Junior Geeks 2.0 builds upon the success of the original AEIF project, which successfully established innovation-driven clubs for talented students. Its major goal relies on the potential for extending the development of a platform for youth to learn, innovate and share skills and ideas from STEM, utilizing the brainpower and mentorship of US programs alumni in Kosovo. Junior Geeks 2.0 program proposes to create an inclusive school-based and an online platform for high school students, called “Junior Geeks” in nine (9) major municipalities in Kosovo. These clubs and the online platform will serve as a unique educative resource that will help young students and their peers, develop intellectually and become more familiar with STEM subjects, and related career paths, and ultimately learn to contribute to innovation and other modern solutions. Some of the topics that the program will cover are the basics of computing and programming, robotics, AI and machine learning, multimedia, cybersecurity, game development, scientific research, and data analysis and project management. Information on these subjects is clearly lacking in the current education system and the alumni will strive to further cooperate with institutions such as the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in Kosovo, during its course.

Shkendije Himaj is the Coordinator for General Functions at the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK) in charge of overseeing the departments of Financial Stability and Economic Analysis, Risk Management, Finance, Legal and External Relation. On behalf of the CBK, she chairs the Management Board of the Deposit Insurance Fund of Kosovo and the Macroprudential Committee. Ms. Himaj has engaged academically as a Lecturer in the Field of Finance, Management, and Leadership and contributes with her writing to a wide range of academic publications. She holds a Master of Economic Science – Finance and Accounting and a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and is a Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of Economics-University of Ljubljana. As IVLP alumni, she has been actively involved in implementing community-based projects on a voluntary basis designed for youth and women empowerment. She was elected KUSA Board member in 2015.

Shkendije Himaj – KUSA Alumni of the Year 2020. Ms. Himaj was chosen for her active participation in KUSA activities, such as #rriNshpi campaign, 4th of July Video, and KUSA Networking Campaign. She was also elected as one of KUSA’s board members in the latest elections, and until now she has an excellent participation rate. She has also ideated projects, and activities KUSA can implement in the following months.