1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:04,160 I am Shpresa Agushi, Executive Director of the Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:07,480 Organizations of Kosova, Office in Prishtina. 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:13,400 I started my career in 1999, right after the last war in Kosovo. 4 00:00:13,980 --> 00:00:23,080 I was the first Roma woman interested to become an activist, or an official of an international organization, 5 00:00:23,620 --> 00:00:27,060 and work with Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in Kosovo. 6 00:00:27,340 --> 00:00:34,060 My goal, as a woman and an activist, has always been to engage more women and girls 7 00:00:34,060 --> 00:00:40,300 from these three communities as activists in order to contribute, first of all, for themselves, 8 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,480 and for women and girls of these communities and the entire community, 9 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,900 in order to enjoy equal rights and integration. 10 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,680 The organization has started as an informal group in December 2000. 11 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,980 Its formal registration took place in September 2008 12 00:00:57,180 --> 00:01:00,360 This year, in March, I won the second prize, 13 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:05,260 while in November 2007 I won the first prize in Switzerland 14 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,780 for my volunteer work for the Roma community in Kosovo. 15 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,160 The prize I received on March this year 16 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:16,440 is about the work I do for other Roma women as a Roma woman, 17 00:01:16,780 --> 00:01:19,180 named "The Unknown Heroine" 18 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,180 We pay great attention to young people, in addition to education, 19 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:28,640 we want them to integrate, to be part of the civil society, 20 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:34,760 to work and change their position, and to become part of our work for a better future. 21 00:01:35,220 --> 00:01:38,680 I was the first Roma woman who tried 22 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:45,540 to engage more Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian women and girls as activists who would, 23 00:01:45,540 --> 00:01:49,280 first of all, help themselves, the communities and the entire Kosovo society. 24 00:01:49,700 --> 00:01:51,440 What about you, what have you done for Kosovo?