2025 – The Year That Changed Our Direction

Some years are not remembered for the number of events or projects they bring. They are remembered for the moments that change the direction of a journey.

For the Albanian Community of Sisak-Moslavina County (ZASMŽ), 2025 was such a year.

The sudden passing of President Agim Gjidoda left a void that could not be easily filled. His years of dedication, commitment to the community, and contribution to the development of ZASMŽ created strong foundations on which we continue to build today.

Throughout the year, the organisation underwent a restructuring process, and a new leadership team was elected with the aim of preserving continuity and defining a new path for future development.

This new direction did not mean breaking away from what had been built over the years. On the contrary.

Our core values remained the same:

preserving the language
preserving culture
preserving identity
strengthening community unity

At the same time, we opened the door to new priorities:

greater visibility of the Community
stronger cooperation with institutions
work with young people
digital communication
international partnerships

We launched the official website, established official social media profiles, and began developing a more modern way of communicating with our members, partners, and the wider public.

The year concluded with cultural programmes that further confirmed the importance of community and togetherness:

the exhibition “Faces of the World”
the ethnographic presentation “Sofra – The Heart of the Albanian Home”
the closing event “SOFRA – Days of Albanian Culture”, which brought together community members, artists, partners, and guests from Croatia and abroad.

2025 was not only a year of change.

It was a year in which the foundations were laid for what we want to build in the years ahead.

Key Projects Until the End of 2026

The second half of 2026 will be marked by several key projects aimed at further strengthening the cultural visibility of the Albanian community in Croatia, developing new international partnerships, and creating opportunities for cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the involvement of new generations.

19 September 2026 – Woman. Identity. Future.

Through this event dedicated to women, identity, and the future, we aim to bring together inspiring guests from Croatia, Kosovo, Albania, and the diaspora, while creating a space for dialogue about the role of women in preserving identity, culture, art, creative industries, and the future of our community.

The programme includes:

conversations with guest speakers
presentations of their projects
cultural programmes
an exhibition
Albanian cuisine
gatherings and networking among community members

The goal of this event is not only to organise another cultural programme, but to create a platform that will connect people, ideas, and new collaborations in the long term.

The event is envisioned as the beginning of a new platform that will, year after year, continue to…

Nusja e Pikturuar

Following the September event, activities will continue on the implementation of the project “Nusja e Pikturuar”, one of the most significant cultural projects developed by ZASMŽ.

This is one of the most ambitious cultural projects, aiming to present a unique Albanian cultural tradition to the Croatian audience and further strengthen cultural cooperation between Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo.

2027 – Projects in Development

Although the full implementation of the URË and KUVENDO projects is planned for 2027, their development has been underway for some time.

URË

The URË project is being developed as a platform that connects Albanians in Croatia with successful individuals, organisations, and innovative projects from Albania, Kosovo, and the diaspora.

During 2026, the focus is on:

developing the concept
establishing international partnerships
preparing the programme framework

The full implementation of the project is planned for 2027.

KUVENDO

The development of the KUVENDO project began in 2025, when the first foundations of the concept were established and preparations for its long-term implementation began.

During 2026, the project continued to develop through: