Hetemaj, 23, was recognised for her work in rooting out racism in public places. She has intervened in racist behaviour on public transport, schools and work places. When looking for work, Hetemaj confronted employers as to why she was not chosen for jobs for which she met the selection criteria.
The Finnish Refugee Council says Hetemaj has not let prejudices stand in the way of her dreams, and that she has proven that refugees can aim for leading positions in business and society.
Hetemaj arrived in Finland with her family in 1992, living at a refugee reception centre in Oulu before moving to Helsinki. She has studied business and management in England and now works for an IT firm in Helsinki.
Her brothers, Perparim and Mehmet Hetemaj, both play for the Finnish national football team. They also both play for professional teams in Greece, AEK and Panionos respectively.
The 12th annual title of Refugee Woman of the Year was given for work undertaken to combat racism and xenophobia. The award is aimed at promote the position of refugee women in Finnish society.
