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| Albanian professionals and academics in Germany |
"Anyone who has left their homeland feels somewhat foreign where they live and somewhat foreign even in their own country," a feeling that Blerta Lazebeu, president of the "Organization of Albanian Graduates and Students in Germany" (Known originally as OASA), defines as diasporic identity. In an interview given to Diaspora Shqiptare, she shares more about the organization she leads, and the help it has given and continues to provide to Albanian students in Germany. Above all, she discusses the challenge of adapting to German culture and the need to have a common meeting point for Albanian students.
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| Blerta Lazebeu |
How did the idea of creating the "Organization of Albanian Graduates and Students" (OASA) come about?
The idea of creating OASA emerged from a group of students at the Technical University of Berlin, as a result of the lack of a networking and collaboration platform among Albanian students and graduates in Berlin and its surroundings. The initiator was Agon Kamberi (part of the OASA leadership), who was a student at the university at that time. Consequently, in May 2014, twelve young men and women of Albanian origin founded the organization OASA, which stands for "Organization of Albanian Graduates and Students." Thanks to these young people, OASA was formalized and took the form it has today. They managed, with great effort, voluntary work, and dedication, to pave a new path for all Albanian youth in Berlin. I had the fortune of joining this path in 2018, and the leadership was entrusted to me in 2021. Today, OASA has over 45 members from various disciplines and is increasingly transforming into a community focused on professionals and academics in the diaspora.
What needs did it initially fulfill?
In its early stages, OASA organized discussions, film screenings, book presentations, as well as so-called "Albanian evenings" where both compatriots and non-Albanians were invited to learn about Albanian culture and language. OASA played a significant role during the wave of asylum seekers in 2014 and 2015 when it unintentionally became the first point of contact for German institutions struggling with language barriers in dealing with individuals from Albania. OASA created a network of volunteer translators who assisted fellow compatriots in hospitals, courts, police stations, prisons, etc. Additionally, OASA contributed to the translation of a guidebook that provided detailed information on the asylum application procedure according to the Dublin II Regulation. They also began offering informative meetings in collaboration with lawyers to address any questions about asylum law. In this way, thousands of asylum seekers were assisted who did not have the right to approach their embassies under the law.
Can we say that Albanian students and former students can be considered a consolidated community in Germany?
We as OASA are convinced that a coordinating structure would not only improve the networking of the Albanian diaspora in Germany but also contribute to the development of the countries of origin. With that in mind, we have offered our support to the Ministries of Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, as well as diplomatic representations from Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, to develop a concept on how such a construct could function and be (self-)financed, in collaboration with German institutions.
What activities does OASA carry out?
OASA continues to carry out a variety of activities, starting with regular meetings among members to discuss and reflect on common needs, issues, or projects. Furthermore, cultural activities continue, such as dance group performances at Carnivals of Cultures, literary evenings, and the promotion of Albanian artists in Germany. Part of our work also involves activism and support in times of need, as was the case during the earthquake tragedy in Albania. Additionally, I would highlight two major projects: one on innovative methods for reducing pollution in the Ishëm River in Albania (2020-2021), in collaboration with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), led by engineer Lulzim Baumann; and the current project on the exceptional history of the rescue of Jewish families by Albanian families during World War II and the importance of these stories for the third generation of young Albanians in Germany. The latter is in collaboration with the "Memory, Responsibility, and Future" Foundation (2021-2023). I want to emphasize that this project holds special cultural and historical significance for all Albanian-speaking territories since very little is known worldwide about this remarkable act of humanity by Albanians and the reasons why they acted that way while the whole world was going through its darkest days. The results of this two-year project are expected to be presented in Berlin this spring.
Blerta, you yourself are a former student. Initially, you came to Germany at a young age, so the chances of "becoming German" were high. What keeps you strongly connected to your Albanian identity, origin, culture, and tradition?
I believe that anyone who has left their homeland feels somewhat foreign where they live and even in their own country, thus forming a kind of diasporic identity. On one hand, this phenomenon may create the impression that the sense of belonging, so essential to everyone, will always be lacking, and that is true to some extent. On the other hand, living between two cultures has many enriching elements. Identity is essentially fluid and changes according to the context. I remember when I was once asked what homeland meant to me, I paused for a moment and answered that it is much more than just a geographic notion: it is the language in my mind as I count, it is the way I cook, it is a hidden path of childhood, an old school bench; it is the vitality with which blood rushes through my veins, drowning reason with emotion. What I mean to say is that even if nothing visible kept me connected to my Albanian identity, it would still be present in every fiber that has woven the essence of who I am as a girl, as a woman, and as a human being.
How difficult is it for an Albanian student in Germany? What are the challenges faced by Albanian students there?
The difficulties of an Albanian student in Germany are not significantly different from those of students from other countries who have no access to the German language and culture, and these two factors are precisely what I would like to highlight. I believe that language is a very challenging element for anyone who comes to Germany, as German has a grammatical structure that is very different from Albanian. However, considering the talent we generally have for learning foreign languages, this obstacle is overcome relatively quickly. But there is another challenge that is overcome with a bit more difficulty, and it has to do with cultural differences. In Germany, there is a dominant individualistic culture, unlike Albania, which is characterized by a collectivist culture. Collectivist cultures generally emphasize the importance of the community, while individualistic cultures focus on the needs of the individual. Without delving into theory, this difference becomes apparent when one first comes as a student to Germany and transitions from an environment where the responsibility for your well-being has been taken care of by your family to a completely different cultural environment where independence and individualism are emphasized. Or from a culture with a broad context where everyone thinks they know everything and therefore many things are implied without being explicitly stated, to a culture with a narrow context where it is necessary to be direct and communicate about everything, as you can't assume that the other person knows what you are thinking. Punctuality is another characteristic with which most of us initially have difficulties, as time in Albania is a flexible concept, dependent on circumstances, chance, and the people we interact with, while in Germany, time is a very rigid concept and independent of external factors. Often jokingly, when we leave a meeting, we ask each other: "With Albanian or German time?"
Over time, of course, a certain adaptation takes place, but in my opinion, the highest level of integration is achieved when everyone can find their place, respecting others but without having to justify their way of thinking or acting.
And finally, what message would you give to young Albanians who see Germany as a golden opportunity in life?
I would encourage young Albanians to be curious, to explore, to travel, to read, and to get to know themselves as much as possible in order to better understand their talents, the obstacles they face within themselves, what makes them unique from others, and above all, what their calling is in this life, the change they want to bring. If they clarify all these aspects, the place where they will live will be a choice and not just a temporary solution. During my work with foreigners in Germany, I have met people who feel quite integrated and satisfied, but I have also seen those who ask themselves every day what would have happened if they had never left or who eagerly await retirement age to return to Albania. It often happens that when we leave, we know what we leave behind, but we don't know what we will find where we go. There is nothing wrong with that, as every experience is valuable in itself, but I would greatly appreciate it if young people first find their way to themselves, and then the paths of life will be much easier, beyond geographical locations. At least, this is what my experience in Albania, Germany, and now between the two countries has shown me.