, where she once again proved that she is among the best in the world. Kelmendi went through the second round of competition by winning against Larisa Florian. On the third match, Majlinda triumphed against the Ukrainian Maria Buiok. The iron girl form Peja did not have much trouble winning against Tarangul, whereas on the final match Majlinda proved stronger against Odette Guifrida, thus making a step closer to the Olympic games.

The original article was posted at Illyriapress. Click here to read the original article.

Ibrahim Zahiri (GV) and Qëndresa Sadriu (PS) have received enough votes to be directly appointed as consultants at the Glattbrugg-Opfikon local municipality.  

© albinfo.ch

The Albanian community of this municipality has for the first time managed to get two representatives within the local assembly. There were a total of 7 candidates of Albanian origin from whom, Mr. Zahiri and Mrs. Sadriu received enough support for appointment. Qendresa Sadriu and Ibrahim Zahiri both come from Gjilan and are living in Glattbrugg. The newly appointed municipal consultants will have a lot of responsibility to care for since they are the voice of the Albanian diaspora living there.

Both candidates are happy with the voter turnout and are excited to start work. They are committed on representing the voters trust and intend to only move forward from now.”This victory is not only mine, this is a victory for all of us as citizens of Glattbrugg” said the newly appointed consultant Ibrahim Zahiri.

The original article was posted at Albinfo.ch Click here to read the original article.

The North American Professionals and Entrepreneurs Council (NAPEC) is a network for professionals and entrepreneurs providing networking opportunities within the business community. Some of NAPEC’s founders are of Kosovo and Albanian origin. In 2013 NAPEC was featured in Forbes Magazine and it was referred to as a “don’t miss” conference.

© napecinnovation.com

NAPEC was established by a few professionals, entrepreneurs and academics, who were active in their  communities and professions. One of the founders, who is with origin from Kosovo, is Erdoan Shipoli, the current CEO of NAPEC.

NAPEC co-founder Shipoli explains that the focus was on addressing barriers faced by many Albanian business councils and professional networks when trying to funnel real world opportunities back to their respective communities. He further explains: “we become limited to our own network and unable to open our community to all of the opportunities and resources that are out there for them to succeed. We need to find new ways to “plug in” our communities into the larger professional and entrepreneurial networks that exist in the vast and, at times, intimidating business world.” Other community based business and professional networks (in the US) had similar problems, and we saw the need of brining Balkan, European, Asian, African professional communities together. NAPEC, as a global platform, provides exactly that.

© napecinnovation.com

NAPEC Innovation Conference New York 2014 is a leading conference for small and medium enterprise (SME) innovations for sustainable growth, showcasing leaders in business growth and development. This prestigious annual event brings together entrepreneurs, academics, students, international experts, business support organization representatives, stock exchange and financial institution executives, policy makers, and international agencies involved in small and medium-sized business development. NAPEC Innovation conference 2014 has been designed to focus on the key areas SMEs need to invest in, in order to grow and sustain their businesses. Distinguished business leaders will convene to brainstorm some of the challenges related to business start-ups as well as elaborate on best practices within the SME sector. The conference aims to facilitate conversation that focuses on the key growth areas in small businesses, including finance, product development and technology, bringing together industry leaders in major fields of sustainable development, to educate and inspire leading entrepreneurs, SME owners and professionals who are growing their enterprises using the latest strategies and technologies. This NAPEC Innovation Conference will be held in Manhattan, NY in April 12, 2014 and it will host over 500 attendees from all over the world.

Another NAPEC Innovation conference 2014 will be held in Chicago in April 18, 2014, which will host over 500 attendees from all over the world as well.

© napecinnovation.com

Opportunities with NAPEC:

NAPEC Innovation Conference offers prime opportunities for networking as well as establishing new contacts and business linkages. There are various opportunities to do reconnect and network:  NAPEC Innovation 2013 Alumni Virtual Networking Event, NAPEC Innovation 2014 Pre-Conference Virtual Networking Event, and Networking at the Conference event.

​During the Executive Forum Speaker Series a cocktail session for senior executives will be held where they will have a chance to explain their profession, organization and industry to young professionals.  Young professionals have the opportunity to gain valuable insights and network with individuals with similar interests.

