Monthly Archives: August 2012

Kosovo’s Diaspora, the main support for country’s recovery

Kosovo’s Diaspora has been the main support of political and economic processes in Kosovo. This was the evaluation made in the conference organized by the Ministry of Diaspora, “Diaspora’s Youth, a chance for Kosovo’s economic development”, where Kosovo’s immigrants contribution was praised highly for the freedom and construction of the Kosovo State.

“Our Diaspora has always been serving the country’s developmental processes and in some cases has been leading the processes. The role and contribution of our Diaspora is extraordinary in all the phases our country went through. The role of our Diaspora, especially the one that had the opportunity to be educated in Western countries and take up experiences is not only necessary, but vital for a safe future for out country. Especially in a special field that we as a new state have the biggest needs and that is Kosovo’s European integration, where our Diaspora can play an important role,” says Ibrahim Makolli, Minister of Diaspora.

The immigrants’ contribution is still big even in the independent Kosovo. A considerable part of Kosovo families live with the help of immigrants that work in European states.
Only in 2011, immigrants’ remittances were nearly 585 million Euros, according to Kosovo’s Central Bank, more than direct foreign investments that were 414 million Euros.

This Article written by Bul Salihu, Albanian Screen TV.
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Source: Bul Salihu, Albanian Screen TV. http://news.albanianscreen.tv/pages/news_detail/44685/ENG

Young Kosovar in Germany: Arbesa Sinanaj Moves X Factor Judge to Tears

“X Factor 2012: Candidate Arbesa Sinanaj brings Sandra Nasic completely out of the socket”

The X Factor judges are deeply moved by the young candidate’s singing abilities and potential. Juror Sarah Connor said that Arbesa “has a voice that goes straight to the heart.” The 16-year-old candidate managed with her performance to bring juror Sandra Nasic to tears. The German media have covered her story with positive remarks.

To see a video of her performance at the German X Factor competition, click on one of the pictures below.

Taken from: Vox Channel. http://www.vox.de/medien/sendungen/x-factor/news/25f78-12cb67-67d4-25/x-factor-2012-kandidatin-arbesa-sinanaj-bringt-sandra-nasic-komplett-aus-der-fassung.html

Kosovar Singer: Rita Ora scores third Official Number 1 single in the UK Charts

By Dan Lane, Official Charts Company

Rita Ora has scored her third Official Number 1 single today (Sunday, August 19) with new track How We Do (Party)debuting at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart.

The 21-year-old singer – who was signed by Jay-Z to his Roc Nation record label – is undoubtedly the breakthrough artist of the year. After making her chart debut back in February guesting on DJ Fresh’s single Hot Right NowRitareturned to Number 1 in May with her own track – R.I.P. FT Tinie Tempah – and today she’s done it all over again withHow We Do (Party). All three tracks have broken the 100,000 sales barrier during their first week on sale.

“I can’t believe I’m the first artist this year to have three Number 1 singles in a row!” Rita told OfficialCharts.com. “It’s really inspiring, I really appreciate all the support I’ve been getting from my fans and the media. This is already the best year ever!”

Rita’s debut album, ORA, will be released on August 27.

Listen to How we do (Party!)

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Source: Dan Lane (2012). “Rita Ora scores third Official Number 1 single.” The Official Charts Company. August 19, 2012.
http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/rita-ora-scores-third-official-number-1-single-1537/

Article: Berisha Sweeps Roar Awards

Albanian import Berisha has had a night to remember as he sweeped all major A-League awards at Brisbane Roar’s official end-of-season presentation dinner on Saturday evening.

