Mendje, a platform dedicated to making psychological support more accessible to Albanians living abroad, received the European Commission's Innovation Award. Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, presented the award to its founder, Arbnora Kllokoqi, in Brussels on 22 October 2026.

The award ceremony took place during the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation, attended by ministers from the region, representatives of EU Member States, and European institutional leaders. Kllokoqi represented Kosovo and presented the Mendje app to ministers and partners from across the region and Europe.

“Pain cannot be translated into any language. Many Albanians living abroad carry the burden of migration in silence, and today Europe recognised an initiative that breaks that silence,” Kllokoqi said, dedicating the award to her team, the platform’s psychologists, and its users.

The winners were selected from 18 innovative enterprises, three from each economy in the region, as part of the European Commission’s Ready4EIC initiative and the Innovation Advisers’ Scheme. The selection was made jointly by six regional innovation centres and an international jury, with the Innovation & Training Park Prizren supporting the process in Kosovo.

Mendje provides access to a network of more than 40 independent psychologists offering online counselling. Users can choose the professional they wish to consult. The app also features guided meditations in Albanian, breathing exercises, and educational content from mental health experts.

In a previous interview with HAJDE, Kllokoqi explained that the idea emerged from personal experience and the difficulties of finding psychological support in Albanian. The platform aims to address challenges such as loneliness, stress, family relationships, and the emotional difficulties associated with migration.

For more information, visit mendje.com.