Hëna & Lumi

Hëna Alushi (24) from Struga and Lumi Kabashi (26) from Rahovec just got married in May 2025. Their love story began on dua.com — the app that connects Albanians around the world.

Born and raised in Switzerland, Hëna lives and works there, though her roots trace back to Struga, North Macedonia. Lumi lives in Rahovec, Kosovo, where he works in agriculture. Though their lives were worlds apart, they shared many values and character traits — but without dua.com, their paths likely would never have crossed. The app became the bridge that brought them together.

Meet Hëna and Lumi

Lumi – A Man of the Land and Tradition

Lumi is deeply connected to his hometown of Rahovec and dedicated to his work in agribusiness. He works in the family company “Agro Kabashi,” which runs greenhouses and nurseries — a tradition passed down from his grandfather, father, and brothers.

Hëna – Raised in Diaspora with an Albanian Heart

Hëna is an economist working in human resources in Switzerland. Alongside her career, she’s also a dancer and choreographer for the Albanian cultural association “Bashkimi,” where her father serves as president. She was raised in a home where only Albanian was spoken and where cultural values were cherished and preserved. For Hëna, being Albanian is not just a heritage — it’s a way of life.

A Date That Changed Everything

A visit to Switzerland and a well-timed download of dua.com changed Lumi’s life forever.

“I met Hëna on dua.com while I was in Switzerland visiting relatives. When I arrived, the app automatically updated my location, and Hëna appeared within my search radius.” Lumi recalls.

He still remembers it clearly — he had just one swipe left. That last profile was Hëna’s. He was captivated by her eyes and swiped right.

“I never imagined I’d find the love of my life outside of Kosovo. My life was here — family, work, everything. But when I met Hëna, everything changed.”, recalls Lumi.

“She was everything I was looking for — peace, understanding, and a connection that needed no words.” Lumi says.

For Hëna, the day Lumi liked her profile was also her first day using dua.com — she and her friend had just downloaded it. It took only one day to meet the person she would spend the rest of her life with.

Constant communication helped them get to know each other quickly and deeply. Within two months, they knew they were meant to be together.

A Love Strengthened by Tradition — from Struga and Rahovec to Switzerland

Hëna has always been deeply connected to Albanian traditions and language. Since childhood, she has danced with the “Bashkimi” association, where she now also teaches traditional dances to Albanian children in Switzerland and young couples preparing for their weddings.

“My parents always wanted me to marry an Albanian — ideally someone from Struga but when I met Lumi, they didn’t mind that he wasn’t from there. My dad’s only wish was, ‘As long as he speaks Albanian.’”, Hëna says.

The Role dua.com Played in Their Story

“If it weren’t for dua.com, we never would’ve met,” Lumi says. Hëna agrees. At first, she was hesitant to download the app.

“I’m from Struga but living in Switzerland. Lumi is from Rahovec. There’s no way we would’ve met without dua.com,.The app brought us together.” Hëna explains.

Today, many of her friends have also downloaded the app in hopes of finding their match.

“I hesitated at first. I thought people around me would see I was using dua.com. But once I found Lumi, I told everyone about it,” she says. Thanks to her story, several of her friends are now using the app too.

“I understand why girls might hesitate. It’s true, there are all kinds of people on dating apps, but there are good people too. Don’t give up after the first try.” she adds.

Lumi shares a similar message.

“Be patient. Know what you’re looking for, and take your time to find the right person. dua.com helped me do just that.” says Lumi.

Albanian Values and the Need to Be with Someone Who “Speaks Albanian”

For both Hëna and her family, it was crucial that her future husband be Albanian.

“I absolutely wanted to marry someone Albanian,” she says. “I was raised with Albanian values, in a patriotic family, where we spoke only Albanian and learned the alphabet as kids. For me, there was no other option.”, says Hëna.

When asked what she admires most about Lumi, Hëna highlights his dedication to work and his deep connection to his roots.

“He’s hardworking. He wakes up early to work in the family business and never complains. He’s a real friend before anything else — that’s what I was looking for.”, Hëna says while describing her partner.

A Traditional Wedding and a Vision for the Future

The couple got engaged in December 2024, and they celebrated their love with a traditional Albanian wedding in May 2025 — complete with folk dances, traditional costumes, and all the cultural elements they hold dear.

“Traditions shouldn’t be forgotten,” Hëna says. “They should be passed down. We want to raise our children with the same values.”

Both Hëna and Lumi dream of starting a family together. “We plan to raise our children speaking Albanian at home, teaching them our language, culture, and history,” she says.

Hëna and Lumi’s love story is living proof that dua.com is fulfilling its mission every day — bringing Albanians together across borders and building lasting connections through love.