14/06/2026
Rotary Club Prishtina International held its regular meeting on June 10, and had a pleasure to welcome guest speaker Dave Duca from the Rotary Club of Minneapolis South, along with Sercan R. Halil of Rotary Club Sofia International who happened to be in Prishtina and he joined our meeting in Metropol, and his friend Zijadin Gujanovci, agricultural engineer.
President Fitore Shrock opened the meeting by warmly welcoming our guests, after which participants introduced themselves and shared information about their professions and areas of expertise.
Dave shared his inspiring Rotary journey, which began through the Rotary Youth Exchange program when his daughter participated in an exchange year in Germany. This experience introduced him to Rotary and inspired a lasting commitment to service.
For the past 15 years, Dave has been actively involved in Rotary programs that empower young people and strengthen communities. He spoke about his work with Rotary Youth Exchange students, helping young people experience new cultures, broaden their perspectives, and build lifelong friendships across the world.
He also highlighted his involvement with Camp Enterprise, a Rotary-sponsored leadership and entrepreneurship program in Minnesota where over 100 students work in teams to develop business plans and present their ideas to venture capitalists. Serving as a mentor, Dave helped students develop leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Reflecting on Rotary’s values, Dave shared a quote from Rotary International President John Paul Lang (1956–57):
"The spirit of Rotary is not exclusive. It expands to find what we have in common."
Dave also presented several impactful humanitarian and educational projects:
💻 Haiti Computer Project (2014) – Through a District Grant, approximately 50 computers were prepared and shipped to a nonprofit school in Haiti following the devastating earthquake, providing students with valuable educational resources for years afterward.
📚 Educational Project in Cape Town, South Africa – Dave and fellow volunteers delivered STEM and computer programming education to middle and high school students, demonstrating the power of international cooperation in expanding educational opportunities.
Throughout his presentation, Dave emphasized that Rotary has become another family, connecting people from different cultures and backgrounds through friendship, service, and shared values.
Sercan presented the impressive achievements of Rotary Club Sofia International, a diverse club of approximately 38 members representing 21 countries and holding weekly hybrid meetings at the Hilton Sofia.
The club's primary focus is healthcare, supporting hospitals throughout Bulgaria with medical equipment and assistance, particularly in underserved regions.
Among its major achievements:
🏥 A USD 120,000 medical equipment project implemented in partnership with Rotary clubs in Denmark.
🏥 A new EUR 200,000 project that will provide 144 hospital beds.
🏥 Support for the establishment of a specialized hematological hospital providing free treatment to patients across Bulgaria.
☀️ Financing solar panels worth approximately USD 50,000 for the hospital through fundraising efforts and international support.
🌱 Environmental and sustainability projects implemented in cooperation with approximately 20 countries.
💻 Donation of 2,000 computers to support children in Greece.
🎖️ Support for children with disabilities to participate in the Paralympic Games in Germany, where they won second place and later received government support.
The club is also highly active in Rotary Friendship Exchanges and youth programs, including Interact, Rotaract, and Youth Exchange, and expressed a strong desire to strengthen partnerships with Rotary clubs throughout the Balkans.
The meeting concluded with a productive discussion on future collaboration between Rotary clubs in Kosovo and Bulgaria. Sercan emphasized the importance of supporting organizations that serve children, vulnerable groups, and individuals facing serious illnesses.
A future joint visit to the Women's Correctional and Educational Center was proposed to better understand its educational and vocational programs and identify opportunities for support.
During the discussion, Fakete Pasha requested assistance for the Women's Correctional and Educational Center in Lipjan, specifically seeking four computers and one projector. Sercan welcomed the request and committed to sharing it with Rotary Club Sofia International and the wider Rotary network in an effort to secure support.
The meeting was a wonderful example of Rotary’s ability to connect people, share ideas, and create opportunities for meaningful service across borders. We thank all our guests for their inspiring presentations and look forward to future cooperation and impactful projects together.
