It’s the day I felt powerful with my voice!

I am Puhiza Shemsedini, a 15-year-old girl from Kosovo. I am the president of the children’s group “Respect Our Rights” (ROR) founded in 2014 by the non-governmental organizations Save the Children and Syri i Vizioni. Our group is composed of children aged 15-18 years and our goal is to monitor and implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Kosovo, as well as to monitor local laws that protect and respect children’s rights. We are representatives of the voice and attitudes of the children of Kosovo at the local, central and international level.

From an early age I have had an interest in children’s rights; challenges, problems and discrimination have always worried me as a child. With a strong desire to make a difference, I first became part of the Municipal Children’s Assembly in my town, before joining the ROR group. Since then, I began to see children’s rights from a different perspective and the ROR group gave me the opportunity to raise my voice and fight for our rights before the relevant institutions! We have been quite vocal through awareness campaigns and advocacy for children’s rights, and we have met with decision makers and other people with social impact in Kosovo, to demand the realization of our rights.

One of the most beautiful experiences I had was meeting the President of Kosovo, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani, during June 1 – Children’s Day.

“ It’s the day I felt powerful with my voice!

We asked to hold a meeting to present our work, to talk about the difficulties that children in Kosovo have faced, such as education, environmental protection and the impact of the pandemic on children, as well as new opportunities for children in Kosovo.

I was very excited when the President’s assistant informed us that the meeting will be held at 10 o’clock in the President’s office. Together with 10 other members from ROR we met in front of the President’s Office. During this time, representatives from Save the Children and Syri i Vizioni were there to accompany us and give moral support. Save the Children and Syri i Vizioni always make sure that we as a group have enough budget, space, time, attention and support for capacity building and are always by our side offering us new opportunities!

“ I hope that one day, you will be here” said President Osmani and that day she sat in the other chair.

When we entered the Presidency, the President was waiting for us at the office door. She wished us Children’s Day and invited us to sit on the chairs. Without knowing it, I was sitting in the chair where she sits every time and laughing the President said to me “I hope that one day you will be here”. These words of hers filled me with inspiration!

I started the meeting by first introducing him to our group and then I highlighted three main points we wanted to discuss: education, clean environment and the safety of children in Kosovo! We also raised the issue of the low level of children’s participation in decision-making, which we consider to be a matter of great importance. President Osmani answered all our questions, told us about her work on children’s rights and said that she will increase her efforts in this field. She was very cooperative with us and told us “commit every day, don’t stop, I will be with you every time, especially when it is for the children”. This promise of hers motivated us even more!

For me, this meeting fills me with hope for a better future in my country! It is a hope that our voice will be heard, our schools, parks, neighborhoods and hospitals will be better. I have knocked on many doors of institutions, but I have often left disappointed. Only when we are asked our opinion about the decisions that affect us, the decisions will be right. No one else can know better than us what we face every day. The president made me feel that my voice has value and is being heard, and this is a very good step for a brighter future for the children of Kosovo!

“ I want all world leaders to make children their priority.

Now, we will invite the President to join our activities as often as she can. We will ask her to meet with representatives of other institutions and push the children’s demands forward.

I want all world leaders to make children their priority! When drafting laws, projects and allocating the budget, they should focus more on children and listen to our voice. I ask all leaders to ensure better health care, protection, quality education, work towards climate change and provide equal opportunities for all children regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or economic status.

My message to all children around the world is to raise your voice whenever your rights are violated. I encourage you to always seek equality and justice. I also ask you to respect all your friends and I want to remind you that I am here for you, you are not alone! Together, we can give more colors to the world and bring smiles to all the children of the world!