The striker already knew of his Golden Boot award following his 21-goal haul throughout the season but also won the Players’ Player of the Year and Members’ Player of the Year awards before claiming the coveted Gary Wilkins Medal for Player of the Year.Massimo Murdocca was also honoured on the night after he broke the record for most appearances for the club during the 2011/12 season – the foundation player is now up to 139 Hyundai A-League appearances in a Brisbane Roar jersey.In the Westfield W-League awards, inspirational midfielder Tameka Butt was named Player of the Year while Aivi Luik won the Players’ Player of the Year award in a season where the team fell just short of Grand Final glory after losing the decider 4-2 to Canberra United.With both players having secured overseas contracts for the Australian off-season with Boston Breakers in the United States and Denmark’s Brondby respectively, their awards were accepted on their behalf by their coach Jeff Hopkins and captain Clare Polkinghorne.Kenneth Dougall claimed the club’s National Youth League Player of the Year after consistently strong performances throughout the season under Head Coach John Sime.In the off-field awards, community coach Lorna Dent was named Brisbane Roar’s Club Person of the Year award while event manager Bruce Stalder received an honourable mention after notching up more than 100 home games at his time with the club.WINNERS
Hyundai A-League Players’ Player of the Year – Besart Berisha
Hyundai A-League Members’ Player of the Year – Besart Berisha
Golden Boot winner – Besart Berisha
Gary Wilkins Player of the Year – Besart Berisha
Westfield W-League Player of the Year – Tameka Butt
Westfield W-League Players’ Player of the Year – Aivi Luik
National Youth League Player of the Year – Kenneth Dougall
Club Person of the Year – Lorna Dent
Berisha Sweeps Roar Awards”
Written by Staff WriterMay 6 2012 11:36
Further recommended readings
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/The-impact-of-Besart-Berisha/45444?movideo_m=163073
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/The-impact-of-Besart-Berisha/45444?movideo_m=162950

Kosovar Singer: Women Who Rock, The Rolling Stone Magazine

This Rolling Stone Magazine Article features the profile of Rita Ora in the Women Who Rock contest. She is a finalist along with Karmin. Readers can view Rita’s profile and vote for her online at: http://www.rollingstone.com/womenwhorock/artist/rita-ora

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Taken from Rolling Stone Magazine:


Rita Ora: Women Who Rock finalist by Rolling Stone Magazine

WHO Born in Kosovo and raised in West London, the pop starlet has a powerful mentor in Jay-Z. “I was really, really nervous to meet Jay,” says Ora, 21, who signed with the rap giant’s Roc Nation label in 2009. “But at the same time I was so excited.”

SOUND Her Rihanna-ish summer blast “How We Do (Party)” samples the Notorious B.I.G., and her U.K. charttopper “R.I.P.” was written for her by Drake. “I really connected to the song,” she says. “It made me feel hot!”

ROCK OUT Growing up, Ora idolized Janis Joplin. “Janis didn’t really care about how she looked onstage,” she says. “People really loved her for what she was like. I loved anyone who was confident in their skin.”

Source: “The Rolling Stone Magazine”: http://www.rollingstone.com/womenwhorock

Study about Kosovars in Switzerland: Swiss Federal Office for Migration

“This study published by the Swiss Federal Office for Migration in 2010, gives an overview about the life of Kosovars in Switzerland.

The study summarizes the role of Kosovar-Swiss cultural, social and political networks in Switzerland and the development of integration of Kosovars in the country.

Download the study here: http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/data/migration/publikationen/diasporastudie-kosovo-d.pdf “

Kosovar in Germany: Ardian Bujupi releases his debut single “This is My Time” (Article in German)

Am 11. November 2011 erscheint die Debütsingle „This Is My Time“ von Ardian Bujupi. DasMusikvideo ist bereits im Kasten und wurde auch schon auf VIVA ausgestrahlt!

Ardian Bujupi wurde bekannt durch die 8. Staffel der RTL-Castingshow „Deutschland sucht den Superstar, DSDS“, wo er Dritter und in die Schublade des Testosteron-sprühenden Machos gesteckt wurde.

Der Künstler wurde 1991 im Kosovo geboren und flüchtete mit einem Jahr mit der Familie aufgrund des Balkankriegs nach Heidelberg, Deutschland. Schon in jungen Jahren entdeckte Ardian Bujupi seine Liebe zur Musik, lernte mit zehn Jahren Schlagzeug und Gitarre, sang als Teenager im Heidelberger Schulchor und hatte mehrere Live-Auftritte mit selbstproduzierten Songs im Raum Heidelberg.

