Fides 2017

 For more than seven years, Forum for Civic Initiatives- FIQ, has been working for the promotion of philanthropy for sustainable development through financial investment and awareness raising for encouraging and enabling environment for the development of philanthropy.
The Forum for Civic Initiatives (FIQ) held the award ceremony for the FIDES Award for Philanthropy in Kosovo for 2017.
FIQ with this award expresses gratitude to companies and individuals who have contributed to the common good, and believes that this award will serve as inspiration for others, making publicy understandable how to work for the good of the community. FIQ through FIDES assesses individual citizenship humanism, private sector vision to assist education and innovation, loving-kindness and permanent support of diaspora, volunteering and youth energy as well as women’s protection and empowerment leaders and those of protection of the environment.
This year FIDES is dedicated to youth as FIQ works with young people throughout Kosovo, in building their capacity for decision-making, and for civic activism within communities in Kosovo.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, FIDES’s special guest of 2017 who also shared the post-mortem award for Mr. Robert Elsie, said contemporary philanthropy was seen as a strategy to enrich the culture of charity, and thanked FIQ for the work to promote philanthropy as a mechanism that enhances co-operation between the three sectors - public, private, and civil - with the goal of mobilizing the right communities for sustainability and social responsibility.
“This creates the ecosystem of values that Kosovo society carries and for which FIQ takes care to promote by bringing closer people, institutions and development sectors to Kosovo,” Haradinaj said.
This award was accepted by Mr.Artur Metani as a friend, R. Elsie’s professional associate.

FIDES Award for national contribution “Hasan Prishtina” was given to Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo for contribution to projects that advance education, innovation and culture. The award was given by the executive director of FIQ - Dajana Berisha.
“Since the beginning of our operations, we have supported projects in education, culture, art, sports, social welfare and we will continue to work in this direction in the years to come,” said – Mr. Robert Wright, Director of Raiffeisen Bank.
The FIDES Award for Environment was given to ERA Group, which have done wonderful work and constantly on environmental protection by educating young people about the environment. This award was shared by Jan Axel Voss, Ambassador of Germany to Kosovo.
“Today’s diplomats have to consider environmental issues because they can cause a political problem. If Kosovo does not care about the environment, there will be problems in the future. We all already know that air pollution is a serious problem that has resulted in the loss of human lives. The implementation of policies in favor of the environment depends on all the institutions of Kosovo, but also from us and the citizens who are obliged to educate the young generations for the value of the environment and natural resources of Kosovo, “- Jan Axel Voss, Ambassador of Germany to Kosovo.

FIDES Award for Contribution from Diaspora, was given to Mr. Fadil Berisha for generous support for the Albanian community in America. This award was shared by Dr. Lori E. Amy, Professor of Georgia Southern University, founder of OTTOnomy who said diaspora recreates trust, care and responsibility for the common good.
“They use their achievements to create opportunities and build the future for the birthplace. And such is the nominee Berisha, who devoted his life and work to the promotion of Albanians abroad.
Ms. Liza Gashi, Program Director at Germin, accepted the award on behalf of Berisha.

FIDES Award for Women Empowerment , was given to Ms. Kadire Tahiraj for great contribution to the women’s promotion, protection of women rights and economic empowerment. This award was given by Ms.Margarita Xhepa, Albanian Artist.
“As a woman, as an artist, as an Albanian is a good emotion to share this award, starting from the fact that I have been very proud of the Albanian women and their tradition of hardwork. Society development can not happen without leading of a woman or mother, the main figure in the family, “Xhepa said.
Meanwhile, Kadire Tahiraj said that the message of the Center for Promotion of Women’s Rights in Drenas is to admit of these women to society and through economic empowerment to open different horizons for them to live free and without prejudices.

FIDES Award for Individual Contribution, was givento Mr. Vezir Ramushi for contributing to the most marginalized groups of society - social categories, such as families with social assistance and health needs.
This award was shared by Dr. Murat Jashari, representative of the Jashari family who simultaneously welcomed the Albanian women and mothers for their courage and sacrifice, also added that Albanian philanthropist Mother Theresa and Hasan Prishtina are figures of our nation pride.

FIDES Award for “Young Leaders” was given to the “Familjet ne Nevoje” Group for voluntary contributions to families, with particular emphasis on children who come from families with social assistance and health problems. This award was shared by the well-known Albanian footballer Lorik Cana.
“These associations, their foundations with their desire, activities and the values they promote, try to be an added value not only for themselves but for all the people they work with, grow or do business, enabling us to benefit as society and nation “- Lorik Cana .
Meanwhile, on behalf of the Group, Kaltrina Zeka said she is honored with the results of work and what the group has achieved.

Pictures from the Ceremony FIDES 2017

Video from the Ceremony FIDES 2017