From June 11–14, 2024, Artpolis – Art and Community Center hosted the UNMASC Artistic Research Interviews, conducted by Shqipe Malushi as part of the ongoing artistic process of the UNMASC Project. Over four days, 34 individuals were contacted and 17 participated—12 women and 5 men—representing diverse professions including artists, activists, authors, journalists, actors, and students. The ages ranged from 1953 to 2006, providing a rich intergenerational perspective.
Participants were asked three central questions about their past, present, and hopes for the future. Women shared stories shaped by war, trauma, gender-based violence, and social inequality, highlighting both resilience and systemic barriers. Men, too, expressed emotional vulnerability—recounting childhood memories, the burden of unhealed war trauma, and ongoing uncertainty in a shifting society.
On June 14, two focus group interviews deepened the inquiry. Group 1 emphasized the role of art and education in dismantling patriarchal norms, especially through tools like theater and body-mapping with youth. Group 2 focused on digital advocacy, proposing that marginalized voices be amplified via podcasts and social media to build inclusive change.
The interviews were deeply emotional—marked by tears, laughter, fear, and a shared desire for transformation. Some participants expressed uncertainty about the future, while others saw art as a vital tool for societal healing and empowerment.
These testimonies will inform the upcoming theater performance of UNMASC and contribute to broader efforts toward gender justice and inclusion. The transcripts will be translated and anonymized to preserve participants’ confidentiality.
Who is Shqipe Malushi – Founder of Global Visionary Minds | Poet of Possibility | Architect of Empowerment
Shqipe Malushi is a poet, writer, performer, public speaker, gender adviser, producer, empowerment coach, and transformative leadership trainer whose voice rises at the crossroads of creativity, resilience, and global healing. As the visionary founder of Global Visionary Minds (GVM), she harnesses the timeless power of storytelling to awaken consciousness, cultivate leadership, and bridge divides across cultures and generations.
Born in Kosovo and shaped by the tides of displacement, Shqipe journeyed from immigrant to world citizen—her path marked not by borders, but by bridges. Through the written word and spoken truth, she has touched lives in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq, India, Kosovo, Albania, Northern Macedonia, Ethiopia and the United States, empowering women and youth in places where hope was once a whisper.
Her poetry has been published internationally, and her performances echo with the power of love, healing, and the sacred right to dream. With courage and compassion, Shqipe leads humanitarian initiatives that dissolve barriers of race, religion, and gender, fostering unity where division once stood. Whether on stage or in the classroom, her voice inspires transformation.
Her extraordinary work has earned her global recognition, including:
* Laureate of Women’s Rights, Kosovo 2023
* Iconic Women’s Leadership Award by the Women’s Economic Forum, India (2016)
* Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International (2008) for peacebuilding
* Woman of the Year, Refugee Women’s Network, USA (2003)
* Ambassador for Peace, Interreligious & International Federation for World Peace (2003)
* NATO Medal for Kosovo Peacekeeping (1999)
… and many more, each a reflection of her unwavering commitment to love in action.
Through Global Visionary Minds, Shqipe continues to light the way for young changemakers—educating, inspiring, and empowering emerging leaders to rise beyond limitation and build a just, compassionate world.
Shqipe’s literary mastery is internationally recognized, with her impactful stories and
poems featured in publications such as “The Haunted Land,” “For You,” “The Blue World of
Dreams,” and “The Midnight Journey.” Among her compelling narratives are tales like “The Gift
of the Prophets,” “The Secret of Dreams,” and “Beyond the Walls of the Forgotten Land: Albanian Mythological Tales as Told by Her Grandmother!”
She lives by one truth:
“When stories are spoken with love, they do not just heal. They ignite change.”