The Professional Development Workshop equips young & experienced professionals alike with the tools necessary for success in any professional or business atmosphere. Synergy’s goal is to provide tools that will prepare individuals for challenges in their fields.

The mission of the NAPEC Professional Clubs is to serve this generation of professionals and to foster the next generation by promoting innovation, cooperation, fellowship and growth.

© napecinnovation.com

NAPEC’s aims and goals are to promote networking through business communities. The conference does so by promoting leaders in the business field and allowing them to network with others who share the same interests. Networking serves as a great way to promote growth in a field base profession and NAPEC has shown itself to be the best base for the business world partnerships.

The most successful Kosovar in Taekwando, Durim Berisha, has managed to impress the Swiss audience at “Schaffhausen Open 2014″ which was held in Switzerland by winning the gold medal at the 80kg category.

Berisha is a member of the Kosovar Taekwando Team Representation. It is important to note that Berisha has been their shining representative throughout many competitions even though he lacks government support for his journeys.

This has been the fourth gold medal for Berisha within the five months, thus justifying his position as a stellar representative of Kosovo abroad. Based on the KFT (Kosovar Federation on Taekwando) this event has been one of the most successful events so far. In addition, the continuous victories prove the efficient approach of the technical staff of the federation.

These 4 international competition gold medals that have been brought home indicate the potential of growth that this sport possesses.

The original article was posted at Albinfo.ch – Click here to read the original article.

Arnold Gjergjaj, also known as The Cobra, is considered the best boxer in the heavy weight category. He won all of his 24 matches! (18 through KO).

© Albinfo.ch

Arnold practices every day in order to be up to speed for 12 rounds. Aside from this, he is physically strong by nature. He got the nickname Cobra from his trainer when he qualified to be a professional boxer. At the beginning Arnold did not like his nickname because he is afraid of snakes. However, his trainer convinced Arnold that that’s the most suitable nickname for him because Arnold is a fighter whose hit leaves his opponent with repercussions. Arnold now enjoys his name immensely after he took some time to get used to it.

Arnold Gjergjaj has always enjoyed boxing. He remembers that he left Kosovo in July 1999 to go live in Switzerland. Three months after this even, Arnold began kickboxing. After seven fights in kickboxing Arnold decided to only do boxing. He won multiple fights as an amateur boxer and gained the status of a professional boxer through his hard work. He gained this status for years ago and won 24 matches since then, remaining undefeated.

When he left Kosovo at the age of 14, Arnold faced challenges of integrating into a new culture and learning a new language. During this time he realized that effort is the key to a successful life and continued integrating into his new surroundings very quickly and easily. Today, Arnold is not only a boxer, but also an ambassador for an association which works with kids who need encouragement in finding non-violent solutions to problems through sports.

© Albinfo.ch

Arnold enjoys the attention of both countries, Kosovo and Switzerland. The Swiss media regularly reports on his success and Albanians show up at his matches in big numbers. To him, it is important that all Albanians abroad serve as ambassadors and show respect and thankfulness to their host countries, as these countries offer them numerous possibilities to move forward. When Arnold spends time with his friends and family he is very calm and sociable which is very much unlike his in-the-ring personality. During his family time, he prefers not to talk about boxing but rather likes to discuss other topics.

Arnold’s dream is to fight against Vladimir Klitshko. He is working hard on increasing his chances to win in a fight with Vladimir. Arnold’s overall goal is to win the world championship and he aims at achieving this in two to three years.

The original article was posted at Albinfo.ch – Click here to read the original article

Ilir Blakçori, the creator of “Heroinat” has been awarded the golden award at the “A Design Award Competition” held in Milan,Italy.

The project “Heroinat” had been chosen amongst thousands of other entries and has been valued for its interesting design and architectural quality. The award has been given for the architectural, construction and the design of the project.

“Ilir Blakçori, the designer of the “Heroinat” memorial has been able to demonstrate the pain and contribution of women during the Kosovo war, a contribution that has yet to be given the importance that it deserves. The memorial as it is, honors each and every unknown contributor, to an individual level.” – were among the reasons that jury members decided to award the memorial.

The original article was posted at Illyriapress.com Click here to read the original article.