The Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF) celebrates its tenth anniversary as well as the arrival of its newest class of seven graduate fellows. This group of select students from Kosovo will begin their studies in some of the country's most prestigious university graduate programs. Over the last ten years, KAEF has awarded 64 merit-based scholarships to Kosovar students who have distinguished themselves with high academic achievement and who have returned to Kosovo after their graduate studies and have achieved success in business, government, and the arts.
The Fellows recently spent three days of orientation with the staff of American Councils, in advance of heading off to their schools to begin their academic studies. American Councils President Dr. Dan Davidson commented that, "As each new class prepares for the academic year, it is always a reminder to me of the promise and the importance of the program which has produced outstanding scholars and valuable contributors to the building of a Europe's youngest country."
Miriam Parel, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, discussed how each of the Fellows could help the KAEF program, by "becoming active in the alumni network and by being ambassadors of the KAEF program."
This year's class includes:
- Elvira Ahma - Financial Economics at Brandeis University
- Milot Ahma - Commercial and Corporate Law at Duke University
- Drlona Aliu - Business Administration at Monterey Institute of International Studies
- Darsei Canhasi - Local Economic Development at Brandeis University
- Granit Limani - Business Administration/Entrepreneurship at St. John's University
- Shkamb Qavdarbasha - Business Administration/Logistics and Supply Chain Management at University of Minnesota
- Fjolla Raifi - Public Administration at Syracuse University
Former 2007 KAEF Fellow and graduate of Yale University, Dastid Pallaska, founder of the Pallaska & Associates law firm, has one of his firm's associates, Milot Ahma, participating in this year's program. Pallaska noted regarding KAEF: "Growing up in a decade of constant change and turmoil has made me realize the importance of good leadership and the consequences that come from the lack of it. It was, in fact, this realization that influenced my decision not to stand idly by the processes that affect the future of my society, but instead to engage them proactively. KAEF was formative in this learning process for me and I hope that my colleague will gain similar insight as he pursues his education in the US"
The Kosovo American Education Fund is a perpetual fund dedicated to providing promising Kosovars with the opportunity for a master's level education at America's best universities. KAEF provides future leaders of Kosovo with the tools they need to promote the country's economic development.
In 2004, American Councils for International Education was awarded a contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to manage a Fund and administer scholarships to some of Kosovo's brightest students to study in US graduate schools. Since 2004, KAEF has operated as an independent entity that does not receive funds from the American government. Today, KAEF is supported largely through the charitable support of individuals and businesses in Kosovo, American supporters, and American universities. Please consider supporting the Fund that supports Kosovo.
To learn more, contact eromanova@americancouncils.org.