On this day in 2022, Fahrije Hoti, a brave and resilient woman from Kosova, was honored with the European of the Year Award. This accolade, bestowed by the EU Office and determined by public voting, recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted the European policy agenda by promoting European values. In 2021, the EU Office in Kosova invited the public to vote for individuals they believed had made such an impact. With over 6,000 votes, Fahrije Hoti triumphed over her competitors.

Fahrije’s inspiring story demonstrates the transformation of profound, heart-wrenching pain into courage and strength. Her home village, Krusha e Madhe, stands as a testament to the atrocities inflicted upon the people of Kosova during the 1999 war. Following the displacement of Krusha e Madhe’s women to Albania, the Serbian army ordered men aged 14 to 73 to line up before executing them all. Known for the brutal mass massacres that occurred there, Krusha e Madhe represents one of Kosova’s darkest chapters.

Upon returning home after the war, the women faced a grim choice: accept a life of poverty or find ways to rebuild in a place devoid of their loved ones and reduced to ashes. Defying all odds and fueled by immense determination, Fahrije now leads an all-women cooperative with over 50 employees. Producing traditional Balkan foods such as ajvar and pickled peppers, the cooperative supplies local grocery stores, and even exports to Switzerland. Fahrije’s story also inspired the internationally acclaimed film, Hive, portraying her persona as the protagonist of the movie.

While Fahrije embodies not only European values but also the universal virtues of human resilience and perseverance, the award serves as a tribute to all the war-affected and widowed women of Kosova, who have risen from the ashes to find life after death.