In the Mitrovica of the past, Ferdane Shehu-Misini began her life’s journey as a teacher. Today, at 91, she is among the rare few who can eloquently recount periods that for most exist only in history books, but which for her are lived chapters. Her story gives the impression of a living book, spanning more than 150 years of Mitrovica’s history.
One of the ten women invited to the podcast series “Silent fairies — women of Mitrovica,” produced by our editorial team at Mitropol, Ferdanja becomes quite vocal when recalling her memories. She begins her story by carefully reconstructing her family’s history, before moving on to her educational journey — from her own schooling to her lifelong dedication in the classroom.
“I had 52 students in my class,” she recalls of her beginnings as a teacher in 1950. “They didn’t make any noise, but it was a lot.” When she asked for the class to be divided, the principal replied: “The parents have expressed their desire to have their children in your class.” She went on to teach 35 students at the “Meto Bajraktari” elementary school, where she worked for two years, then spent 16 years at the “Vlado Çetkovic” school — today known as “Anton Zako Çajupi.”
But Ferdanja didn’t stop there. In the mid-1960s, after the Mitrovica Educational Association reached an agreement with the Pedagogical University in Prizren, she devoted herself fully to teaching, attending lectures on Saturdays and Sundays for further training. “I gave my all there,” she recalls. Weekend lectures and difficult exams didn’t deter her. “I learned a lot… I studied regularly and passed.” She later served as a school principal for 12 years at “Vlado Çetkovic.”
Ferdanja retired in 1991, at a time when the situation in Kosovo was only worsening.
A platform for women who silently shaped Mitrovica.
Ferdanja’s story is just one of the many shared by the women of Mitrovica in our podcast series, a project we launched in January 2025. This podcast highlights the stories of women who have shaped the city but whose voices have rarely been heard
While many start the new year with fresh goals and ambitions, we at Mitropol approached it differently. This project had been with us for a long time, carried with a deep sense of responsibility and finally was taking shape — paving the way to share these rare stories.
The women featured in the series have contributed to various areas of public and social life in Mitrovica. Some are already known to the public, but for many, this was their first time speaking in the media. They shared stories that had never been told before: personal challenges, hard-earned successes and decades of tireless work done in silence. So far, the podcast has featured women who are or have been political activists, as well as professors and teachers who have made extraordinary contributions to education over the years.
Some of these ten stories, each more remarkable than the last, reminded us of the strength carried by the women of this city. Even during the most difficult times for the country — during repression and violent measures — they did not remain silent, becoming powerful voices of resistance, wisdom and collective memory.
Our work as an editorial team was immensely enriched through this project. Not only did we create a new format of communication through podcasts, but we also learned to listen better, understand more deeply and give space to those often overlooked in media discourse.
This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the media organization Kosovo 2.0, funded by the European Union (EU). For us, as a local media outlet, such support allowed us to bring to light a few of the hundreds of stories around us and to place the voices of the women of our city at the center.
For us at Mitropol, operating with limited resources, this project was also an opportunity to maintain our independence and financial stability for several months — a challenge that local media face every day. This experience reminded us once again of the importance of supporting organizations with vision and those that deeply understand the local context in which we work.
The project is not over yet. We are still in the field, meeting women who have something to say and are waiting to be heard.
The “Silent fairies” project is a living archive of our collective memory, built word by word by women who may not always have had a microphone in front of them, but have always had a strong voice. A voice worth listening to, preserving and passing on.
Feature image: K2.0
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