People: Hajrije Ahmed

Enjoy and dance through your life

Professional experience: Programme coordinator at the Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia

Engagement in the civic sector: From 1998 to 2001 she was engaged at the "Union of Albanian Women in Macedonia", she was vice-president of UAWM - Cair Branch for two years and since 2002 she has been employed at FOSIM as coordinator of the programme "Improving the interethnic relations in Macedonia, financed by the Foundation Open Society Institute, Foundation King Bouduen and the Foundation Charles Stewart Mott.

Ambitions: Quality, on-time and efficient completion of the tasks. Every new experience is welcomed.

Hobbies and interests: Reading books, listening to music and most of my free time is dedicated to the games and walks with my son. My attention is largely attracted by the activities of the various civic initiatives that are in direction of a general well being.

In her free time she reads: I still have many books waiting for me to read them in my room. The last book I read was "New Life" by Orhan Pamuk. At the moment I am reading the book "Lost in the Heaven's Garden" by Bozin Pavlovski.  

At weekends: I am really looking forward to the weekends and then I dedicate myself completely to my family - being with my husband and my son. After the regular morning coffee and breakfast I do the housework. I try to spend the rest of the time by doing all the things I'd missed during the weekdays.

Toughest decision: I think that most of the decisions I have made in my life were right. For all things, planned or unplanned, good or bad, I say: That's it, everything will work out eventually, this is an experience for the future".  

Which national (local) problem does she find especially important and why: We live in a country in transition that needs support by us, the citizens. This is where I see the connection and the cooperation of the governmental and the non-governmental sector, because if we want to build a successful, democratic and stable civil society, we need to contribute together, each one within his/her own competence. Although the awareness and the desire are not awakened completely, I believe that we want and we can do better things. The economic - social condition of the citizens, the society that is fully dominated by the politics, the interethnic intolerance, the corruption and most of all the unemployment.

Which global problem does she find especially important and why: The terrorism and the military conflicts as stagnation in the development of the humankind.

What would she change in Macedonia and the world: I wish there were no wars, no conflicts, I wish that people loved and respected each other more, regardless of their nationality or religion. I wish to see Macedonia a member of EU soon.

Advice (message):  Enjoy and dance through your life. Respect others' opinion, but do not always and unconditionally accept their attitudes.