Synonyms – Use of free time, passion and ROR from Fleta Mujaj

Fleta Mujaj is an activist for children’s rights and a volunteer of the ROR group. She is 18 years old, comes from Peja and studies at the University of Pristina, at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

For several years now, I have invested a large part of my time in voluntary work through groups of youth organizations, dealing with the issue of human rights protection, with a special focus on the protection of children’s rights.

“Working with ROR is part of my daily life and besides making me feel good, it also has a positive impact on society. I often say that the Sheet before and after ROR is not the same. Through the activities and goals realized by our group, I have continuously accumulated experiences and different skills that are now part of me.”

The motto of the Fleta in 2018 as part of the Commission for Monitoring School Textbooks of ROR.

I consider leading ROR as one of the most fulfilling experiences. Truly an honor and privilege, and at the same time a great responsibility. Especially during the last year when every activity was carried out under new conditions, during the pandemic. A time that tests our organizational and collaborative power, our flexibility at work and our persistence for success.

When the form of work changed radically, the realization of goals, events and activities often did not coincide with the intended success. This highlighted even more the creativity of the group for organizing new activities in virtual form, trying to create something interesting for the children of Kosovo. Although in unusual conditions, our members initiated and were invited to various local, central and international events.

A part of the video where Fleta presents her concern about online learning during the quarantine period (June, 2020).

Since we work in the interest of the children of Kosovo, initiating or participating in fruitful events is very important for us. Therefore, in every space we have, we reflect on the achievements and collect new concepts and ideas to enrich our work plan and ways of acting.

One of the activities of special importance for us as a group as well as for the country is the participation of ROR in the conference organized by the office of the United Nations Organization in Geneva, to mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The event started on November 18, 2019 and lasted a total of three days. During the whole time in different halls of the facility, discussion tables, workshops and various activities for the promotion and protection of children’s rights were held in parallel. The active participation of young people in decision-making, violence, work and mistreatment of persons under the age of 18, were some of the topics that were dealt with in more detail.

Fleta andi Fati in front of the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland (November, 2019).

Countries from all over the world, presented by officials and child activists in the field of protecting children’s rights, through various discussion panels, addressed their problems to the leaders of the respective countries. Leaders of these countries and various organizations with international influence, pledged to implement the convention and promised their focus on improving issues of concern to young people.

Participants of the conference marking the 30th anniversary of the CRC with messages in several languages regarding children’s rights (November, 2019).

On the first day of the conference, in the “The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room” room, a discussion panel was held on the topic “Active participation of children in decision-making processes”. Together with UN officials and young people from different countries of the world who lobby for the protection of children’s rights, I was also invited as a representative of the children of Kosovo. During this panel, among other things, the changes made in Kosovo during the last years were discussed, regarding the implementation of the CRC and the welfare of children in general.

During the event, I took the opportunity to meet young people from all over the world, most of whom share the same passion and often do the same work, in completely different circumstances. Because of the distance, we still meet virtually to mark special dates and address various initiatives. In addition to young activists, I met officials from various departments of the United Nations Office in Geneva, and representatives of major international organizations, with whom we talked extensively about youth issues and opportunities for cooperation between promoters of children’s rights. in all the world. This was also a form of reflection of the work we have done for several years now, as well as a space to accumulate ideas for approaches in areas in which we have not worked enough or that we need to start working on.

The Kosovo team together with the executive director of Save the Children International, Mrs. Inger Ashing.

Collaborations between activists and organizations participating in this event continue in various forms, constantly. To mark the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the CRC, due to security during the pandemic, Save the Children developed a webinar with participants from different countries of the world. We were also invited here as participants in the event held a year earlier. I gladly accepted the invitation to lead a part of this webinar, specifically the discussion between children from different countries of the world with the executive director of Save the Children International, Inger Ashing.

Fleta leading the children’s discussion with the director of Save the Children International, Mrs. Inger Ashing (November, 2020).

In this session, the activist children demanded an account from Save the Children for the realization of the commitments promised a year earlier, as well as expressing their concerns about various issues that concern the young people of their countries such as education, health, work in old age new, etc. Of course, such collaborations for marking dates with fruitful events are expected to happen in the years to come.

Participating in lobbying activities for human rights in general, and for children’s rights in particular, is always a good and necessary experience. A country like Kosovo, where young people represent the majority of the population, needs new ideas and approaches in different fields. Activation, not only in the field of protecting children’s rights, but in any movement that brings good to the community, is necessary in the process of self-building. While working with people who share the same passions and goals, in addition to socialism, one is also enriched professionally. Through the process of identifying a problem in society and finding a solution, a person learns, among other things, about himself and the skills he possesses.

“How we act, what arouses our interest and the way we approach the world around us, made us different and special. Therefore, investing time and energy in something that makes you feel good and at the same time helps others around you, is a feeling that each one of us should possess. Especially young people, who are still in the process of finding or building themselves.”