Dozens of women from Kosovo have received economic and emotional support since January 2024 from the Jahjaga Foundation through the project “CreatResili.” This project is being piloted in Kosovo with women from the “One in Three” program, empowering them economically through art and design. On Wednesday, the closing ceremony of the project was held, where their collections were presented—some of which have already begun to be exported abroad. These women, coming from marginalized groups in the country, collaborated with international artists to jointly create the “CreatResili” collection.

The founder of the Jahjaga Foundation and former president of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, said that the goal of this project is not only the economic empowerment of women but also to have their work exported beyond Kosovo’s borders.

“CreatResili is a project that for over two years has been working intensively with marginalized groups, mainly women throughout Kosovo. It began as a very small initiative many years ago with the project ‘One in Three,’ because one in three women in the world—these are not just Kosovo’s statistics, but global ones—are victims of violence, whether physical or psychological, whether in the family, at the workplace, or in society in general. The main goal of the Jahjaga Foundation, since the beginning of its work, has been the economic empowerment of women, especially those from marginalized groups. This project, which we have worked on for more than two years, has been a partnership together with the Hungarian government, Hungary Helps, and Gjirafa Mall, so that the products created with great passion and effort can be placed not only on the Kosovo market but also on the European market,” Jahjaga said.

This program, which started as a small initiative, is expected to continue and further empower women and youth as Kosovo’s greatest potential, Jahjaga added.

“The project has contributed through art and creativity, because none of us really knows what is hidden within us. Many times, during different parts of the program when I visited, I never imagined that these women would create such authentic works of art—designed by professionals but with the remarkable input of these women. But above all, the most important thing has been the networking among these women, building strong relationships that will continue even after the formal conclusion of this project. This is only an official closing, while in reality, they continue to work and stay connected, not only because of the cause but because of the shared experiences they have lived,” said the founder of the Jahjaga Foundation.

The 22-month project aimed to support women in Kosovo, said Peter Kovács, General Director of the “Hungary Helps” organization.

“It is an international humanitarian and development program of Hungary. It was created many years ago, and we have also been working with the Jahjaga Foundation since 2021. We started with a youth center in Kamenica in 2021, and in 2023 we decided together to start a social design program to help women already supported by the Jahjaga Foundation. We submitted our proposal to the European Commission and it was approved, so we began our journey in Kamenica in 2024. Now we are at the end of the program. I think it is clear that it has been a very successful program, and we are very proud of it. But most importantly, we achieved our goal and helped those women who needed it most and who were able to participate in this program and learn more about social design,” he said.

Furthermore, he emphasized that Hungary places great importance on its relationship with Kosovo.

“Hungary was one of the first countries to recognize the state of Kosovo in 2008. So, I must say that as Hungarians, we consider the relationship with Kosovo very important. We know that the situation is sometimes difficult. Kosovo is one of the youngest nations in the world, which gives the country a special character, very close to Hungary. We can say that Kosovo is one of our closest neighbors and part of the Western Balkans region, which is very important for Hungary. Kosovo can consider Hungary a supporter of its growth and development,” he added.

The Hungarian ambassador to Kosovo, Laszlo Dux, also spoke about relations with Kosovo, emphasizing that hundreds of Hungarian soldiers are currently serving there.

“We continue to support Kosovo from the very beginning of its path to independence, including Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We have more than 400 Hungarian soldiers serving in Kosovo, and there are also more than 400 students who travel to and study in Hungary. Many young people are supported by the Hungarian government. Our cooperation is becoming more tangible and direct, especially with women. This is a new chapter in our cooperation, and from the side of the Hungarian Embassy in Pristina, there is great hope that this is just the beginning of our story, and many similar projects will continue in the future together with you,” he said.

The CEO of “Gjirafa Mall,” Mergim Cahani, said they will continue to support such projects that have a social impact.

“An initiative dedicated to empowering women who have experienced abuse and survivors of violence in Kosovo. For Gjirafa Mall, this is a continuation of our commitment to use technology to empower our communities. As a technology company grounded in innovation and connection, we have always believed that technology should serve people. We have demonstrated how technology and e-commerce can amplify voices through products. Gjirafa is not just a marketplace but a platform that gives voice to the stories of survivors. This project also reflects our belief that the private sector carries not only the power but also the responsibility to drive meaningful social transformation,” he said.

The “CreatResili” collection is now available for purchase online at Gjirafa Mall.

“CreatResili” is a social design program that supports women in vulnerable situations, especially survivors of gender-based violence. The project supports women in Kosovo who often face systemic barriers, lack of social protection networks, and limited access to sustainable income.