Honouring the Life and Legacy of Luljeta ‘Luli’ Nuzi

Diar Bala

Luljeta, or Luli as those who felt her radiating energy called her, dedicated her life to empowering refugees and migrants. Luli was a visionary and inspirational natural leader who touched the lives of thousands of Albanians in the UK, demonstrating a commitment to supporting and developing her community. Luljeta Nuzi passed away on February 12, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Luli’s loss has profoundly affected her family, friends, colleagues and thousands of Albanians in the UK who were fortunate to have met her. Luli, as we will show later on, never took ‘no’ for an answer and worked tirelessly to protect those who were vulnerable and faced injustices, believing in the dignity and potential of every human being.

A heartfelt memorial service was held at St Katherine Cree Church, a place Luli held close to her heart, aiding her work and commitment to her community. The service was opened by Lediana Pajaj, a dear friend of Luli’s and Project Manager at Shpresa. Father Josh Harris proceeded with blessings and reflections, recalling how Luli was the 374th line of sermon for the Church and the “first, but hopefully not the last, Albanian”. Father Josh Harris vowed to celebrate Mother Teresa Day on September 5th, as Luli had wished for. Luli’s story is nothing short of remarkable, a young woman arriving in London from Albania in 1999, seeking asylum with her family, and motivated to support her community. Luli’s dedication led to the establishment of the Shpresa Programme in 2001, a charity that promotes the participation and integration of Albanian-speaking refugees and migrants in the UK, translating to ‘hope’ from Albanian into English – something which Luli deeply embodied. Luli’s work as CEO transformed the lives of thousands of Albanian refugees and migrants in the UK, making a lasting impact on countless lives, something which could undeniably be seen at St Katherine Cree Church. Luli worked tirelessly, day and night, to support her community, and her work led to the successful purchase of Mansfield House which provided a permanent home to the communities she so graciously served.

Luli’s memorial service was full of people who loved and cherished her, people who had felt Luli’s powerful impact and people whose lives she had changed. First to speak was Sir Stephen Timms MP, Labour MP for East Ham since 1994 and Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, but, above all, a great friend of Shpresa, Luli and the wider Albanian community in the UK. Sir Stephen Timms MP recalled how his earliest memory of Luli was her desire to set up bank accounts for Albanian refugees and migrants arriving from Kosova and Albania, recalling how on one Friday, he, Luli and 20 others went to an HSBC branch in the area and successfully managed to set up bank accounts for everyone with them. Sir Stephen Timms’ remarks truly echoed Luli’s early and continuing commitment to Shpresa and the wider Albanian community in the UK.

Heartfelt messages kept pouring in from many guests, but a very special moment of this gathering was the moment when Luli’s son, Kevin, spoke about his mother and her legacy, bringing the audience to tears in a truly emotional and heartfelt speech. He recalled how Luli loved everyone she helped, never stopping working to aid her community, something which he greatly described as a “spiritual link between Shpresa and my mother”. Luli’s dedication, commitment and love for her work could be seen in her son also, as he vowed to continue his mother’s legacy and strengthen her memory and work for Shpresa and the thousands of Albanians she helped throughout her life. Luli’s goddaughter, Jessica, took to the stage, delivering Luli’s favourite poem, which reflected the suffering and longing many Albanians like Luli experienced for their homeland – a moment of reflection on Luli’s journey in the UK. Another poem was delivered by Amina Meshnuni, reflecting on Luli’s love for poems and the connection they brought her with her homeland. Other notable guests and close friends of Shpresa and Luli took to the stage to deliver their favourite memories of Luli, including Emma Mortoo, CEO at Day One, Alastair Wilson, CEO at School for Social Entrepreneurs, Matthew Bolton, Executive Director at Citizens UK and Saima Ashraf, leader of the Council for London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

What all of these esteemed guests, colleagues and close friends of Shpresa had in common was their love and admiration for Luli, but also their encounters with Luli always ended in a ‘yes’ from their side because she was so hard to say no to. Tomorr Kokona, a great friend of Shpresa and leader of the 2nd cohort of Shpresa’s Leadership Programme, mentioned in his remarks that “we do have Mother Teresa, and in fact, Luli is our Mother Teresa”, a statement which will ring true throughout. Luli’s dedication to her community, a community that was forced to flee and abandon their childhood homes, dreams and stories, was one in a million, just like how Luli was. Partners of Shpresa and other professionals took to the stage also, including Hatixhe Demushi, Trustee and Andre Demushi, Solicitor at Bolt Burdon LLP, reflecting on their work with Shpresa and with Luli, and her unwavering commitment to strengthening the role of the Albanian community in the UK. Jonathan Ellis, and Paul Regan delivered remarks celebrating and honouring Luli’s life and legacy also.

Mariela Cingo, a very talented pianist, invited the audience to sing along to the famous and ancient Albanian song, Moj e Bukura More, dedicated to the Arbëreshe people of Italy, who fled to Southern Italy and Sicily in the 15th century to avoid Turkish persecution. This song memorises the great memory of a lost homeland and is a song that has been sung for 600 years and has taken in the dimensions of a song of emigrants, something very close to Luli and Shpresa. Luli’s efforts and dedication to her community were recognised by the Albanian Embassy in the UK, with His Excellency Dr Uran Ferizi delivering remarks honouring Luli’s legacy and the profound impact she had on the Albanian community in the UK. Mrs Valmira Thaci Musa, First Secretary of the Kosovo Embassy, also delivered remarks echoing Luli’s great legacy and memory. Young Albanians who Luli had comforted, mentored and loved had grown into admirable professionals and adults, taking on amazing initiatives, continuing Luli’s work and honouring her legacy. Messages of love and heartfelt memories poured in, with a video message from Father Angus Ritchie honouring Luli’s achievements and her journey as a leader for her community. Flutra Shega, Co-Founder of the Shpresa Programme, delivered an emotional speech in which she described Luli’s loss as “unbearable”, but the memory of her life and plentiful achievements was something which made her loss more comforting. She had lost a dear friend, colleague and loved one, but most importantly a sister with whom she had embarked on a journey for more than two decades.

“We are Refugees” was delivered by Arjola and a video message was shown “Remembering Teta Luli” – a heartfelt message by the young people Luli helped her whole life. A special mention must go to Arisa Reka, a great friend of Luli and Shpresa, and the Chair of ALSA UK, which has already helped countless young Albanian students and professionals. Arisa is also leading the 3rd cohort of Shpresa’s Leadership Programme, something which I am very proud to be a part of as a way of ensuring Luli’s legacy and memory live on, and a new generation of leaders embody Luli’s values and continue her work. Luli was one in a million, and she made a profound impact on countless Albanian-speaking refugees and migrants in the UK. Luli, as was the consensus among the esteemed guests who spoke at her memorial service, was always hard to say no to because when she spoke and pitched her ideas on how to further improve the lives of the Albanian community in the UK, there was no reason as to why one would say no to her. Luli’s work as CEO of Shpresa transformed the lives of many and set something strong in motion, inspiring thousands of people to take on initiatives and to live life to the fullest, believing in hope and the potential of every human.

On a personal level, Luli was a ray of sunshine, her warmth and energy radiated, and she always had a smile on her face. I remember her smiling at a group of young Albanian girls who were a part of Shpresa, who were once shy and afraid of public speaking and who had now mastered the art of it thanks to Luli and her dedication. Luli was one of those people God sends for a reason, as a model for others to follow. Her legacy lives on through her amazing and bright children, through Shpresa and every partnership and every life transformed by her unwavering commitment to the Albanian community in the UK.

Luli, you were one in a million and you will be dearly missed. May God rest her soul.