Some stories don’t start with a strategy. They begin with a question. “What if kids with disabilities didn’t feel like outsiders?” – That was the question Rijad kept coming back to. Rijad, a young man living with quadriplegia, had already overcome more than most people face in a lifetime. But his biggest concern wasn’t just about his own challenges—it was about the quiet, everyday ways that young people with disabilities were being left out. Left out of activities. Left out of the conversation. Left out of the community. He didn’t have a formal organisation. He didn’t have any funding. But he had a question that wouldn’t go away. And that was enough to start.

The Heart Before the Name

What became Team Rijad was, at first, just a series of actions. Rijad gathered with families. Talked to the youth. Offered support. Spoke from lived experience. It was real. It was needed. But it wasn’t yet recognised. Team Rijad needed to establish legal registration and a formal structure, with the goal of not only broadening their impact and being part of decision-making processes, but also to scale up and broaden their impact. That’s when they sought the support of the Resource Center for Civil Society, and through a process of mentoring, co-creation, and careful listening, Team Rijad moved from intention to impact by refining the vision and purpose behind the work they do, crafting a statute and core documents and building governance model rooted in accountability and clarity.

“For me, it is incredibly valuable that Team Rijad became an organisation it was one of my biggest wishes as an advocate for the disability rights cause.” – Rijad Mehmeti, Founder of Team Rijad.

The Quiet Power of the Right Kind of Help

In 2024, Team Rijad officially registered as a non-governmental organisation in Kosovo.

It might sound bureaucratic, but for Rijad and his community, it was transformational. That status unlocked more than funding—it unlocked credibility, visibility, and voice. Now, when Team Rijad speaks, it speaks as an organisation backed by legal legitimacy and a clear strategic path. But the heart? It’s still the same. Team Rijad continues to work directly with youth, families, and institutions—building spaces where inclusion isn’t just a concept; it’s a daily practice.

“Founding Team Rijad has been a journey that the Resource Centre for Civil Society has made significantly easier and clearer for me as a founder. Their support has had a positive impact in every aspect, guiding and advising us on the concrete steps we as a foundation need to take in order to succeed in our field of work.” – Rijad Mehmeti, Founder of Team Rijad.

The success of Team Rijad isn’t about big numbers or dramatic headlines. It’s about showing what happens when the right support meets the right initiative. It’s about mentorship that listens first, and capacity building that adapts to needs. It’s about how small, thoughtful interventions can unlock long-term and impactful change.

This story was produced in coordination with the Kosovo Resource Centre for Civil Society.