The experiences of women who migrated from Kosovo to the West during the 1990s or earlier remain largely unaddressed or marginalised in current Kosovar-Albanian migration narratives.

With this in mind, we will begin periodic conversations with the generation of women who moved to the diaspora with their families or claimed asylum on their own.

To begin this series, I interviewed my mother, Ilirjetë Agushi-Kqiku, to share her perspective on migration and the significance of leaving Kosovo with three children, undertaking a three-week journey while pregnant, to shed light on how this experience has shaped Ilirjetë’s life to this day.

lirjetë Agushi-Kqiku will be our guest for the episode: 'Silent(ced) Mothers and Women'

Ilirjetë Agushi-Kqiku was born in Gjilan, Kosovo, where she completed her A-Levels and attended a teacher training school, as it was known in former Yugoslavia.

At the age of 32, together with her husband and children, Ilirjetë moved to Augsburg, Germany, where she now lives and works in gastronomy.Ilirjete speaks Albanian, German, French, and Bosnian/ Croatian/Serbian.

Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental

Interlude: Muharrem Qena, 'Mallëngjimi'.