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Home/About Rilindja Gjelbër

About Rilindja Gjelbër

A community-based environmental organisation from Peja, working for a green and clean Kosovo since 2012.

Our story

From neighbours with bin bags to a regional organisation.

Rilindja Gjelbër began in 2012 as a citizens’ initiative in Peja, organising clean-ups with neighbours, schools, businesses and municipal officials. It was registered as an association on 3 July 2014 under the name Let’s Do It Peja.

In 2024 the Members’ Assembly decided to rebrand as Rilindja Gjelbër. The new name reflects a broader focus on sustainable development.

Today we work across six areas: air, water, soil, waste, energy and biodiversity. We follow the principle of leaving no one behind, and young people are our main target group.

Vision

A Green and Clean Kosovo

Mission

We advocate, educate and cooperate for the protection of the environment.

Timeline

Fourteen years in nine moments.

2012

Citizens start cleaning up

A citizens’ initiative begins annual clean-up campaigns across Peja municipality, running until 2021.

2014

Registered as an NGO

Registered on 3 July as Let’s Do It Peja. Early projects bring waste separation at source to schools and public buildings.

2016–18

Schools, rivers and neighbours

School gardens, Drini River Day with partners in Albania, and projects that bring Albanian and Serb students together around the environment.

2019

The Lumbardhi river protest

On 25 February a mass protest, built with other civil society groups in Peja, stopped plans for small hydropower plants in Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park.

2021

Air, water and circular economy

United for Clean Air starts, and the SEREC project sets up a textile-waste collection system and the 3R thrift shop, which still operates.

2022–24

Clean water as a right

Promoting Universal Access to Clean Water produces policy briefs, monitors four river basins and sets up 22 Local Water Councils.

2024

A new name

The Members’ Assembly votes on 3 July to rebrand as Rilindja Gjelbër. The NGO Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs validates it on 6 September.

2025

Regional recognition

Named the civil society organisation with the most significant contribution to the circular economy in the Western Balkans.

2026

Scaling up

Circular-Textile-Balkans begins. Deploy-PED, a Horizon Europe project with Gjakova, is set for 2027.

People

The team.

The organisation is governed by a Members’ Assembly and an Advisory Board. The Executive Director runs daily operations with full-time staff, external experts and a network of 54 volunteers and members.

Urim Xharavina

Founder and Executive Director

Majlinda Kelmendi

Program Manager

Arjan Harxhi

Director of Administration and Finance

Ardora Bilibani

Project Manager

How we work

Our values.

Professionalism

Integrity

Trustworthiness

Collaboration

Transparency

Inclusivity

Quality and recognition

ISO 9001:2015

Quality Management System certified by TÜV NORD CERT GmbH.

European Solidarity Corps Quality Label

Supporting and receiving organisation until the end of 2027 (Reg. No. 2020-1-SI02-ESC52-015729).

Western Balkans circular economy award, 2025

Civil society organisation with the most significant contribution, awarded by the Western Balkans Circular Economy Hub with the Chambers of Commerce of the six countries.

Networks

Peja Cultural Organization Network (RROK) · founding memberKosovo National CSO Network (CIVIKOS)MV International Network (MVI) · founding memberKosovo CSO Environment Network · founding memberGlobal Waste Cleaning Network (GWCN)Kosovo Circular Economy Network · founding memberEuropean Fund for the Balkans (EFB)

We also sit on steering groups and advisory bodies, including the US Peace Corps Project Advisory Committee and national and municipal working groups.

Help us keep Kosovo green.

Donate, volunteer or work with us on the next project.

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