ENISA HYSENI: HOW SURVIVING SERBIA’S WAR IN KOSOVO INSPIRED HER TO CHANGE HER OWN STORY
Today, Enisa Hyseni lives in Windsor, Ontario and loves lurking online at the newest baking recipes overlooking the Ambassador bridge connecting two neighborly countries that she hopes the peaceful connection will also remain under the Trump Administration. A view reminding her of her family's past across the world, conflict of neighboring countries so complex killing thousands, forcing nearly a million out of their homes including Hyseni’s family.
Inside her kitchen is a notebook with her writing and her baked goods making it out of the oven, Hyseni who lives at home with her family, giving her home a delicate smell is a survivor of Serbia’s ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in late 1999 prompting international backlash against Serbia for its use of force and human rights violations against civilians.
Behind her big bright brown eyes that carry a sparkle and a smile with a shy smirk, Hyseni shares her family’s story of terror “Before the war, we lived in a village, but life was far from easy. Wherever we went, Serbians would beat anyone, put our people in jail, and push us around. We tried to survive, but even going to work meant risking the brutality of police” she says. Her family came to Canada in 1999 as refugees. Canada responded to UNHCR’s call to assist with the refugee crisis, airlifting over 5,000 initially and over another 3,000 others part of the refugee family reunification program.
Although they suffered a lot from losing a house down to studs from Serbia’s arson to more severe losses, family members who died in the conflict protecting their families, Canada gave the Hyseni family renewed hope “We were grieving the loss of our people long before their deaths. My parents fled with the clothes on their backs, leaving behind everything they knew and loved” says Hyseni.
The family stayed at a refugee camp for three months before taking a leap of faith and starting a new life in Canada as refugees “We lived in cramped conditions, surrounded by others who had faced similar horrors. It was a place where the future seemed uncertain, but it also became a testament to the human spirit’s resilience. During those months, our external family had no way of knowing if we had survived or not. It was a time of great fear and uncertainty, where every day was a struggle to maintain hope.” says Hyseni.
Hyseni acknowledges Canada’s outstanding support toward the refugees but she also recalls difficult new beginnings and faced grave challenges as they worked on building a new life in Canada at the same time, healing their traumas of war “The struggles Albanians faced coming to Canada were immense. My family didn’t know the language, had no money or clothes, and lacked the type of education that could help them find work. One of the barriers we faced was learning the language. The struggle to understand and be understood made every interaction fraught with anxiety, adding to the constant feeling that the war had followed us into our new life” says Hyseni.
Hyseni also says another challenge was the stigma they faced of being refugees and lived in fear of being identified as Albanians, a fear that was instilled in them from Serbia’s war in Kosovo. “Growing up in Canada, I was often filled with fear about revealing my heritage. The shadows of the war loomed large, and my family lived in constant fear of what might happen if we were identified as Albanian. The fear extended beyond our homeland's borders and followed us into our new life. Encounters with anyone of Serbian descent were particularly fraught, as we worried about potential backlash or discrimination” says Hyseni.
Source: Museum of Immigration, Pier 21
“The stories of my family's sacrifices were the fabric of my childhood. My parents spoke of the life they left behind, the loved ones they will never see again, and the dreams they clung to despite the odds. I saw them work tirelessly, their dignity and resilience unbroken even in the face of adversity. In addition to these challenges, maintaining our proud identity as Muslim Albanians while assimilating into Canadian culture presented another layer of difficulty. Balancing our traditions and religious practices with the new cultural norms was a constant struggle. Yet, it was essential for us to keep our heritage alive and instill the same pride in our identity in future generations.” says Hyseni.
Many Kosovo refugees who grew up in Canada report similar struggles and facing identity crisis. “To this day, many Albanians continue to live in the memories of the war. The fear and trauma have left lasting scars, and internally, they are still at war, even after years of living in Canada. Struggling with their identities and the memories of the past, they navigate the delicate balance between their new lives and the lingering shadows of war.” says Hyseni.
But Hyseni and her brothers would bring new hope to their family. The 26-year-old has a diploma in law enforcement, a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in criminology and is an Immigration Caseworker in Windsor, ON and is certified to work with vulnerable sectors such as abuse victims and victims of crime, she’s busy diversifying her passions. Hyseni is also the founder of a gifting startup ‘With a Bow’ aimed to help children from under-privileged communities get the education they deserve. Hyseni says her past has inspired her to give back to her Albanian community in Windsor and to helping other Muslim women in the community who are in dire need. “Today, as I navigate the space between two worlds, I am filled with gratitude for the journey that has shaped me. It's a path marked by struggle and triumph, where the footprints of my parents' sacrifices are etched into every step I take. In their silent strength and unwavering hope, I found my purpose.” says Hyseni.
Hyseni indeed is a prime example of strength, recovery and the bravery to change your own story.