Valdete Idrizi

Valdete Idrizi, born on January first, two thousand, is a prominent politician and social activist from North Mitrovica, Kosovo. As an ethnic Albanian, her life has been profoundly shaped by the historical conflicts in the region, particularly the loss of her home during the Serbian invasion in nineteen ninety-nine. Despite these challenges, Idrizi has dedicated her life to fostering peace and reconciliation in her community.

In two thousand and eight, she founded the NGO Community-Building Mitrovica, which became a vital organization in the region, promoting dialogue and rebuilding relationships between ethnic Albanians and Serbs. For six years prior to two thousand and eight, it was the only organization in Mitrovica focused on these crucial efforts. Under her leadership, the organization successfully facilitated the return of some Serbs to their homes, a courageous endeavor that unfortunately led to death threats from Kosovar Albanian militants.

Idrizi's commitment to peace and social justice has not gone unnoticed. In two thousand and eight, she was honored with the International Women of Courage Award, followed by the Soroptimist International Peace Award in two thousand and nine. Her work continued to evolve as she was appointed the executive director of the CiviKos platform in December two thousand eleven, an initiative aimed at enhancing cooperation between civil society organizations and the government in Kosovo.