What is really important to you in education?
Perhaps it’s the idea that every child should learn to read and write. Or that young people should be given the chance to go their own way – regardless of their background or social status.
Children and young people need a supporting environment and access to education.
This is exactly what the ARSIMI association is committed to. We have been supporting educational projects in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia – as well as in Switzerland – for 26 years.
We are very pleased to be able to support four very special projects in 2025. These initiatives were carefully selected by the board:
- Establishment of a school library in Tepelena (Albania)
- Translation of the Albanian literary classic ‘Sikur të isha djalë’ into German
- Continuation of the VisCoKos school project in Kosovo
These projects create real perspectives – for children, young people and students.
We need your support so that we can realise them. You can be sure that your support will go where you want it to.
Just choose the project that is closest to your heart and make your contribution to promoting education.
Thank you for your generosity and your commitment to more opportunities and a better future.
Projects in detail:
Project 1: Already financed
New library in the rural primary and secondary school ‘Xhemal Hada’ in Krahës, Albania
- Project partner: ‘Xhemal Hada’ primary and secondary school in Krahës, Tepelena, southern Albania region
- Objective: Improving reading skills and digital competences through library facilities with computer equipment and access to the internet
- Duration: August – October 2025
- Project amount: 2,700 CHF
- Amount still needed: 0 CHF – already financed
The aim of the project is to improve the reading skills of children in rural schools in Albania (Krahës village). This is to be achieved by providing pupils with additional books and sources of information that promote their academic development and critical thinking. To this end, a small room in the school will be converted into a library. This library will provide books that can be used in class or borrowed.
For a detailed project description, take a look at ongoing projects:
New library in the rural primary and secondary school ‘Xhemal Hada’ in Krahës Albania
Project 2: Translation of the literary classic ‘Sikur të isha djalë’ by Haki Stërmilli into German
- Project partners: Dr phil. Mirëlinda Shala (translator) in international cooperation with various linguists, translators and editors from D-A-CH, Albania and Kosovo
- Objective: To provide a high-quality translation of an important Albanian classic to promote literary and cultural dialogue between Albanian and German-speaking societies in the D-A-CH countries.
- Duration: May 2025 to September 2026
- Project amount for translation, editing and publication costs: 16,000 CHF
- Amount still required: 8,000 CH
The project includes the professional translation of the important Albanian diary novel Sikur të isha djalë (German: Wenn ich ein Junge wäre) by Haki Stërmilli from the Ghegian dialect into German. The novel was published in 1936 and is now considered the first feminist work in Albanian literary history.
At the centre of the story is Shadije (‘Dije’), a young girl who is trapped in patriarchal structures. ‘Our life is empty, meaningless, sad and without any colour. It is more like death than life. We are prisoners and every right is denied to us,’ she writes in despair in her diary. Her fate vividly illustrates the effects of social constraints that deny women any self-determination. Dije’s struggle is still relevant today in many respects and is a reminder that the fight for equal rights is still necessary – and not just in Albanian-speaking countries.
For a detailed project description, take a look at ongoing projects:
Translation of the literary classic ‘Sikur të isha djalë’ by Haki Stërmilli into German
Project 3: Mini kitchen for learning activities, primary school ‘Halil Alidema’, Posharan, Kosovo
- Project partner: Primary school ‘Halil Alidema’, Posharan, Kosovo
- Aim: To involve pupils in practical lessons and teach them useful life skills
- Duration: May – December 2025
- Project amount: 1’500.-
- Amount still needed: 1’500.- CHF
Setting up a ‘mini kitchen for learning activities’ is an exciting idea to involve pupils in practical lessons and teach them useful life skills. This can also be an opportunity to learn about healthy eating, different cultures and the environment. Here are some ideas for setting up a kitchen for learning activities.
Topics:
Pupils can develop various activities to explore topics such as nutrition and health through cooking. They learn about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet and the benefits it has for the body.
International cookery: Pupils can try out recipes from different cultures and learn about the history and traditions of cooking.
For a detailed project description, take a look at ongoing projects:
Mini kitchen for learning activities primary school ‘Halil Alidema’ Posharan, Kosovo
Donacione
Every donation is welcome. Please use the payment slip and complete the form below so that we can send you confirmation of the tax deduction. Account ARSIMI, Zurich, CH24 0900 0000 8766 6146 4
