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Supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

www.she-era.org

NEWSLETTERVolume 1, Issue 1 / June / 2012

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

SHE-ERA will complete its first wave of training

on June 30 in the course How to start your

business

SHE-ERA met with President of Kosovo

Workshop held for developing the strategic plan of

SHE-ERA 2012-2016

SHE-ERA held its first Steering Committee meeting

Meetings held with expert Julie R.Weeks and women

entrepreneurs in Kosovo

Business woman Dhurata Bardoniqi was honoured

in Women Weekby the Women Caucus Group

SHE-ERA member Ilire Rizvanolli participated intheHope Fellowship programmein Washington, DC

New SHE-ERA website www.she-era.org

launched

IN THIS ISSUE

...when women start their own business they often

face difficulties to build their business...

...Womens Business Association SHE- ERAintheir training and mentoring of rural women will

support to improve their business skills and

subsequently link them to various technical and

financial services...

...President Jahjaga expressed her readiness tosupport the integration and empowerment of

Kosovoan women in all areas of life: cultural,

economic, political and social....

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT:

SUPPORTTOWOMENENTREPRENEURSINAGRICULTURE

2012-2015

Support to Women Entrepreneurs in Agricultureis a project implemented by the

Womens Business Association SHE-ERA, supported by the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

The project objectives are: To contribute to reaching the objectives of the National

Strategies for Agricultural and Rural Development (the ARDP) and the Kosovo Gender

Equality Programme & National Action Plan for Gender Equality.

The project is focused in four regions: Gjakova, Gjilan, Mitrovica and Peja. These regions are

the principle farming and agricultural production areas in Kosovo and thus have the

best potential for growth and development.

SHE-ERA aims to achieve planned objectives and outcomes through the following

targeted action directed at potential women entrepreneurs across the four regions: Business skills training of 1440 women; Supporting the development of business plans and providing follow-up; Business counselling, mentoring and linking beneficiaries to technical services and finance

; Advocacy and networking.

SHE-ERA, through continuous training and mentoring, will help rural women to build

assertiveness skills to feel confident in their decision-making role in a traditionally male-

dominated society. This project builds business skills, links rural women entrepreneurs to

various technical and financial services, and supports the development of sustainable

businesses.

MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF KOSOVO ATIFETE JAHJAGA

Chairwoman Vula (left),

President Jahjaga (center), Chairwoman

Vula (left), Executive Director Kusari-

Purrini (right)

In April, a meeting with SHE-ERA and President Jahjaga was held in the Residence of thePresident. In attendance were President Jahjaga, SHE-ERA Executive Director Mirlinda

Kusari-Purrini and Chairwoman of the SHE-ERA Board Xheraldina Vula.

The organizations activities and current projects were discussed with the President as they

relate to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs, which include: Support to Women

Entrepreneurs in Agriculture 2012-2015, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of

Denmark; and the organization of the first International Conference on Women

Entrepreneurs in Kosovo, which brought together 170 participants in Prishtina in October

2010. This two-day conference involved the local business community, state agencies,

financial institutions, national and international organizations, successful women in

business and representatives from womens business associations from 13 other countries.

Chairwoman Vula and Executive Director Kusari-Purrini requested support from PresidentJahjaga for the second International Conference for Women Entrepreneurs in Kosovo

which will be organized under the patronage of the President of Kosovo. President Jahjaga

expressed her readiness to support integration and empowerment of Kosovoan women in

all areas of life: cultural, economic, political and social.


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www.she-era.org


SHE-ERASTRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP

The SHE-ERA Strategic Planning workshop to develop the organizations strategic plan was held in Gjakova on March 2-4, 2012. Itwas attended by SHE-ERAs staff, board members, external experts, and representatives of national NGOs working with agriculture.

SHE-ERA Strategic Planning workshop is a component of the project To Support WomenEntrepreneurs in Agricultureand aims to build the capacity of SHE-ERA staff and developa midterm Strategic Plan for SHE-ERA for the period 2012-2016. Development of the SHE-

ERA Strategic Plan 2012-2016 was guided by a set of principles that aim to produce amidterm strategic plan in a participatory manner, in close consultation with key stakeholders,in a fast developing environment. Strategic Plan 2012-2016 is built on, and contributes to,the implementation of the Agriculture Rural Development Plan and the Kosovo GenderEquality Program & National Action Plan for Gender Equality. Outcomes of the SHE-ERAStrategic Plan are grouped in three focus areas:

Women in decision making Women entrepreneurship in economy and agriculture Sustainability of SHE-ERA

This approach allows for the integration of on-going projects and activities into the organizationscomprehensive strategic plan; itwill develop the organizations capacity and sustainability.

THE MEETING OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE

After the inception phase of the project Support to Women Entrepreneurs inAgriculture, in March 2012, the Womens BusinessAssociation SHE-ERA held its firstSteering Committee Meeting. The members of the Steering Committee include: arepresentative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Mikael Erbs); arepresentative from MAFRD the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and RuralDevelopment (Nysrete Doda); a representative of the Kosovo Economic Chamber (SafetGerxhaliu); and representatives from national NGOs Drita e Krushes (Ola Syla) andCB Mitrovica (Aferdita Syla). During this meeting SHE-ERA Executive DirectorKusari-Purrini introduced project objectives, outcomes, targets, activities and all relevantdocuments to the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee agreed that the inception

phase of the project Support to Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculturehas gone well andthey expressed their readiness to contribute to and support the project. Ola Syla was

elected Chairperson of the Steering Committee.

