Reconnecting with Roots: A Journey to the Motherland via Open Data Kosovo

I am Tringa Berisha — an anthropology student, currently pursuing a Master of Arts at Roskilde University, Denmark, through which I completed an internship at Open Data Kosovo in the Fall of 2019.

Being a second generation immigrant from Kosovo, born and raised in Denmark, my parents prioritized instilling in me a sense of belonging, in attempt to maintain the Albanian language, culture, and traditions, despite forced migration related to the Serbian oppression of Kosovars, which culminated at the turn of the century. My parents’ efforts included annual summer vacations to Kosovo, which in adolescence lead to the establishment of friendships independent of family relations.

At the age of 24, I still only knew Kosovo from a limited perspective. This resulted in my wish to undertake an internship in Kosovo, rather than anywhere else in the world. Aside from wanting to delve deeper into my roots, I assessed Open Data Kosovo, with its humanitarian efforts to uplift Kosovo from a tech-perspective, to be a strong (and frankly, only) candidate that I wished to explore.

When I first stepped into the office for the job interview, a staff consisting only of young people greeted me with warm smiles. The physicality of the office is modern, oozes of coolness, and signalizes transparency, aligning with ODK’s vision and mission. Edgy black and white furniture is countered with bright colored sofas and beanbags. Shifts between concentration and jokes culminating in collective laughter occur.

The internship started, and I was immediately thrown into various work tasks, to identify my strengths and weaknesses. I relatively quickly gained the trust of my colleagues, which rewarded me with space to creatively apply communication theory in praxis, in e.g. designing, implementing and evaluating campaigns, press releases, project concept notes and the like. Moreover, I was given the opportunity to do fieldwork in different cities, and to attend meetings and conferences about topics spanning from youth employability, to parliamentary transparency, to the modification of education to correspond to future market demand.

Open Data Kosovo’s work speaks for itself. The team is just as lovely as their work is vital for Kosovo’s development.

As I return to Denmark with pleasurable memories of my internship at ODK, I feel appreciative of the valuable knowledge and experience gained from affectionate, empathetic, and ambitious colleagues, who have not only offered me professional growth, but also welcomed me personally, making me feel that it is a safe space to foster friendships.

Once again: thank you!