World Down Syndrome Day is being marked today under the motto “End the stereotypes“. Down Syndrome Kosova (DSK) works diligently every day to promote, respect, and protect the rights of individuals with Down syndrome in Kosovo, as well as their families.

For her outstanding contribution to the advancement of democracy in Kosovar society, last year #𝐊𝐂𝐒𝐅 awarded the Democracy Award 2022 to Mrs. Sebahate Hajdini-Beqiri, an activist for the Down syndrome community in Kosovo, a mother of a child with Down syndrome, and the founder of Down Syndrome Kosovo. Hajdini-Beqiri has been dedicated to improving the general well-being of people with Down syndrome in Kosovo for years. Throughout the year 2022, she worked alongside her colleagues to mobilize the Down syndrome community in Gjilan, and successfully opened the first Down Syndrome Kosovo center in this city, a achievement that was recognised with the Democracy Award.

Within the KCSF program “𝐄𝐣𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞”, the DSK, with the support of the Organizational Development Grant and the Emergency Grant, successfully increase capacities and engage the Down syndrome community and their families in advocacy efforts. The program played a key role in strengthening organizational structures by developing internal regulations, policies, and documentation for the decentralization of DSK’s local centers.

In addition, a series of activities were carried out at the local level aimed at providing comprehensive education, promoting social integration, and fostering individual independence and autonomy for people with Down syndrome.

KCSF remains committed to supporting civil society in its efforts and valuable work towards causes that promote equality and dignity for every citizen. Therefore, today and always we join the call to put an end to stereotypes.

DSK is supported by the EJA Kosovo Program, which is a KCSF program that supports civil society and is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Sweden.

*Stereotypes are prejudices that people form about the characteristics of someone or something, which are often incorrect or wrong because they are based mainly on limited information or personal experiences. Once a stereotype is formed, it can be challenging to break or change. Stereotypes create obstacles in treating individuals with Down syndrome as equal individuals to others.