The Journey of Shkolla Digjitale and StarLabs: Interview with Hana Qerimi and Darsej Rizaj on Radio Urban FM

Co-founders and leaders of Shkolla Digjitale and StarLabs, Hana Qerimi and Darsej Rizaj, were special guests on the Terminal Podcast of Radio Urban FM, where they shared with listeners the inspiring stories of the two companies, starting from their founding, the education of children aged 8 to 18 in the field of programming, the support and employment of programmers, the impact on this sector locally, and up to success and cooperation internationally. Initially, they talked about the first steps towards the founding of Shkolla Digjitale seven years ago, which started as an idea to create a course for children and young people where they would learn programming languages, an idea that began with a budget from their savings and the help of family members, always with the aim of developing a school of the largest possible scale. "At that time, we saw the great shortage of programmers in Kosovo, so our idea was to create a school where children of early ages could learn about technology and programming, so we started with awareness campaigns about learning programming where the first students began to show successful results with the development of their own applications," said Hana.

One of the key success factors of Shkolla Digjitale and StarLabs was the clear business strategy as well as the ability to build a strong and dedicated team, and this made their companies innovative and offering quality solutions to clients. During the interview, one of the greatest achievements for both companies was also mentioned, the experience as part of the delegation of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, in the European Parliament, which has echoed the successful journey of Shkolla Digjitale and StarLabs. Our companies were part of the delegation that best represents our country with their story and international success, turning startups into global brands with over 500 locations worldwide and making Kosovo a leader in the region as a technology hub. They also announced the organization of the Summer School for children, as a request from parents and young people for creative engagements and activities to enjoy the summer holidays to the fullest. Through its summer program, Shkolla Digjitale offers learning in the most current fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, 3D game development, e-sports, and 'online' broadcasts. "During the Summer School, children also learn about the main concepts of Artificial Intelligence, its applications in real life, as well as how new trends like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Smart Tools, etc. work, in order to use them for their needs. Also, they learn how to train artificial intelligence to play various games," added Darsej regarding the Summer School curriculum. From their initially difficult journey to their great local and international successes, Hana and Darsej are today an inspiring story for many other people who want to follow their passion and build a bright future in the world of technology. Watch the full interview here: Interview