Xheneta Mehmeti is busy these days working with the ‘Albanian Canadian Community Association of Nova Scotia’ to bring together the annual event in February as the community celebrates Kosovo’s Independence Day, the country claimed independent status in 2008 from Serbia who still does not recognize its status. Canada, along with the United States and many other EU countries immediately recognized it.

Serbia and Russia continue to hinder the country’s sovereignty and democracy continuously adding roadblocks for Kosovo to enter the EU membership, UN, NATO and others. Moscow has positioned itself as pro-Serbia especially since Kosovo declared its independence and has been using its seat on the Security Council to block Kosovo’s membership in the United Nations. Moscow calls itself a defender of Serbian territorial integrity. Kosovo made some progress last year as the visa requirements were lifted for its citizens to travel within EU (European Union) parts of Europe which has boosted travel, independence and lifting the country from isolation from parts of Europe; this giving a positive outlook for the future giving hope that EU membership may also be within reach.

Mehmeti has worked with the association as a volunteer for many years. First, as a student taking Albanian Supplement classes offered by the association previously to being a board member for the last two years contributing to the organization and execution of events bringing community members together and feeling closer to home, many who arrived in Nova Scotia as refugees in 1999. For many of the refugees who have since called Canada home, the community association served as a pillar for many of them bring them together at events, helping heal their traumas and opening doors and hearts to each other.

From organizing celebratory events to being part of multicultural festivals in Nova Scotia, opening the Albanian Supplement classes that Mehmeti attended as a child, the members at the time had a daunting task bringing community members together. The association had its difficulties being faced in supporting a large number of newcomers and refugees who were just starting out in the province from learning English to obtaining jobs and education; many in financial ruins resulting in difficult new beginning for the association as well which was opened prior to the influx of Kosovo refugees coming into the province. The first members of the association at the time worked in fundraising thousands of dollars for the Kosovo war and to later helping the province’s Red Cross with translation services at the military bases in Halifax and camp Aldershot to then helping community members adjusting to their new life in Canada.

But the future is bright as a new generation of young Albanian – Canadians like Mehmeti join in bringing change and helping the communities evolve and carry the torch forward and the legacy of the Association’s difficult new beginning supporting members beyond celebratory events and connecting to the Albanian roots of unity, hospitality and simply being there for the community at a time of need. The community has lifted each other from the days of despair, to even tragic situations. The past serves as an exemplary reminder of a hopeful future as the Albanian community in Nova Scotia has reached new successful heights and recovered from the traumas of Serbia’s war in Kosovo. Mehmeti also gives back to her Canadian community where she’s volunteered at many organizations for over a decade. The story of the association’s hardships and recovery is one extraordinary story just on its own.

Her dedication to her respective community is fueled by her past. Having a first born is often the happiest time of someone’s life but Mehmeti is a child of war, like many other pregnant refugee mothers at the time, Mehmeti’s mother would have a unique birth story and give birth to her while at Macedonia’s refugee camp. Mehmeti’s mother was sent to Skopje’s hospital to give birth. Mehmeti’s mother would be welcoming her first child “without any medication, no compassion, my father wasn’t allowed in the room, she was all by herself” Mehmeti says her mom feared she would give birth in the woods while fleeing the terrors of war, she packed cloths and tools and some medical supplies to prepare for the worst. She says the experience was traumatic “It makes me feel bad for my mother that she did not have a good experience giving birth to me”.

Her mother’s strength and resilience would continue beyond the borders of the refugee camp. Mehmeti’s family took a leap of faith to Canada to leave the difficult and harsh conditions they faced with a newborn in the refugee camp. Their plea for help was answered by Canada who would airlift over 5,000 refugees initially from the refugee camp to over another 3,000 part of the family reunification program “It was very warm and conditions were not ideal. It got so hot and I was getting dehydrated and got a heat rash, as new parents this was very concerning for my mother and father”

Her family would arrive in Halifax and live here ever since. Mehmeti recalls difficult new beginnings as with many other families, theirs wasn’t spared from sacrifices and humble beginnings. The refugees had to learn a new language, care for their young children and many having to contribute back home to help the families they left behind. “My mom had no English-speaking abilities at all, this caused challenges in integrating into the Canadian lifestyle, settling, finding jobs, finding community etc. It was hard to be so far away from family, and we did not have the ability to visit them very often.” But their conviction and ambition would help them overcome those challenges.

Mehmeti, she graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce with a 4.0 GPA where she is now a Human Resource Professional with several years of professional experience in the field. A job she does so well. Mehmeti has been recognized and awarded as the top performer at the National Cydcor Conference with over 500 other participants defeating participants from North America. Her work ethic both in her professional work as an HR professional to her community work has made Mehmeti outshine and stand out.

Living in a blended culture is not always easy but she says it’s made her life enriching “I love living in two cultures. I get to experience the amazing food & traditions from the Albanian side and also am very proud to be Canadian and thankful for the privilege to have access to unlimited opportunities. I am very involved in both communities” Mehmeti says she feels privileged to live in Canada and the opportunities it offers however, she acknowledges the challenges that come with being refugees and starting a new life in a new country and evolving as individuals and as communities “I think some challenges some refugees continue to face are that they stay stuck in the past and their past traumas and are unable to move on and appreciate all the opportunities available at our fingertips. Anything is possible as long as you work hard and stay consistent. I encourage people in our community to dream as big as they can. We have many successful refugee stories.