The Faculty of Psychology at AAB College organized the international event “Information, Trauma, and Human Psychology,” moderated by Professor Donika Shahini-Lami. The event brought together international diplomats and more than 100 local and international students, including participants from MCC – Transylvania, Romania.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from AAB College Rector, Blerim Olluri, who emphasized the importance of documenting historical truth and the role of academic institutions in preserving collective memory. He also acknowledged the contributions of professionals who reported on and documented the war in Kosovo, including Professor Shahini-Lami’s work as a journalist during the conflict.
Arvesa Studenica, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, highlighted the need for both professional and societal approaches to addressing psychological trauma. She stressed that the consequences of war are not only physical, but also profoundly psychological.
The event featured two discussion panels. The first panel, “Reporting During War and the Psychological Impact of Witnessing,” brought together international journalists and professionals. Panelists included veteran journalist Julius Strauss, documentary producer Donald Harding (Return to Kosovo), and Leman Kamberi Muriqi, who worked as a translator for international journalists during the war and served as executive producer of the documentary. The discussion focused on experiences of conflict reporting, media responsibility, and the psychological burden of bearing witness to truth.
As part of the program, attendees also viewed the documentary “Return to Kosovo,” which tells the story of journalist Julius Strauss and Besnik Deliu, a survivor of Abri e Epërme massacre. The film follows their meeting during the war and their reunion more than two decades later, highlighting themes of historical memory and coping with trauma.
The second panel, “Trauma, Memory, and Paths to Healing,” was led by Professor Arlinda Gashi and featured firsthand testimonies from war survivors. Panelists included Besnik Deliu and Arlinda Deliu (Abri e Epërme), as well as Leutrim Caraku (Poklek), who shared their experiences of psychological trauma and recovery. Discussions emphasized the importance of documenting truth and preserving collective memory for future generations.
This event reaffirmed the importance of academic education on trauma, historical memory, and the role of information in supporting both individual and societal healing processes.
