The story of Elvana Shala, Goodwill Ambassador for Kosovo, is moving, revealing an extraordinary story of strength, resilience and commitment to human rights, despite severe health challenges and societal prejudice.
Invited to the show "Personale" on Dukagjini TV, Shala revealed that it all started with a misdiagnosis in early childhood, which caused her permanent physical deformity and forced her to undergo ten serious surgeries over the years.
She confessed that the first two operations in Belgrade, during 1997–1998, not only failed, but were also accompanied by inhumane treatment and physical violence, simply because of her nationality.
After returning to Kosovo and being displaced during the war, Shala was treated in Switzerland, where doctors deemed further surgery too risky. The turning point in her life came in 2010, when she was treated by Albanian surgeon Dr. Floren Ramadani in Austria. The successful surgeries improved her health by 70–80 percent, giving her the opportunity to live a more active and independent life.
Despite the pain and months of bed rest, Shala did not stop her studies. She simultaneously completed her studies in Political Science and Journalism at the University of Prishtina, even spending the first year in a wheelchair.
During her studies, she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for Kosovo by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), becoming one of the country’s most prominent public diplomacy figures. Shala said that she initially faced strong prejudice from local politics due to her physical difficulties, but international support and hard work helped break down these barriers.
During her three mandates, she has represented Kosovo on almost all continents, including countries that do not recognize Kosovo's independence, winning important international awards such as the "Global Changemaker Award", the "Global Youth Leadership Award" and the "ICONIC Women's Award".
An important part of her mission has also been advocacy for people with disabilities. Shala stressed that Kosovo still faces a serious lack of infrastructure, inclusion in education and employment for these categories, adding that non-governmental organizations often do the work that the state should do.
She underlined that sensitive categories should not be used for political campaigns, but should be treated with dignity throughout the governing mandate. Through concrete projects, such as “Prishtina without barriers”, Shala has directly contributed to improving the infrastructure for people with mobility difficulties.
Regarding involvement in politics, Shala confirmed that he has received offers from political parties, but for the moment he has chosen to stay outside of them, believing that he can serve Kosovo more freely and effectively through public diplomacy and activism. /Telegrafi/
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