How one young woman’s resilience is lighting the path to a more secure, inclusive future

"The wish and strong will to 'become somebody' can really make you achieve the impossible," says Malborë Qerimi, a 27-year-old woman from Gadime/Gadimlje, Kosovo, who recently took part in a prestigious apprenticeship through an OSCE-supported programme. "This apprenticeship means everything to me."

Malborë is one of 15 young women and men selected to take part in the fifth edition of the Apprenticeship Programme run by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo in collaboration with municipalities and civil society organizations. The five-month programme helps young people get the hands-on skills and experience they need to make an impact in public and political affairs.

Malborë's journey to the programme stands out: it's a story of unexpected life turns and a drive to overcome and excel. But it's also a story that shows why it matters to empower young, motivated people from all backgrounds. Their potential to bring positive but also diverse change, no matter how big or how small, is a crucial part of how we dismantle inequalities and build fair, inclusive societies. And that's how we move down the path toward a more secure future for us all.

A story of perseverance and potential

Malborë had long since dreamed of growing up, becoming independent, and doing a job that mattered, but that dream was nearly crushed 12 years ago.

At just 15 years old, Malborë was hit by a car. Losing nearly all of her mobility, she was not sure if she would ever walk again. While her treatments in Kosovo and abroad helped her regain some mobility, they soon became too expensive to continue.

"We just couldn't afford it anymore," Malborë says. "But I had to do something about it. I told myself, 'Let's try doing it like they do it in the movies!'"

So Malborë started to drag herself around on a chair. Every day she grew a little stronger until, one day, she was on her feet. "I asked my father to hold me under the arm as I slowly started taking small steps. Eventually, I started using crutches because I wanted to be more self-sufficient again."

Feeling a renewed sense of independence, Malborë turned her attention back to her future. The accident had delayed her education, but she knew she still wanted to pursue a career.

Going back to high school, she soon graduated and went to university. Now, Malborë wants to start a Master's degree in public administration, bringing with her the unique insights into government work that she has gathered during her apprenticeship.

Malborë's job as an apprentice has been to co-ordinate resident requests between departments in the general administration section at the Lipjan/Lipljan municipality. For five months, she has worked diligently to manage these requests. And her dedication has paid off: the mayor recognized her performance and granted her a six-month extension after the official programme ended so she could continue as an apprentice with the municipality.

"Working in municipal administration is exactly what I want to continue doing in the future once I finish my Master's programme," says Malborë. "This apprenticeship has been an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience. It's also been great to be able to see in practice what I've learned in university."

Empowering all future leaders

Malborë and the 200 other participants who have taken part in the OSCE programme since 2015 are evidence of what young people are capable of when given the chance. That's what the programme is trying to cultivate, and why the Lipjan/Lipljan municipality got involved.

"We want to bring young people closer to all aspects of public and political life," says Diamant Bytyqi, Deputy Mayor of Lipjan/Lipljan. "This programme gives them real-life experience and skills in public policy and decision-making processes. Not only does this jumpstart their careers, it also helps them to make more valuable contributions to their communities. And with its focus on inclusivity, the programme is helping to break down systemic barriers."

Diamant explains how people with certain backgrounds and abilities, such as being disabled or from a minority group, can often face significant obstacles in accessing services and programmes in Kosovo. This can be further compounded by other factors, like being young. While progress is being made on inclusivity in many ways, there is still a long way to go, both in Kosovo and across the world.

"If we want our societies to be as fair, prosperous and secure as possible, we need to empower all parts of our communities and ensure our future leaders represent the diverse people they serve. This programme is helping to shape young leaders with their own unique strengths and stories like Malborë, and that's important to our municipality," Diamant says.

Holistic response to inequality

But unraveling the pervasive complexities of inequality and making a lasting change takes more than one programme. That's why broader steps are being taken by the Lipjan/Lipljan municipality to holistically tackle inequalities faced by persons with disabilities.

The 2024-2027 Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its supporting action plan were created by the Lipjan/Lipljan municipality with the help of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. They aim to create better access to healthcare, education, employment and social services, as well as to help people with disabilities become actively involved in municipal decision-making processes.

The action plan's concrete goals focus on making lasting structural and systemic changes. Some of these include setting up dedicated offices for disability rights organizations, improving accessibly on public transportation and increasing subsidies.

As the strategy and action plan progress, the Lipjan/Lipljan municipality and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo continue to monitor their impact. The results will help shape future policies and inform the next steps toward building a more inclusive and fair society for Malborë, for Kosovo and for the world.