Kosovo Rotary Team Visits Western PA, Kittanning

by Jonathan Weaver

Kittanning’s Rotary Club had some international visitors during Monday’s meeting.

As part of the Rotary Friendship Exchange program, a team from Rotary Club Gjakova-Qabrati (Kosovo) was in Western Pennsylvania the past two weeks. They will leave Saturday.

A team of 14 Rotarians from Pennsylvania’s District 7280 visited Kosovo last Summer.

Rotary Member Mike McElhaney, of Armstrong Habitat for Humanity, was part of that team and has housed the seven international Rotarians. The seven-member team visited Washington, D.C., Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh during their local visit, as well as other Rotary Clubs in Slippery Rock, Butler and Zelienople.

“They took care of me while I was in Kosovo, so the least I could do was take a few of them in my house,” McElhaney said. “They accept people and are much-more caring than (Americans) are. They open their hearts and their houses to anyone

Butrint Batalli – the outgoing president of the Rotary Club Gjakova-Qabrati in Kosovo – gave a half-hour presentation on the club’s activities and service – including telemedicine in Gjakova municipalities, a scholarship fund for students and breast cancer awareness.

Rotary Gjakova-Qabrati, which was founded by Batalli’s wife, has more than 30 active members – including lawyers, artists and pharmacists - and eight honorary members.

“We are so amazed for the hospitality and what we have seen here, and with helping to support our projects and activities back in Kosova,” Batalli said. “Thank you, and that’s hope our friendship will last forever.”

As Kittanning Rotary members to Armstrong School District students, Gjakova-Qabrati’s club donated books to an elementary school and a regional library, as well as has distributed food, hygiene products and clothing through the Red Cross.

“We have been blessed to receive about 8,000 books from a Rotarian in the United Kingdom,” Batalli said.

Batalli – an economist, lecturer and consultant - said this was his second trip to the United States. For instance, Batalli visited the Rotary Club of Zelienople in June 2015.

Rotary District 7280 Governor Ruzhdi Bakalli, President of PCED Inc. -a non-profit economic-development organization in Warren County – founded Kosova’s Rotary organization after returning to the country in June 2000.

Because of his dedication, Bakalli was named honorary president for life of the Gjakova club.

Bakalli also founded and chartered the second Rotary Club in Gjakova – the Rotary Club of Gjakova-Qabrati – about a decade later. Another Rotary Club in the region has also been established.

Bakalli – who also donated $20,000 to help an elementary school - was born in Gjakova, served as a member of parliament and was one of the founders of the Declaration of Independence of Kosova in 1990.

McElhaney said the District 7280 team last year got to walk through the elementary school and was amazed.

Fidim Koshi – a legal advisor in Gjakokova – has been in Rotary since 2013. He came to Western Pennsylvania this Summer with his wife.

“The experience was perfect,” Koshi said. “One of the most interesting things was the Amish. It was like different worlds.”

Koshi said the club also exchanged banners with a Rotary group in Brussels – the capital of Belgium – last year.

Monday was the inaugural meeting for Kittanning Rotary President Bret Atwood. He was surprised most if not all members are under the age of 40 and the group’s involvement.

“They’re a young group – very ambitious,” Atwood said.

“Rotary Day” in Kosova is celebrated annually April 28.

The following video is of Butrint Batalli – the outgoing president of the Rotary Club Gjakova-Qabrati in Kosovo - expressing gratitude for American support of international projects.

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