Open Data Kosovo Successful Stories Part Three
Tech4Policy an EU-funded Project implemented by Open Data Kosovo in partnership with Girls Coding Kosova has brought an enormous impact in Kosovo. A project that empowered young women to design digital solutions to improve and strengthen Kosovo municipalities while promoting employability in the high-potential ICT sector. Project outputs: (250) trained women; (4) digital solutions, and (10) Municipalities. The last 3 women, winners of the Project and part of the incubation phase will show their journey in ODK through their inspirational stories.
My name is Edona Haziraj and I am currently studying Computer Engineering at the University of Prishtina — Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. As an ambitious and driven person, I thrive for new challenges and new opportunities. On my free time, I go hiking.
I’ve heard and followed ODK on social media. The right activities of empowering women and the peerless creativity were the things that inspired me to be interested in being part of this unique organization.
As soon as I saw the post for the Tech4Policy project, I immediately applied. I strongly wanted to work with ODK, but never thought I’d be in the final.
The first meeting with Blerta was one of the best moments. Every day at ODK is a different day — I learn a lot.
This project has grown me as a person. During these months I have advanced my professional and interpersonal skills that I will use in the future.
As a result-oriented and pragmatic person, I try to respect the deadlines and team’s opinion through calm discussion. I’ve always given ideas to make the platform better when it is established to the public.
I will end up with a quote, whenever we I do not feel good about something that did not go right.
“Well, we’ll know better next time.”
I am Erona, a student of Mathematics and Computer Science in the University of Prishtina. I’ve been studying CP for 2 years now and I am really trying to take the best of it. Being part of different training and programs has developed me as a person in all aspects,I’ve become more sociable,more confident and managed to keep my calmness under pressure.
There’s this group in Facebook of all students in CP Department ,and a post regarding Tech4Policy was shard there. I came to hear about ODK through that.As I read what ODK ,more precisely what Tech4Policy is about ,without thinking twice I decided to apply. And here I am 😉(It has been one of the best decisions I made.)
After I applied, a few days later, I was notified that I was accepted in the program.The three day training was really intense,we brainstormed,did design thinking and elaborated our ideas to the max. Finally as a group of three girls we came with an idea to help our community through a digital solution, and luckily our idea was one of the three that won.After all of things done,now ,we as a group of nine girls are doing our best in bringing to life the platform for Educational System. Although we have tons of things to do ,and sometimes they are quite challenging,being together as 9 entities with the help of ODK team and our mentors we are managing it pretty well and in fact we are really pleased with all things we have been through.
The impact of the project was MAJOR. Firstly, it was my first long lasting project and a project I was in charge of a lot of things at once.It gave me the feeling of the real world job ,other than what I was used to earlier.Everyday, waking up with a goal to achieve,with a task to do by the end of the day made me even more of a responsible person.Not mentioning the knowledge I got, which is the best part of the program. We’ve been part of meetings with different personalities, part of social open discussions and all these activities sculpted our identities.
I am trying to do the best I can in making this project successful. Honestly speaking, its my first experience like this,and I think I am learning much more than I am giving to the project.But being passionate to finish this in the best way ,and putting my hard work in it ,as a computer science student, I think I will be of great help.
I live with the thought that:
everything you put your mind to,every dream you have ,no matter what it is , it will be achieved.Just by taking steps towards it ,one at a time and by working hard things get done (otherwise it is just a bubble above your head :D)
My name is Rea, I study Computer Science in the University of Prishtina.
I’m a very ambitious and hardworking person,I like challenges and I genuinely like to solve problems for different fields (they don’t always get solved and if they do, not always in the smartest way) so I think I found myself in the study of CS.
I came to hear about ODK through social media. They encourage people to do good things for our community and use their abilities to help out. As young people we are responsible to make changes for the better and help others see that our country can become so much better.
That’s what ODK is trying to do with Tech4Policy and that’s why I chose to apply.
We were a group of three girls. We had 3 days training and worked on an idea that would help our community. Luckily we won. Then the journey had begun. So far it is the best experience I’ve had. There were a lot of challenges but we’ve overcome them quite well.
I learned from the project the importance of opening data and it made me change my point of view on many things. It made me a more positive person towards my country and pushed
me to believe that there are good people who will contribute for the better. Enough with complaining, now it’s time that we, the young people make a difference.
From this project I’m mostly learning from the ODK team. I think I’m learning quite fast and I’m trying to do my best so the project can be successful.
Ultimately, I think it’s important to believe that dreams come true. Don’t give up on them and most importantly never ever give up on you, love yourself always.
