Over the past few months, Janjevё/Janjevo transformed into a vibrant hub, gathering girls and women of different communities, converging with the crafts masters with a common purpose: to share knowledge and gain new skills.
Embracing a “Learning by doing” philosophy, a series of skills development training in arts, crafts, embroidery, candle making, and much more, has united these women to expand their horizons across a spectrum of crafts, equipping themselves with the skills that can translate into sustainable income streams, fostering their path towards financial independence.
Sneak peek from the skills development training
As part of the “Cultural Heritage as a Driver for Economic Revival of Janjevё/Janjevo” project, five (5) NGOs designed and implemented educational and empowering activities, a collective effort that congregated over sixty (60) young girls and women, all eager to amass knowledge and hone skills, utilizing intangible cultural heritage.
The beginning of an exciting dream
The ongoing 7-month training programme, implemented by NGO “The Ideas Partnership” has more than 20 young girls and women who get together several times a week, to delve into the realms of sewing and embroidery. Participants explore traditional and contemporary techniques, acquiring new proficiencies and elevating existing talents.
Training for sewing, crafting, and embroidery
Feride Gashi, a participant with a modest prior sewing experience, found herself redefining her approach to design and creation, utilising traditional and contemporary methods.
“I wanted to learn how to take measurements, draft the pattern, cut the fabric, and assemble the garment. I’m happy that within a short time, I was able to learn to sew a dress by myself”, says Feride.
As no one in Feride’s family works - now that she attained experience in sewing and embroidery, she nurtures aspirations to establish her own sewing business.
A busy working day in Janjevё/Janjevo
Apart from attaining new skills, the women meet and socialize regularly, share everyday life moments, and build valuable friendships.
“These girls and women have become my second family and I would love to keep in touch in the future, but also see how we can join forces and create things together”, says Ganimete Abazi.
Ganimete is much keener on sewing and embroidery although to support her family she prepares homemade and traditional food such as flia and bakllava and sells it to a small established group of clients that trust her culinary skills.
“Working on traditional costumes such as dollama is a different level of dedication and joy. As I’m embroidering with these golden threads, I’m imagining myself in my future business which I would love to establish”, says Ganimete.
The trainer Violeta Luzhaj, with many years of experience in sewing and embroidery training, is impressed by the enthusiasm of Janjevё/Janjevo girls and women to learn.
All smiles handicraft ‘bee’
“These women have great potential, given a significant number of them boast prior experience in producing handicrafts. With our guidance and support, they have elevated their skill sets through modern approaches to sewing and embroidery”, says Violeta.
The trainees appreciate such initiatives offered to them as a step forward to leverage employment and self-employment opportunities.
Enchanting Glow of Imagination
Crafting atmosphere in the candle and resin training
Janjevё/Janjevo, renowned for its role as a melting pot of diverse Catholic communities, thrives as a hub of traditional and religious celebrations, often involving the use of candles. Recognising this cultural significance, a training initiative focused on the art of crafting candles emerged as a welcome endeavor, bearing a promise of a sustainable business venture. Besides initially catering to religious ceremonies, the prospect of expanding into decorative candles and offered to a broader market seems very promising.
Two training on candle making and resin, organised by NGO ‘Shpresa e Jetёs’, brought together ambitious women such as Mirjeta Gashi eager to acquire a new craft that may one day blossom into a full-fledged profession.
“The whole process of working with candle and resin is satisfying and interesting, yet very delicate. It requires a lot of patience as you also learn about mixing the substances, using the mould and solidification process”, Mirjeta explains to us.
Step by step- The process of working with candles and resin
Mirjeta is contemplating the prospect of pursuing her candle-making passion from the comfort of her own home since it doesn’t require many tools or a dedicated workspace. It can easily align with her role as a mother and a caretaker of her family – while enabling her to nurture her creative aspirations.
“I would love to make personalized candles related to Janjeve/o and sell them to a wider public”, says Mirjeta.
Proof that if you love it, you can succeed is Festё Beqiri, the trainer of the workshop for candles and resin who is using her talent, passion, and love for this craft – to motivate women to follow their dreams. She runs a small business, mostly selling candles and other works online, all while sharing her knowledge with other young girls and women.
“I started making and selling candles from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been doing so ever since and it has become a small sustainable business of mine”, says Festё.
Igniting the Spark of Entrepreneurship
Moments from the training for entrepreneurship with the NGO ‘Lady’
The training implemented in Janjevё/Janjevo, besides the aim to skill women in different crafts production, aims to contribute to their economic empowerment. Such is the training led by NGO “Lady” for the design and production of handicrafts, as well as for developing entrepreneurship skills.
Fatima has found the training for entrepreneurship very helpful, as she already works on traditional clothes for children at home for a small circle of clients.
All the things she learned “communicating with clients, how to sell products, and what it takes to own a successful business”, will help her with her plans of establishing a personal sustainable business.
“Hopefully, soon I will be able to expand my work and the variety of products”, says Fatima.
Creativity at its peak with women during the training with NGO “Lady”
As we celebrate all these ambitious and hardworking women on their journey to develop new skills for future employment or self-employment, we highlight UNDP’s and our partner's effort to build bridges among girls and women and support them towards their economic independence.
Story by: Mimoza Kqiku
Pictures: Xhemail Sllovinja, NGO ‘Lady’, NGO ‘Shpresa e Jetes
© 2026 UNDP Kosovo
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