Mergita Hoti: A Woman in Action
This is the story of Mergita Hoti, a young member of the Kosovo Egyptian community from Gjakova/Ðakovica. The story is part of a series of OSCE Mission in Kosovo articles on the struggles and achievements of successful individuals belonging to the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in Kosovo. The OSCE Mission works with all communities in Kosovo to protect, promote and advance their rights.
Mergita Hoti, a 22 year-old from Gjakova/Ðakovica, welcomed us into the colourful offices of the non-governmental organisation Roma in Action.
“In 2017, a group of friends from the Kosovo Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities and I decided to establish our own organization,” says Mergita.
“We volunteered together for years with Bethany Christian Services and experienced first-hand the needs of children from the communities. We wanted to take it a step further and that is how it all began,” explains Mergita.
The NGO is active in the municipality, organizing a variety of activities from education to sport and youth empowerment. The ultimate goal of the NGO is to raise awareness among the three communities and promote the Romani language.
Becoming a teacher
“Despite its name, our NGO doesn’t target Roma exclusively but also the other communities,” says Mergita, being Kosovo Egyptian herself.
She understands that all three communities share common issues, especially when it comes to education.
Kosovo Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians children in Gjakovë/Ðakovica municipality, a town with the biggest number of learning centres, are given school equipment and offered help with their homework.
“The importance of the learning centres is diverse. They increase inclusion in education, contributing to the prevention of dropouts and to children’s positive performance,” explains Mergita. “At the same time, they allow motivated community members to become volunteers. Thanks to my experience as a volunteer and tutor I discovered my passion for teaching. That is what made me enrol at the Fehmi Agani University. I will soon become an elementary school teacher,” she says proudly.
Women activism
When we start discussing gender inclusivity, Margita has a lot to say.
Women’s involvement has been the hardest challenge for me. I am always trying to involve women in project activities
In the beginning, it was just Mergita and a couple of other activists who worked with Roma in Action. “The real reason behind women’s reluctance to engage was usually because their parents would not allow them,” says Mergita.
Over the years, with a ripple effect initiated by the activists, more and more young women from these communities decided to get involved.
“We used to have only a few women volunteers. Today, we might need more men for gender balance,” says Mergita, laughing.
Real life impact
Mergita illustrated her role and impact in the community when she shared this thought with us.
“There was a young woman whose parents had arranged a marriage for her and asked her to drop out of school. She came to confide in me. I helped provide space for an open and friendly talk. After some discussion, the parents agreed to respect the wish of their daughter and she returned to school and graduated. I was so glad I helped,” she says.
“Communities have to be more active, more engaged, and more focused on education, would be my key message, if I had to pick one,” she says.
Do not be ashamed of your culture or who you are. You can be successful only if you accept yourself.