PDK youth in Ferizaj
The city of Ferizaj, like every other city in Kosovo, is characterized as overpopulated by citizens of the young age group. If anything characterizes this city, it is youth activism. While MuralFest is an organization where young men and women paint numerous murals throughout the city, making it one of the most popular cities in Europe for murals, and it brings together artists from all over the world during the summer to paint alongside them, ensuring that these aesthetically pleasing murals carry meaningful and highly significant messages, not all youth activists in this city are “as altruistic.”
There are dozens of other youth activists in this city who have never worked or engaged pro-bono voluntarily. This is not to suggest that there is anything wrong with it, but the funds these youth activists have received seem to have been obtained in an unethical manner. Kallxo.com research carried out by the journalist Shqipron Xhema, among other things, found that “771 thousand and 460 euros were allocated for grants for young people. 85% of these funds were allocated by the Ministry of Local Government Administration and 15% by the respective municipalities. From 771 thousand 460 euros, 152 thousand 337 euros were allocated for 16 grants in the Municipality of Ferizaj”. According to these findings, these first grants went to the youth of PDK, not to the youth of Ferizaj, as it was planned and claimed for the use of these grants.
According to the findings of this Kallxo.com research, “out of the 16 beneficiaries of the first phase who come from the municipality of Ferizaj, four of them are related in one way or another to the local government in this municipality, while another beneficiary is related to the members of the evaluation committee.”.
According to this research, Shëndrit Aliu won about 12 thousand euros from these grants. He is the son of the brother of the deputy mayor of the municipality. Another beneficiary, Jeton Selimi, won a grant worth 14 thousand euros. He is the brother-in-law of PDK assemblywoman Arbnora Salihu. Lorik Hashani received about 6,990 euros from one of these grants. He is the uncle’s son of another PDK assemblywoman, Erëza Hashani. Yllora Mehmeti won a grant of less than 6,873 euros. She is an activist and lifelong supporter of the PDK, the party in power in this municipality.
What is even more “amazing” in this whole “soup” is that a good part of the members of the selection committee are part of the political party that governs the city (PDK). And not just part of the party, but very popular figures there. Starting here with Eris Berisha, an activist and loyal supporter, to continue with the daughter of the former deputy of this party, Gazmend Bytyqi, Era Bytyqi.
Finally, according to these findings, Gentrit Sadiku received a grant worth 4805 euros. He has a family relationship with the other member of the evaluation commission, Ardian Sadiku.
All these grants came as part of the project “The municipality for the youth,” but probably the part where it said “The municipality for the PDK youth” has been deleted from the title of the project because this is what happened; the youth of the ruling party have taken this money. They—that is, the young people, the children, the relatives, and fellow party members—not the young people of the city, but their young people, PDK’s youth, profited from the grants. And this is neither the first nor the only time. Therefore, the inevitable question arises: should we classify their “activism” as youth activism or as youth nepotism? What do they stand for? And if they stand for anything, why should this be pure nepotism and abuse? Why was this money not seen and harvested for the common good, or anywhere among the youth? Perhaps the reason this money went unnoticed was because it was given and taken through nepotism, abusive practices, and fraudulent intent. Researches like this one by the journalist Xhema at Kallxo.com are just some of the indicators of what is clearly seen, which is that in the beginning, even those young people who commit themselves to the community end up using this for their own personal PR by joining powerful political parties in power to “harvest” “the fruits of their work”.
Someone would see this distribution of funds realized in this way as a way for the government to launder money using these young people. In any case, it’s crucial to acknowledge that, aside from a handful of organizations and select youth groups, everything is turning into a charade. Activism is identity, mission, and purpose for and towards the community. While it’s commendable that this city boasts active young individuals in public life, we should approach this with caution and skepticism. As a result, quantity does not always represent quality. And not all of these active young people have contributed to society, as they claim. Some have taken these opportunities without providing anything in return. And this, although it goes without saying, is not the example we should follow; it is not the lesson we should receive from our “great leaders”.
Author: Hanmie Lohaj
