Etleva Malushaj

When Etleva was a little girl in Kosovo, she noticed something that didn’t seem fair.

While her brothers were encouraged to speak up, the girls in her neighborhood were often told to "be quiet" or "wait their turn." Even at school, when the teacher asked a question, the boys’ hands shot up first, while the girls hesitated—not because they didn’t know the answers, but because they’d been taught that their voices mattered less.

Etleva didn’t understand. Why should anyone stay silent just because they’re a girl?

As she grew older, she saw the same pattern everywhere. She noticed that women were left out of important decisions, their ideas ignored, their hard work overlooked. She knew Kosovo needed their voices, brilliance, and leadership. So she decided to do something about it.

Etleva joined the Kosovo Women’s Network, a group fighting for women’s rights. At first, change felt slow. Some people laughed and said, "This is just how things are." Others argued that women didn’t belong in politics or business. But Etleva refused to give up.

She traveled to villages, listening to women who’d never been asked what they needed. She helped train young girls to speak confidently in class. She reminded leaders that a country can’t move forward if half its people are left behind.

It wasn’t easy. Laws existed to protect women’s rights, but few enforced them. Money for women’s programs was scarce. Still, Etleva persisted.

"Every time a woman stands up for herself," she said, "she stands up for all women."

Years later, because of her work and the work of many brave women like her, more girls in Kosovo grow up knowing their voices matter. They see women in politics, in business, in leadership. They know they can be anything.

And it all started with a little girl who noticed something unfair and decided to change it.

By Ana Vladescu