The Women’s Business Association – SHE-ERA has successfully concluded the project “Empowering Vulnerable Women Through Social Mentoring”, marking an important milestone in the advancement of social inclusion and economic empowerment of women across Kosovo.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, this project was designed to uplift women from marginalized backgrounds—especially those from Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities, individuals with disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence or war-related sexual violence.
Key Achievements
🔹 Building a Network of Social Mentors
A total of 20 Social Mentors were engaged in the program:
- 13 mentors were newly recruited through an open selection process.
- 7 mentors were previously trained under a regional SoRi project.
These mentors represented a geographically balanced team capable of delivering impactful mentorship across Kosovo.
🔹 Structured Mentorship Program
Each mentor worked closely with 3 mentees, resulting in a comprehensive network of 58 mentees across the country. The mentoring began in December 2024 and concluded in May 2025, with a remarkable 1,027 mentoring sessions delivered in total.
🔹 Impressive Employment Outcomes
The project recorded tangible results: 61.5% of mentees found employment following their participation. The program offered not just guidance but real pathways to job opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
Training, Skills, and Tailored Support
A certified training programme was implemented, built on a subject-oriented curriculum composed of six modules—including an orientation and five thematic areas.
Following a comprehensive needs assessment, mentees also received:
– Soft skills training (delivered regionally),
– Technical courses,
– Continuous individual coaching, all tailored to their aspirations and circumstances.
Institutional & Private Sector Partnerships
A multi-stakeholder approach was central to the success of this project:
- SHE-ERA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Centers for Social Work, strengthening institutional collaboration for case referrals.
- 18 private companies signed MoUs to support mentoring as a tool for professional development. They hosted job-shadowing visits, one-to-one meetings, and presented job offers tailored to mentees’ profiles.
Laying the Groundwork for Institutionalization
To ensure the sustainability of social mentoring, strategic deliverables were developed and shared with institutional stakeholders at a dedicated workshop in April 2025. These include:
- A Roadmap for Institutionalization of social mentoring,
- A Strategy for the Promotion of Social Mentoring, and
- An Action Plan for Validation of the program by the National Qualification Authority.
Looking Ahead
As SHE-ERA marks the completion of this impactful journey, we extend our deepest gratitude to our mentors, mentees, institutional and private sector partners, and to BMZ and GIZ for their unwavering support.
Together, we are proving that social mentoring is not just a project—it is a pathway to dignity, empowerment, and lasting change.
