In Kosovo, as in many countries around the world, many women still live with the consequences of gender-based violence, economic dependence, and social exclusion. Although women hold about one third of seats in parliament, just 24% of women participate in the labor force compared to 55% of men; fewer than one in five own property; and nearly 2,900 cases of domestic violence were reported in a single year. These figures reveal the depth of the challenge – yet despite these barriers, women’s strength and resilience hold the key to change.
It was in response to these challenges that the CREATResili project was launched, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme. Over 22 months, the project delivered tangible results: 40 handcrafted garments and accessories were created, 6 women selected by the Jahjaga Foundation gained new livelihood opportunities, and 3 creative minds from Hungary worked alongside them. The collections were launched on GjirafaMall, one of the region’s leading e-commerce platforms, with all proceeds transferred directly to the participating women. During the programme, they also received payment for their work – providing not only immediate financial security, but also laying the foundations for long-term independence. In this way, the project offered not only hope but also concrete achievements: through art and social design, it opened the path to independence, community healing, and future-making.
The initiative was led by the Hungary Helps Agency, the Hungarian governmental body providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities worldwide. Partners included Pro Progressione, a cultural organisation from Hungary working in the fields of arts and social innovation; the Jahjaga Foundation, a Kosovar foundation founded by former President Atifete Jahjaga and dedicated to women’s empowerment and human rights; Gjirafa, one of the region’s leading technology and e-commerce companies; and the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME), Hungary’s renowned institution for art, design, and creative innovation. Together, this Hungarian–Kosovar–Albanian consortium brought humanitarian expertise, artistic innovation, academic knowledge, and digital solutions into one shared initiative.
Over the 22 months of the programme, activities ranged from training and residencies to production and digital sales – creating a complete pathway from skills development to economic independence. At the Social Design Summer University in Budapest, young creatives were trained in participatory and trauma-informed design methodologies. Three creative minds – Borbála Moravcsik, Miriam Sékou Coulibaly, and Annamária Kmetyó – were then selected for residencies in Pristina. Together with six women from the Fortis workshop – a local initiative providing skills training and livelihood opportunities for women in vulnerable situations – they co-created unique collections. The collaboration resulted in three collections – Reveal, Wood Wool – Woven by Women, and Mirësia – blending tradition with contemporary design and giving voice to women’s experiences. Forty original pieces were completed and launched on 31 May 2025 through GjirafaMall, ensuring that all proceeds went directly to the participating women and further strengthening their economic independence.
Beyond economic results, CREATResili created a safe and inspiring environment where women could build confidence, share their stories, and express their experiences through art. The project also contributed to raising awareness and fostering dialogue on gender inequality in Kosovo and across Europe.
The project’s closing event took place on 22 October 2025 in Pristina, where partners jointly presented the results of CREATResili. At the event, President Atifete Jahjaga emphasized that empowering women goes beyond achieving financial independence; it is about restoring their dignity and securing their equal role in society, essential principles for true sustainable development and enduring peace.
At the closing event, Mr. Dániel Solymári, Ambassador-at-Large of the Hungary Helps Program (HHP), conveyed the message of Mr. Tristan Azbej, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade responsible for the initiative. He emphasized that Hungary’s efforts are dedicated to strengthening the most vulnerable communities worldwide, and that the CREATResili project is an excellent example of how creativity can provide real opportunities for women in vulnerable situations to build a freer and safer life.
The long-term impact of CREATResili lies in showing that social design, beyond self-expression, can also open the way to community healing and future-making. When creativity meets compassion, change becomes inevitable. When women are seen, heard and supported, resilience becomes reality. This is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of many new ones.
For the Hungary Helps Agency, empowering women has always been a priority. The CREATResili project builds on the Agency’s longstanding commitment to women’s empowerment worldwide – from supporting the education of young girls in Uganda, to providing shelter and vocational training for women in Mali, nurse training in Nigeria, or helping traumatised communities reintegrate into society in Northern Iraq. As Director General Péter Kovács concluded: “The success of the project was made possible first and foremost by the courage and perseverance of the participating women – their stories and their strength give true meaning to our joint work.”
The project’s closing short film is available here, and the final report of CREATResili can be accessed here.