EXPERT JULIE R.WEEKS MEETS KOSOVOAN BUSINESS WOMENThis meeting was supported by the United States Embassy in Prishtina.

Julie Weeks is the President and CEO of Womenable, a for profit social enterprise that

works to enable womens entrepreneurship worldwide by improving the systems (laws,

policies, programs and research-based knowledge) that support womens enterprise creation

and growth. Weeks has over 30 years experiencein the fields of research design and

analysis, public policy, and women's enterprise development. In the meetings, Kosovoan

women entrepreneurs had the opportunity to learn in a comparative perspective about

women entrepreneurs in the US. They also learned that women in developed countries also

face challenges during the development of their business. Weeks said that the development

of women entrepreneurs in the world has grown more than ever before; women now aremuch more assertive and more and more are becoming business owners. Weeks compared

her organization, Womenable to SHE-ERA, recognizing the value they bring to women,

local communities, and even nations.

Dr. Lulzim ela (left) and

Prof. Justina Pula Shiroka, PhD (right)


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DHURATA BARDONIQI ASTRONG ENTREPRENEUR

During Women Week, Dhurata Bardoniqi was honored for her contribution to womensentrepenurship. She is the co-owner of the reconstruction company ARKINGin Gjakova. She wasone of the first members of the Womens Business Association SHE-ERA when it was establishedin 1999.

Topics under discussing during Women Week included: Women in Leadership, Women in the

Economy, Women in Politics and Civil Society, and Women in Media. More than 100 participantswere awarded with a certificate and special guests present were honored by the Chair of the WomenCaucus Group Teuta Sahatqija, the Director of NDI Laura Nichols and USAID RepresentativeAlbana Kusari.

The week was organized by Women Caucus Group and supported by USAID and INDI.

ILIRE RIZVANOLLI -HOPE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME IN WASHINGTON

SHE-ERA member and successful businesswoman Ilire Rizvanolli recently returned from Washington DC where she participated in theHope Fellowship program (funded by USAID and managed by the National Albanian American CouncilNAAC). Co-owner of theKomitetiRestaurant in Prishtina, Rizvanolli studied professional and personal leadership development as part of the energy andeconomy group in the program.

During the program, the fellows participated in various training events in the capital beforetraveling to DC to continue the programme. The 6 weeks of the programme offered uniqueopportunities with influential and inspirational individuals at institutions which includedWorld Bank, IMF, American Chamber of Commerce, State Department, HeritageFoundation, PLPG, NDI, and CIPE.

For three weeks of the stay in DC, fellows are paired with organizations and institutions thatwill help them to develop projects as part of their professional development. Rizvanolli was

partnered with DC Central Kitchen a well-known non-profit organization that prepares5,000 meals a day for the homeless in DC and offers culinary courses to the unemployed.The experience provided Rizvanolli with support and experience for developing her projectBuilding careers for Kosovar women in the culinary sector.

SHE-ERABEGINS BUSINESS TRAINING IN GJAKOVA AND GJILAN

The first wave of beneficiaries participating in SHE-ERAs project Support toWomen Entrepreneurs in Agriculture are currently in SHE-ERAs courseHow tostart a successful business. After four weeks of intensive training, 24 womenentrepreneurs from Gjakova and 25 women entrepreneurs from Gjilan will becertified by SHE-ERA at the end of the month. This course is being held in Cermjanand Doberqan.

The participants are eager to raise their management capability and learn the basicsof business to successfully develop and grow their business ideas. Women inagriculture who have basic skills in reading, writing, calculation recognition and aconcrete business idea in the field of agriculture are sought. Women and young

women of rural areas are strongly encouraged to apply to participate in futurebusiness training opportunities offered by SHE-ERA by contacting the organizationby email or phone.


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IMPROVED SHE-ERAWEBSITE

SHE-ERA has improved its web page to turn it into an effective tool for interaction between SHE-ERA members and businesswomenabroad as well as partners. www.she-era.org enables SHE-ERA members to partner with local and international NGOs, developmentagencies, public and private institutions and business communities in Kosovo and abroad. Included in the website is the SHE-ERAmember database which helps members to realize their efforts through collaboration with international and local programs and agenciesfocused on womens economic empowerment.

SHE-ERA members with no internet access can contact the SHE-ERA office where information can be faxed or mailed upon request.

THE SHE-ERATEAM

SHE-ERAMEMBERS OF STAFF

Mirlinda Kusari-Purrini - Executive Director

Ardiana Qela - Project Manager

Ymrane Nura - Administrate/Finance

Zana Rizvanolli - Training Coordinator

Edita Axhemi - Training Assistant Vjollca Salihu - Trainer (Gjilan region)

Linda Kosumi - Training Assistant (Gjilan region)

Bujar Haxhibeqiri - Driver & Logistic

SHE-ERABOARD MEMBERS

Xheraldina Vula - Board Chairwoman

Justina Shiroka Pula

Lulzim ela

Luljeta Vuniqi

Burbuqe Berisha

HONORARY MEMBER

Naxhije Buqinca

SENIOR ADVISOR FOR ECONOMIC AND GENDER ISSUES

Glynis Long

Jocelyne Talbot

NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION

Elizabeth Zherka- Designer & Editor

Twins Publishing, Prishtine

Womens Business Association SHE-ERASt. Ismail Qemajli no.9

(arshija e Jupave)

Phone: +381 (0) 390 323 194Fax: +381 (0) 390 323 194Email: [email protected]

www.she-era.org
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

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Vellimi 2- anglisht