Let’s go lead the world! To say that Flurim Aliu is driven is an understatement, but it is because he has seen his loved ones separated by war and instability. He has seen his homeland recover from conflict, but it is not yet flourishing. He is determined to drive that change. The first time Flurim Aliu left home, he hid under the seat of a
For this reason, Aliu sees family time as precious. Although, he
Born during conflict culminating in the 1998-99 war that
“This time I left voluntarily,” he said. “I left to pursue my dream
bus. Only two years old, he was escaping a war.
dismantled the nation of Yugoslavia, Aliu was among about one
million displaced Albanians. For his safety, Aliu’s parents sent him to live with his grandparents in Germany.
“I grew up not really knowing my parents,” he said. “I saw
chose to leave home again.
in the land of opportunity.”
That dream is to become a politician who can help lead his young nation of Kosovo to prosperity.
pictures and I heard stories, but I never saw them. I didn’t sit
“Even after almost 10 years, my people are still some of the
monsters were hiding under my bed.”
families to find jobs to feed them,” he said. “I want to change
When Aliu returned a few years later, his grandmother told him
condition she is in right now. I want to be a good big brother to
on their laps and listen to fairytales, or go to their room when
to hug his father, but he didn’t know who his father was and approached a cousin instead.
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poorest in Europe, and they must still move away from their
that. Kosovo and I grew up together, and it hurts me to see the her and hold her hand while she learns to walk – so her future and that of her people can be better.”
