Saturday, May 19, 2012

TEDxPrishtina 2012: Sendërtim*

*Sendërtim is one of those singular words that lose their character when translated into another language. Its meaning in Albanian is: the act of bringing to life, of implementing, fulfilling.

The rapid construction of cities and villages in Kosovo has given us new buildings, wider roads and new coffee places.  The physical change of the urban image of the country is not the only modification Kosovar society is undergoing. Like construction investors – both locals and foreigners – a multitude of actors have rolled up their sleeves by interfering with the structure of Kosovo’s society in virtually all of its spheres. The models used in governance, economic reform, education, architecture, art and technology are borrowed or created specifically for the local context. Sometimes adequate and other times not, these social designs are changing the country’s panorama.

Like the unfinished houses that can be seen along the highways of Kosovo, societal constructions oftentimes are started by half-witted constructors with no adequate plans in place. Kosovars express this dichotomy enveloping the multitude of ideas being applied in their country, while sipping coffee after coffee.
 
In its second edition, TEDxPrishtina will offer a safe arena, where thoughts and ideas on societal designs of the last decade and the next one, will move from the setting of the café to a stimulating space, filled with a selected audience from the community of enthusiasts believing in ideas worth spreading.

At TEDxPrishtina 2012, firm and finished constructions and well-thought plans will be presented by artists, publicists, academics, by up-and-coming and well-established names in different disciplines.
As in the first edition, TEDxPrishtina aims at pushing the audience and the wider community to analyze, discuss, and take from the conference ideas that tackle the issues of the day in a proactive and alternative fashion.

To build with half-witted vision is not enough. At TEDxPrishtina 2012, ndërtimi (building) is transformed into SEndërtim (realization).