PLAY International Kosovo

  Staff Profile #36 Meet Zana, the new coordinator for PLAY International's project in Kosovo and the Western Balkans!   With over a decade of experience in national and international organizations, Zana is an accomplished psychologist with a master’s degree, making her an excellent fit for PLAY International’s team. She has been working  extensively with vulnerable children, youth, and diverse communities, starting with Students Helping Life Kosova and most recently as a Project Officer for USAID’s "Up to Youth" program. Zana’s notable achievements include designing mental well-being activities for the Peer Support Group, and empowering young people to become leaders in their communities. As a psychologist and mother of three, she fosters trust, respect, and empathy in all her work.   When asked about youth in Kosovo, Zana said , " I admire their resilience and determination to create a better future."   Why PLAY International? "I connect deeply with PLAY...

Staff  Profile #35 Meet Vesa. Born and raised in Prishtina, the vibrant capital of Kosovo, Vesa is nearing the culmination of her studies in Management, Business, and Economics with a specialization in Banking, Finance, and Insurance. Her academic journey reached an exciting milestone during her final year when she participated in the Erasmus+ program in Germany, an experience that significantly enhanced both her professional and personal growth. Alongside her studies, Vesa has gained valuable experience as a content writer and an accounting intern, which has further honed her skills and fueled her passion for the financial sector. Currently, she is expanding her horizons as a Project Assistant Intern at PLAY, which will allow her to explore different roles of pedagogical development and project coordination to further diversify her skill set. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality moments with family and friends, going out, reading, and experimenting with new recipes in the...

  Staff profile #34                 Today, we're excited to introduce you to Lorik Zhubi, our newest Programme Manager! Lorik comes from Kosovo’s northern town of Mitrovica, however he spent most of his life in the United States where he completed his bachelor studies in biology and history. After his studies, Lorik returned to Kosovo to work on child and maternal health in civil society. Thereafter, he completed his master studies in global health policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), during which he observed the theories he was learning in the classroom play out in real time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once he completed his studies, Lorik worked as a freelance policy advisor for both the public and private sectorin Kosovo before returning to the UK to work in policy communications for one of Europe’s leading dementia research charities.   Outside of work, Lorik is known amongst friends and family...

  Staff profile #33                                               Introducing our new Project Coordinator, Bleta! Born and raised in Prishtina, Kosovo. Bleta completed her bachelors degree in Speech and Language Pathology at “Kolegji Heimerer” in her hometown. During the last year of her studies, she undertook an internship in a private clinic, where after 6 months she became a full time Speech Therapist for the following  four years. During that time Bleta also started worked with a non-governmental organization in a public school project that had the goal to include more logopedic and psychological sessions in schools.      When she’s not working, she likes to cook, but she doesn’t like to take care of the clean up  after cooking. She also likes exploring new places to travel and reading during her free time.   When...

 Staff profile #32 Introducing our new Head of Mission: Vlorian, originating from the lively small town of Decan in Kosovo! Armed with a Master's Degree in Public Health Science and Health Economics from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, Vlorian's journey has been nothing short of an adventure. From working with sickness benefits at Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) in Gothenburg, contributing to the Swedish National Institute for Institutional Care (Statens Institutionsstyrelse), and serving as the Executive Director at Action for Mothers and Children in Kosovo for 5 years, Vlorian's professional journey has been rich with diverse experiences and impactful contributions. When he's not working, you can catch him immersing himself in cinematic worlds, orchestrating epic game nights with friends, or perfecting his table tennis skills! Despite being the fresh face at PLAY International in Kosovo, Vlorian feels right at home thanks to the warm welcom...

 Staff profile #31 Elira  Today, we're excited to introduce you to Elira Hashani, our newest Pedagogical Manager.🌟 Elira is a passionate and experienced education professional who plays a crucial role in our organization's mission to transform education in Kosovo. Originally from Prishtina, Elira's journey in education has taken her from the classrooms of London to auditing education processes in the public sector. Armed with an MA in Education Policy and a BSc in Public Policy, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the PLAY team. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a culinary enthusiast with a penchant for cooking. However, she admits that her passion for creating delicious dishes is best enjoyed when someone else takes care of the cleanup! Elira's current role at PLAY has brought her immense joy, primarily due to the hands-on approach the organization takes in fostering positive change among children, youth, and teachers in Kosovo. She...