the higher lens : 10
Diaspora Is Not Distance: Why Albanians Abroad Hold the Power to Shape the Future
What does it mean to belong to a place you weren’t born in, yet still feel responsible for?
I was born in England, but every summer, my family returned to a small village in Shkodër. My parents, raised with little access to opportunity, had left Albania to give me the chance to grow up in a country where education, career paths, and freedom of choice were within reach. But they never let me forget where we came from. Each trip back was more than a holiday; it was a reminder that my opportunities were built on their sacrifice, and that responsibility doesn’t end at a border.
That quiet sense of duty grew into a mission: not just to represent where I’m from, but to give back to it. For many Albanians abroad, that feeling sits just beneath the surface, the urge to bridge the worlds we belong to and to make the most of what we’ve been given, not just for ourselves, but for those who come after us.
This feeling became real when I joined the OriginAL programme in 2024, a journey through Albania and Kosova for young diaspora. Though I had been back many times, this trip was different. It wasn't about nostalgia. It was about connection with purpose.
One moment in particular reshaped how I understood that purpose. We visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prishtina. I asked Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz Deputy Minister Liza Gashi, why they invest so deeply in diaspora engagement. Donika’s answer stayed with me:
“You, the diaspora, are being educated abroad, working in Western institutions, learning globally. We need you to know your history, your culture, and your opportunities so you can one day return. We need you to invest, start businesses, lead, and represent us, because you are the power that will help Albania and Kosova grow.”
That message reframed everything I had understood about diaspora. It’s not just about identity, it’s about responsibility.
We spoke about this on the ALSA UK podcast, where I had the chance to host Ariana Krasniqi, who grew up in Denmark and made the decision to move to Prishtina. Her reflections hit home. She spoke about blocking out the noise from those who still see Albania and Kosova as they were decades ago, places frozen in time. But times have changed, and so have we. Going back home, she said, isn’t rejecting what our parents gave us. It’s taking the next step in the story they started.
That message is echoed by powerful role models in our community. Dua Lipa, raised in the UK, has used her global platform not only for music, but to invest back into Kosova through the Sunny Hill Foundation and Festival, bringing opportunity, culture, and funding to the region. Mira Murati, once CTO of OpenAI and now leading her own ventures, continues to push boundaries in tech and innovation. These women remind us that diaspora isn't just about where you're from, it's about how you use what you've learned to uplift the places that shaped you.
And yes, the numbers matter too. In 2022, Albanians abroad sent $1.3 billion back home, over 9% of Albania’s GDP. In Kosova, diaspora remittances reached €1.2 billion, over 17% of GDP. These aren’t just money transfers. They are structural supports. Lifelines for communities, families, and local businesses. But the real value goes beyond economics. It lies in the exchange of skills, mindsets, and networks.
We’ve seen other countries tap into this potential with intentional strategy. Ireland funds over 500 diaspora-led projects annually. India connects its global workforce through government-backed initiatives. Portugal offers reintegration support for returnees through startup funding and career programmes. Albania and Kosova are beginning to move in the same direction, and our generation has the power to accelerate that.
After my time with OriginAL, I joined ALSA UK, a newly registered charity that’s been active for five years. It supports young people from disadvantaged and migrant backgrounds through mentoring, education, and professional development. Many of us involved share Albanian roots, but the mission speaks to all who want to make a difference.
Since joining, I’ve helped lead conversations on identity and impact, including hosting the podcast and speaking at the ALSA UK Summit. I was also invited to a diaspora event in Prishtina, where I met Prime Minister Albin Kurti, a moment that opened my eyes to how powerful it can be to have community, purpose, and a network that shares opportunities with each other.
This isn’t just my story. It’s ours.
Many young Albanians abroad feel the same pull, the desire to reconnect, to build something back home, to be part of the next chapter. It’s not always easy. There’s no blueprint. There’s fear, doubt, and uncertainty. But that’s what makes it meaningful. Because every time one of us takes a step back toward our roots, to live, to work, to invest, or even just to mentor, we extend the story of what Albania and Kosova can become.
You don’t need a platform or a million-dollar fund to give back. You can support a friend, amplify a cause, share knowledge, or simply show up with integrity. Because every time you meet someone new and say, “I’m Albanian,” you shape how the world sees us.
For me, that journey has brought me back to Albania, where I now work remotely and build my network from here. There’s still a long way to go. But it feels right. The opportunity my parents once left to find, I want to help build it here.
Because diaspora isn’t a distance.
It’s a bridge.
And we each have a role in crossing it.
Gjovani Cinari