„This Is My Time“ ist eine kräftige Uptempo-Nummer, wo man den Balkanursprung des Sängers spürt. Mit Textstellen wie „I feel strong enough“ erlebt man das neue Lebensgefühl, das der Künstler nach seinen Erfahrungen bei DSDS gewonnen hat. Mutig voranschreitend mit neuer Energie und frischem Sound stellt sich Ardian Bujupi der Herausforderung des Musikgeschäfts und ist sich sicher: „I can win this fight!“ Er ist sich so sicher, dass noch in diesem Jahr ein Album folgen soll.

Über seine Debütsingle meint der 20jährige: „Mit der Entscheidung ‚This Is My Time‘ als erste Single des kommenden Albums zu veröffentlichen, folge ich meinem Herzen. Der Song spiegelt meine aktuellen Gefühle ziemlich klar wider. In den letzten Monaten gab es viele Entscheidungen zu treffen, doch nun geht es endlich wieder um das, was ich so sehr liebe. Um die Musik. Ich weiß, meine Fans sind bereit.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhkpLpdkUYM]

Unterstützung finden der Sänger vom auf Hip Hop spezialisierten Mannheimer Indie-LabelFirstLoveMusic. Dieses Label ist der famefabrik Medienagentur angeschlossen, bei deren Referenzen beispielsweise Sony Music, Universal Music und Naidoo Records aufgeführt sind. „This Is My Time“ wurde vom Mannheimer Produzenten und Komponisten Rocko produziert.

Gleichzeitig mit Bujupis „This Is My Time“ wird auch die neue Single „Goin‘ to L.A.“ von Pietro Lombardi veröffentlicht – Musik-Schlagzeile berichtete. Nach Aussagen aus dem Kreis um Ardian Bujupi ist das kein Zufall. Allerdings soll hier keine Rivalität zwischen den beiden DSDS-Teilnehmern fortgeführt werden, sondern unterstrichen werden, dass die beiden, die bei DSDS Freunde wurden, eine weitere Gemeinsamkeit haben.

Recherche und geschrieben Heidi Grün

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Source: Heidi Grün (2011). “Ardian Bujupi Releases his Time Has Come [translated into English].” Musik-Schlagzeile.de. October 30, 2011. http://www.musik-schlagzeile.de/4425-ardian-bujupi-sieht-seine-zeit-gekommen.html

Mark Gjonaj Runs for the New York State Legislature

Taken from the Mark Gjonaj for State Assembly Official Website.

WHO IS MARK GJONAJ?

Mark Gjonaj was born in the Bronx and has lived here his whole life.  As the son of two immigrant union workers, Mark understands the dreams and hopes of working people, both natives and non-natives of this great country.

A successful Bronx businessman, Mark’s livelihood is dependent on a thriving Bronx community and economy.  Husband to a school nurse and dad to two students in Bronx public schools, Mark is intimately engaged in the issue that matters most to Bronx parents: quality, safe education for our children.

Mark serves as an unpaid, appointed member of the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission.  He is dedicated to public service and is a natural leader, committed to improving the lives of all Bronx residents.

WHERE DOES MARK STAND ON THE ISSUES?

The economy
“The Bronx has been devastated by the poor economy and suffers a 14% unemployment rate. Government must create an environment for small businesses to grow, while ensuring a fair living wage for workers. I will work with the public and private sectors to get our local economy back on track.”

Education
“The Bronx has the fastest growing number of public school students of any borough in New York City.  Our schools need more resources to handle the increasing numbers.  I will fight to make sure that our children’s needs come first!”

Safety
“Crime is caused by lack of opportunity.  We can lower crime rates by raising opportunity and education levels in the community.  I will work closely with local law enforcement to ensure they have every resource needed to keep our communities safe.”

Health
“Medicare and Medicaid funding must be protected. I will ensure that our community healthcare centers remain accessible and affordable to all.”

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[twitter-follow screen_name=’kosovodiaspora’ show_screen_name=’no’]

Kosovar Youth: Melinda Ademi (Singer, American Idol Contestant)

Melinda Ademi, a U.S. national born in Kosovo, came into the news as a contestant at the American Idol Season 10. In several of her interviews she talked about Kosovo, how her family won a Green card and why they left Kosovo during the war.

In her auditioning interview she stated: “My farther decided to try the Green card lottery so we can have a better life. If I was back in Kosovo I would not have the opportunity to sing.” On January 19, 2011, News Day reported: “Victoria Huggins steals our heart, Melinda Ademi our soul on American Idol.”

