By: Albina Makolli    October 7, 2012

The fact that former German president invited Kadri Bekteshi to Schloss Bellevue in January 2010 gives him a very positive feedback and encouragement to continue with his voluntary work. Kadri remembers this event: “I gave him a little glass-statue of Mother Theresa. And the President asked me why I did that. I answered, because we are of the same origin”. I was a bit puzzled so I asked Kadri to elaborate more on the same-origin issue. “Well, it has always been very important to me to dedicate everything I do to my people. It’s about improving the image and reputation of us Albanians and Kosovo. There are too many bad news about us out there and too few good news.

Kadri Bekteshi born in 1964 is a German citizen of Kosovar origin. He studied tourism and economics in Sarajevo (Bosnia) and in 1992, like many other Kosovars, Kadri had to leave Kosovo due to political reasons. Today, he lives in Bielefeld together with his wife and two kids. Besides working at the municipality of Bielefeld, Kadri voluntarily runs the project “Migrant-Integration and Violence-Prevention through Sports”.

“In 1999, I was called to become a season controller for amateur soccer at the Westfalen association”, Kadri continues to explain that the task of a so-called season controller is to give game reports and evaluate the course of the soccer game. Kadri continues to explain that through his positive attitude, he won the attention of former chairman Horst-Dieter Knüppel. Bekteshi remembers: “I worked on this job from 1999 to 2003. In the same year (2003) I completed a mediation training. For a short time I did not do much after I completed the training but then I thought why not present my idea to one of Bielefeld’s schools?”.

Kadri gives part of the credit to Mr Knüppel, for it was he who helped Kadri with the idea and encouraged him to go and present his project. Therefore, Kadri decided to go to the so-called “Hauptschule” in Bielefeld because this is the High-school type with the largest numbers of students with an immigration background. “It took me until 2006 until I was granted to spend two hours a week with students of the Bordhagen Hish-school. Up until this day I run the project ‘Migrant-Integration and violence-prevention through Sports’ at this school”.

The Project:
Once a week Kadri Bekteshi meets with the kids of Brodhagen High-school in Bielefeld to play soccer. The kids know that it is not only about playing soccer, but about learning to work together in groups. Kadri Bekteshi referees the games and teaches the kids to control their temper and to peacefully discuss their disagreements. Working in teams and sticking together is not always easy for the kids in Bordhagen High-school. The schools hosts students of about 35 different nationalities.

Kadri Bekteshi decided to focus on students with an immigration background because he finds that there is an increasing tendency of conflict among kids who are not of the same origin. The students’ different background may not be the reason for conflict but rather a lack of communication among those kids. That is why, during the games, Kadri invites the students to have discussions with each other and share their thoughts and feelings, which proved to be an effective way to strengthen the kids’ social competences.

The students feel comfortable with Kadri Bekteshi because they see him as one of  them. The principal of Bordhaben High-school confirms that the kids at his school argue less since Kadri started his project. Kadri himself found it easier to integrate into the German society by playing soccer for the TuS Jöllenbeck association. Therefore, he felt encouraged to share his positive experience with sports and integration with others, especially with young immigrants.

The fact that former German president invited Kadri Bekteshi to Schloss Bellevue in January 2010 gives him a very positive feedback and encouragement to continue with his voluntary work. Kadri remembers this event: “I gave him a little glass-statues of Mother Theresa. And the President asked me why I did that. I answered, because we are of the same origin”. I was a bit puzzled so I asked Kadri to elaborate more on the same-origin issue. “Well, it has always been very important to me to dedicate everything I do to my people. It’s about improving the image and reputation of us Albanians and Kosovo. There are too many bad news about us out there and too few good news. My project is not a personal enrichment but, but a dedication to my people”. With these words, Kadri Bekteshi closed the interview.

***
Source:
Albina Makolli. Interview with Kadri Bekteshi (2012). 6 Oktober in Bielefeld.

Radio Bielefeld. Projekt “Integration durch Sport”, http://www.radiobielefeld.de/aktionen/der-bielefeld-preis-2012/vergangene-bielefeld-preise/der-bielefeld-preis-2010/projekt-integration-durch-sport.html

Zieger, Volker (2009/2010). Lokales Bielefeld. “Vorbildlicher Streitschlichter”. Westfalen Blatt

Albina Makolli

Albina Makolli is a blog contributor. She fled Kosovo when she was four; she grew up in Germany. Albina received her under graduate degree in European studies, and then continued with a graduate program in Public Policy and Human Development at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance. Within the framework of her graduate program she specialized in Migration studies. Last summer (2012), Albina visited Kosovo for the purpose of conducting research for her Master thesis. The data that she gathered helped her to learn more about young Kosovars’ emigration plans and concerns about their country’s economic development. This summer she returned to Kosovo to work for the IOM and UNDP joint project 'Diaspora Engagement in Economic Development'. The purpose of the study is to facilitate and incentivise Diaspora investments in Kosovo.

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