US Fund allocates $1m for 28 scholarships for Kosovo women

Today, in the presence of US Congressman Eliot Engel, the Kosovo Milenium Foundation (MFK) at a special ceremony, shared 28 scholarships from the “Gratte scholarship program in Energy”.

This programme is dedicated to Kosovo women interested in studies that connect with the energy sector. The separate scholarships for 28 women are worth over $1m and are financed by the American Government through the MCC Mine Challenge Corps and implemented by the Kosovo Milenium Foundation (MFK).

The aim of the programme is to increase the number of Kosovo experts in priority areas for the Kosovo economy, such as air turbine technology, thermocentric management, renewable current, energy efficiency and others.

Following a national campaign to raise awareness of women's empowerment in the energy sector, the 28 students have been selected in an application process that hundreds of candidates -- selected from selective panels made up of combined teams of American and Kosovo experts.

These students will attend two-year professional studies in the Des Moines DMACC cholera, while during the study period they will be able to engage in practical work in selected fields.

During the ceremony, Congressman Eliot Engel stated: “I am very excited that today we are celebrating the finalisation of a concrete MCC-funded programme that focuses on women who want a career in the energy sector. The empowering of women is of critical importance to Kosovo's economy and economic growth, and also for overall social development. These scholarships will produce results where the greatest need is in the important energy field. I warmly wish the Kosovo Milenium Foundation and the local team for the implementation of this important project, and I wish to have 28 Kosovo bursist”.

In a previous statement, Sean Caircross, the MCC executive director, has stated: <x0-Program Women in Energy addresses the main factor that is slowing economic growth in Kosovo ) the lack of women in the labour market, especially in areas such as energy”.

Executive Director of the Kosovo Milenium Foundation (MFK) Petrit Selimi stated: “Program Krave in Energy has two main objectives, to increase professional expertise in priority areas that connect with the energy sector in Kosovo, but also to improve the major gap in the energy sector, where 92% employees are male. This programme aims to create a new generation of leaders that will inspire change in Kosovo”.

Today's ceremony included the screening of a short documentary film that relates the start of the 28 scholarships' journey towards schooling and construction of a career in the field of energy in Kosovo.

The Women's Stock Exchange Programme on Energy is part of a broad programme for women's advancement and providing equal opportunities in the energy sector-focused labour market. Energy Cases implemented by the Kosovo Milenium Foundation (MFK) and enabled by the American MCC agency.