Her story also got reported on the website of the international music channel MTV, who wrote:

“Yonkers, New York, native Melinda Ademi, a 16-year-old daughter of Albanian immigrant refugees from war-torn Kosovo, had the kind of dramatic story arc custom-made for “Idol.” But she also happened to have some serious pipes too. Her “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys won her a golden ticket, inspiring Tyler to quip, “You won the lottery twice.“”

Her three minute story on American idol was viewed by more than 26 million viewers in the U.S.

Read about more about Melinda Ademi:

Diaspora: A stranger abroad, a visitor in Kosovo?

“A stranger in the Diaspora, visitor here”: Report on Kosovo’s diaspora in M-magazine edition

July 24, 2012

http://www.m-magazine.org/en/Society/A-stranger-in-the-diaspora-visitor-here-2834

The city of Mitrovica reanimates during the summer by compatriots who come for vacation at home, while in the rest of the year is as “dead city”. Besides family members, merchants and shop owners are the ones who are most glad for their arrival here, coming by car from Switzerland, Germany, Austria and other countries.

“We find it difficult, because we have invested big money in luxury houses, children do not want to return to Kosovo, while as years go by we rarely come”, Ibrahim Shatrolli, 48, from Mitrovica, living in Helsinborg of Sweden with his wife and five children, begins his story.

He evokes memories of the difficult life of 30 years ago, which forced him to go to various European countries for a better life, whereas since 1992 he lives with his family in Sweden. According to him, life in Sweden is good and he is satisfied with the income as a driver of the company DHL TNT, which deals with transportation of various goods from Sweden in various European countries.

“Everyone here just see beautiful houses and cars, not considering how hard we work “We come here to relax, rest, spend … but I repeat, we work hard, adding he could not return to Kosovo, if his kids do not want to remain there. Sometimes we get tired, because we are stranger there, visitor here”, Shatrolli said among other things.

While talking on expensive leather set of furniture, where all rooms are well regulated, with dominant colors of red and Byzantine style, spouse Sabrije Shatrolli, says this is not a unique and unusual luxury, but something very normal. She speaks well about life in Sweden, but criticizes divorces that occur there.

”Women are special story. In most cases they have gone uneducated and brought up in patriarchal families, while there the economic independence has given them wings, so this is a reason why there are many divorces. None of them wants to return”, Mrs Shatrolli told M-Magazine.

Regarding the return to Kosovo, she seemed to be skeptical. “What usually happens in the end is that when we reach the long-awaited retirement, then grandchildren come to life, and we can not imagine our lives without them, so the issue of the return to Kosovo remains a reserved issue,” Sabrije Shatrolli said.

Albina, the third child of the couple Shatrolli, has finished primary school and is now enrolled in medical school because she wants to become a successful doctor. Besides Albanian that she speaks fluently, she also can speak Swedish, English and Spanish..

“I love Kosovo a lot because it is my father’s birthplace, but I would rather live in Sweden,” Albina said with low voice, not wanting her parents to hear this.

Other Mitrovica families that are staying these days on vacation in their homeland unfortunately expressed almost similar opinion, adding among other things that Kosovo people have created a wrong opinion about those working in Western European countries, seeing only their own interests.

“To go abroad one must have money to pay and to help anywhere, whether or not you have real opportunities. Certainly one must contribute more to the institution or political party to which he/she belongs. One has to give more money for sewerage, roads, mosque, school, teacher, doctor. So, whenever it is required to contribute, our diaspora man is in the first place,” Lirije Azemi, who has been working with her family for more than 20 years in Germany, said.

Perhaps, she added, this is the only “privilege” that was offered to diaspora people during summer vacation. This is a sad side to look at iaspora people in Kosovo through the prism of individual interest. She stressed that in most cases they are “called” to pay everywhere, in restaurants, parties, weddings, circumcision and other family ceremonies.

”It is not the problem that people here can not afford a cup of coffee in sign of the respect toward us, and certainly they do not lack the will or desire to do so, but it is a wrong opinion that has become a tradition that those, who come from abroad, have money and must pay every time and everything, “she said, adding that she has got tired from traveling, saying she feels as guest here, and a foreigner in Germany.