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Name:
Luan Hasanaj
Company/NGO Name:
Let’s Do It Kosova!
Region, Country:
Kosovo
1. What is the mission of your company/NGO?
Our mission is to address the environmental problems in the institutions as well as to activate the society to carry out concrete actions for environmental protection and conservation.
2. What is the most innovative or environmentally/socially impactful project/practice your company/NGO has implemented?
Definitely it is the way of finding the interest of all stakeholders to participate in our campaign, through giving ownership to everyone. Of course, the big campaign “Let’s Clean Up Kosovo”, which is concretized with the big action on a single day starting at 10:00 AM, is one of the most innovative activities with tens of thousands of volunteers all over the country. Also, the campaign in social media and the inclusion of public figures in it, has greatly influenced people to participate!
3. How have those projects positively impacted the local community and/ or your country?
For seven years over 300 thousand volunteers have participated in our activities, that means around 20% of the citizens of the country. Over 500 illegal dumpsites have been removed within our projects, there have been build dozens of parks, so we have had many people come out and move to solve the problem of the waste.
4. Please share any new projects you will be implementing in the near future.
Cleaning of some rivers in Kosovo and starting planting trees in some destroyed forests will be a more immediate activity that will be realized, while the main activity to be developed meanwhile is the preparations for organizing the World Cleanup Day that will take place on 15th of September 2018, a day in which more than 150 countries of the world will mobilize over 5% of their population to make the greatest organization ever to clean the world on a single day. Without wanting to be modest we are preparing that on that day to have over 100 thousand volunteers out for the clean up and Kosovo to become the most successful country within the huge organization of this great activity and at the same time we want that on 15th of September to mark the end of waste pollution in our country.
5. What are your top 3 career accomplishments?
1. Achievement to make the problem of environmental pollution a topic of debates in almost all possible forums, as well as making Kosovo part of a large global environmental movement.
2. Creation of an environmental movement that has already become an address for solving environmental problems in Kosovo. My organization is a role model in many countries around the world.
3. Creating opportunities for many young people that join our organization, since Let’s Do It Kosova has always been a great experience for the youth who have passed through our organization and are now in very good positions.
6. What inspired you to choose your career path?
Absolutely the great desire to contribute to society and the conviction that only an active society/citizenship can influence the improvement of life, and seeing that society has lost faith in it, I have chosen the environment as something that directly affects people’s lives and stimulates an activation to change this conviction, and it will definitely change it. Different examples around the world have been and are also a great inspiration for me, as well as problems and challenges countries have, make me work even harder for my country.
7. Personally—Why do you care about sustainability? What is your story?
I try to regularly keep the topic of the polluted environment in the top of the discussions, we organize activities regularly, but when we receive big ‘waste threats’ then it’s the time to immediately react by organizing clean up activities which for sure receive the attention of the people. Usually, the cleaning actions are appropriate to raise the awareness.
8. What is/are the biggest incentive(s) for businesses in your country to adopt sustainable practices?
I think that opening up the market to other countries is in the interest of businesses in our country, production as well. There is more trade in Kosovo than production, so this area would be of interest to businesses.
9. What is/are the biggest environmental or social challenge(s) facing your country today?
The main challenge is the beginning of recycling, and I will divide it into two segments that go along with each other: State support for companies (businesses) that want to recycle and the raise awareness on the importance of waste sorting. I consider that the next challenge is the way waste companies in Kosovo operate. Another major challenge is the pollution of rivers and air.
It is also a challenge to create trust for our seriousness in this campaign, because many other previous organizations have failed in this.
10. What is the most positive action your country has taken to positively impact its environment or social well-being?
During October, Kosovo was in the electoral campaign for local elections, which is still ongoing. Unlike all the past campaigns (three months ago was the campaign for national elections) this time the problem of environmental pollution was among the main topics that have been discussed everywhere, I think one of the factors is our campaign. Our impact is everywhere, it is impossible for us that when there is a serious speaking about environmental activities to miss it.
Bonus Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on climate change? What is your company/organization doing to help bring awareness or to help mitigate climate change?
The world is facing great environmental problems and a lot of concerns, even climate changes. Our activities also are related to climate changes, especially planting trees and promoting the use of alternative energy.
2. What are the biggest challenges you have faced when pursuing or trying to promote sustainable practices/projects?
The main challenge is the official policies of the institutions, but also the potential partners, being an organization in the views of many actors is “implementing their projects” and not directly affecting the solution of a problem, and another challenge is also the participation of the community.
3. How dedicated are your nation’s businesses to corporate social responsibility? List some practices you think would be helpful.
Unfortunately, there are not so many good examples of socially responsible businesses, perhaps because we are still a transitional society, there are some small steps e.g. involvement of some women of rural areas and some small youth projects. I consider it necessary to have a promotional and motivating campaign for their importance.
To learn more, please visit Let’s Do It Kosova! on their website and social media:
https://web.facebook.com/letsdoitkosovo/
https://web.facebook.com/luanhasanaj
https://www.instagram.com/letsdoitkosova/