Interview with Leuart Gjidoda

One Year Leading the Albanian Community of Sisak-Moslavina County (ZASMŽ)

1. A year ago, you became President of ZASMŽ. Looking back today, what has this first year taught you?

The greatest lesson is that people often see only the events, celebrations, and photographs. What they do not see are the countless hours behind every project, every application, every meeting, and every decision.

This year has taught me that leading a community is not only about having ideas. It is about responsibility. It means answering calls, solving unexpected situations, managing administration and finances, cooperating with institutions, developing projects, and above all, working with people.

Everyone has different expectations, different ideas, and different needs. Finding a direction that respects everyone while also moving the community forward is probably the greatest challenge.

2. You succeeded Agim Gjidoda as President. What was that experience like for you?

Honestly, it is one of the greatest responsibilities of my life.

I witnessed firsthand how much Agim invested in this community. There were countless sleepless nights, thousands of kilometres on the road, journeys from city to city and from country to country, helping people, supporting associations, and constantly searching for new opportunities for the community.

One of his greatest legacies is our 160-square-metre space in the very centre of Kutina, secured through projects, public calls, and years of dedicated work. This was not a matter of luck, but the result of persistence, vision, and enormous effort.

Sometimes I ask myself how he managed to accomplish everything. There are days when I barely have enough time to handle administration, invoices, and daily responsibilities, let alone develop new projects and prepare applications.

Very often, I catch myself reaching for the phone to call him, just as I believe many others do. Today, we would say that he was the kind of person who always knew how to find a solution — a mentor and someone you could always rely on.

That has given me even greater respect for everything he achieved. I have never viewed my role as a replacement for him. My task is to continue building on what he created, while bringing my own experience, ideas, and vision for the future.

I hope he would be proud of the direction we are taking, and I am proud to be able to continue his work.

3. Has your vision for ZASMŽ changed since you took over leadership?

The first year was primarily a year of learning, understanding the way the organisation works, and continuing activities that had already been planned.

This year is different. This is the year in which we begin bringing the vision we promised to life.

Alongside preserving our language, tradition, and identity, we want to develop projects that connect culture with creativity, innovation, and the digital world.

Among the projects we are preparing are the presentation of the tradition “Nusja e Pikturuar” (the date will be announced at a later time), as well as our central event on 19 September 2026 in Kutina, dedicated to women, identity, and the future.