Thanks to its history, mission and courageous efforts of visionary predecessors, Vatra is a recognizable brand at home and abroad. Expanding and building on such a valuable asset is a priority particularly at this time when so many organizations struggle to have what Vatra has inherited. With that in mind, Vatra as a non-political organization exists to serve and protect the interests of Albanians by uniting the skills and experiences of generations of its members.
My platform reflects my views as a second generation member and is informed by my involvement with editorial duties in two administrations: Dritan Mishto’s and Elmi Berisha’s.
While there is general agreement that there is a wide range of issues facing Vatra and indeed the whole nation, I am underlining some areas that demand attention and action:
– Mobilizing the community around the critical issue of a weakened opposition in Albania as a very present danger for a sustainable democracy. Vatra is in the unique position to campaign in support of strengthening democracy not any particular leader. The moment calls for engaging in meaningful discourse rather than in performative activism intended to increase one’s social capital. One effective tool is a social media campaign under the title “NJE VATER”, (ONE VATER) as a platform of opposing views and content to Albania’s current autocratic government.
– Effectuating a longer term campaign for coalition-building allows Vatra to have the support of and be supported by organizations and groups with similar mission and goals. There is an increased need to better coordinate and liaison within the organization itself. Recognizing valuable contributions and embracing transparency have been proven effective in strengthening the culture of communication.
– Achieve gender equality and empower all women – this point connects with my personal experience at Vatra. For four years, I work as the English Editor of Dielli without having access to it. I have been very vocal in calling out such discriminatory practices at work. I intend to continue to advocate for equal rights and fair treatment as Chairwoman and cultivate strong coworker relationships. ·
– With the exception of Dielli staff, Vatra is a volunteer based organization. Its model of community involvement, donating to neighborhood associations, government organizations and nonprofit groups is a lesson in civic responsibility and networking. But the lifeline of the organization is each member of Vatra regardless of their political views, credence, religious beliefs, party affiliations, age, gender or monetary means. Every Vatran can be proud of that legacy that energizes the new generations.
– Political advocacy is a trademark of Vatra’s proud heritage. It is imperative to keep building on the foundations as well as the great work that has been done in staying engaged in foreign policy issues and discussions involving Kosovo etc.
To advance topics of interest in this realm, I favor emulating the setup of last year’s online symposium on Albanian Diaspora, focusing on the crucial role of Arvanites in Greek independence. It was an academic event with lasting impact.
To sum up, the integration of coalition-building, equal treatment, community networking and political advocacy reinforces Vatra’s purpose and mission as an empowering force for the nation’s future.
ONE VATRA: what a new mindset article! Well founded content nicely embedded in a solidly structure while infusing all into a sharp memorandum and elegantly written paper.
Kudos to you Rafaela Prifti for the limpidity of expression and institutional enlightenment about imperative issues you have experienced during your passionate and professional work for Dielli as the first female English editor of the oldest of the Albanian diaspora newspaper in the world.
I have been privileged to know Rafaela’s through work and historic projects of the Vatra and Fan Noli Library collaborations since 2019 to date. She has been nothing but an outstanding voice of integrity, world class ethic woman in charge of many realms of her English editor position she had carried out with intelligence, inquisitorial attention of further investigation of research and advice. It has been a simple joy to read her papers as well and fully cooperating with her for Dielli’s interviews during these years.