November 12, 2025 | Wednesday
On a random day, he went into a local café to have a coffee. Just as Xhemail Sllovinja ordered his usual, he saw his childhood friend behind the bar. When he asked the waiter, “What is Besnik doing here?” Sllovinja found out that his friend had been working as a barista for quite some time and was really good at it.
“Of course, I got very emotional because it brought me back to our childhood memories,” says Sllovinja about this accidental encounter that turned into a walk down the memory lane with his friend Besnik. They sat and talked for a while. Every encounter with childhood friends is special, but this one was particularly meaningful for Xhemail. It marked the beginning of his journey to photographically document the everyday lives of persons with Down syndrome in Kosovo, including his friend from Ulpiana, Besnik.
Xhemail Sllovinja is a professional photographer who has been photographing for various media and institutions across Kosovo for 25 years. However, up to that point, he had been searching for a meaningful topic to portray for his first photography exhibition. He wanted this exhibition not only to represent his photography but also to convey an important message to the society.
After meeting Besnik, he decided this was going to be an exhibition depicting everyday lives of persons with Down syndrome living in Kosovo. He quickly got in touch with representatives of Down Syndrome Kosova, a local civil society organisation working to raise awareness about and provide services for persons with Down syndrome in Kosovo. Along with the Special Olympics Kosovo, Down Syndrome Kosova greatly helped Xhemail connect with more persons with Down syndrome and document their everyday lives.
“I must admit that before taking on this journey, I knew so little about the everyday lives of persons with Down syndrome,” says Sllovinja. However, he discovered a whole new world when he started photographing them, a world of people in Kosovo pursuing their dreams, hobbies, and careers when the right opportunities and conditions are provided. Speaking about his exhibition A World for Everyone, Sllovinja says that it has fulfilled him not only professionally but also spiritually.
A World for Everyone is Sllovinja’s first photography exhibition that was opened at Europe House Pristina from October 14 to October 31 in honour of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It was attended by many people and was greatly received by the viewers.
This exhibition holds special significance for Sllovinja, as it is dedicated to persons with Down syndrome in Kosovo and celebrates their contribution to society. It conveys a message of understanding, recognition, and advocacy for better conditions and equal opportunities for these individuals in Kosovo.