ABOUT SEKHMET
SEKHMET is a young NGO based in Prishtina. With our work, we intend to contribute to the democratization of Kosovo. For us, this means recognizing our individual civic duty to fight for justice through our work, to occupy the public space with competence and responsibility, and to nurture public processes which promote wellbeing for all.
SEKHMET promotes justice and respect for human rights, particularly of minorities and of those excluded from power, representation and recognition, by supporting inclusive social and cultural change. Our work takes the form of research and documentation, through cultural and artistic productions as well as advocacy and awareness-raising activities targeting the general public, mainly on women's and LGBT+ rights.
WHY SEKHMET
Sekhmet, “She who is Powerful”, is an Ancient Egyptian goddess of war. Half woman, half lioness, she is the daughter of Ra, the King of the Gods — and his most feared and revered servant. Implacable warrior and with limitless power, Sekhmet exacts revenge on all those who defy the laws of the gods by bringing injustice and imbalance onto the world. As dangerous as the desert, as mighty as the midday sun she wears as a crown, Sekhmet is the annihilator of bad things, she who allows for the restoration of order. As such, Sekhmet is also worshiped as the goddess of medicine, and of just retribution. Also known as Nesert, the “Burning Flame”, Sekhmet personifies raw power, defiant righteousness and unashamed femininity. Destroyer on one hand and creator on the other, mother of balance, she is a goddess of sexual liberation.
At SEKHMET, we celebrate the power of this ancient goddess, and her commitment to make all accountable before justice. We salute her resolve, stemming from her sacred duty to what is right, and her fearlessness in displaying her innate power. We honor the strength of her womanhood and of her unapologetic individuality, and the generative power of her public-spirited pursuit of justice.
ZANA BEGOLLI (she/her) is a highly motivated and creative Designer and Photographer, bringing boundless energy and passion to every project. With five years of experience in the design and photography field, she is dedicated to delivering excellence through hard work and innovation. Proficient in a wide range of industry-standard tools, Zana works with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Fresco, Lightroom, Figma, WordPress, as well as the Microsoft Office Suite and Google Apps Suite.
DESIGNER
WHO ARE WE
DARDAN HOTI (he/him) has over 10 years of experience in journalism, primarily covering human rights, with a particular focus on LGBTIQ+ rights. In 2013, he won the first Journalism Poverty Prize awarded by the United Nations Kosovo Team. From 2014 to 2021, Dardan served as a board member of the Kosovo Journalists Association. He is the researcher and producer of the documentary As I Was Looking Above, I Could See Myself Underneath, which explores the lives of LGBTIQ+ individuals in Kosovo. He is also producing the documentary I Have Never Been on an Airplane, supported by the Kosovo Cinematography Center. In 2023, he received the Women’s Empowerment Prize from the Kosovo Journalists Association. In 2024, he was awarded the Ethical Journalism Award from Article 19 and the EU Prize for Investigative Journalism in Kosovo.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
For our projects, we count on a network of collaborators in the fields of journalism, research, advocacy and culture.
ANYLA KABASHI (she/her) is an emerging art historian, researcher, and writer based in Pristina, Kosovo. Anyla completed her BA in Art History and Information and Communication Sciences in Zagreb and her MA in Semiotics in Budapest. During this time, she has been involved in researching feminist practices in Central European and the Balkans. She participated in the mediation program of MANIFESTA 14. Recently, she was an artist-in-residence at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna and worked on the curatorial team for the exhibitions Ancestral Clouds, Ancestral Claims, and Darker, Lighter, Puffy, Flat at Kunsthalle Wien. Anyla is interested in exploring visual languages and artistic discourses to better understand artistic creation, communication, contexts, realities, and mediation as processes of making meaning.
ART COORDINATOR
ALBANOI RETKOCERI (he/him) is an activist, researcher and aspiring writer. He finished his bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Prishtina, and throughout this time was actively involved in grassroots activism and research projects focused on social justice and education. Throughout his studies, he wrote on these issues, using research and storytelling to help highlight and speak up against injustices in Kosovo. He is also interested in digital media and content creation, exploring the combination of social engagement and creativity. His most recent experience was at Service Civil International, where he was engaged in digital campaigns and communication to promote volunteering initiatives. Beyond his work in activism, he is interested in creative writing, and explores short stories as a way to engage with social and political themes.
RESEARCHER & CONTENT CREATOR
NJOMZË ARIFI (they/she) has completed her Bachelor's studies in Psychology. She has also been part of several previous projects with Sekhmet before joining us as an assistant.
Her passions include music and working on human rights, with a focus on the LGBTIQ+ community.
PROJECT SPACE ASSISTANT
AGNESA BYTYÇi she/her) is completing her studies in Sociology at the University of Prishtina. Since last year, she has been the External Relations Representative for the European Youth Parliament of Kosovo (EYP Kosovo), and this year, she completed an internship at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (QKSS). Additionally, Agnesa has published and co-authored the research "Renegotiation of the Position of LGBTQI+ Communities in Public Space" for the organization CEL Kosova.
RESEARCHER