AVSI PROJECTS IN KOSOVO The presence of AVSI Foundation in Kosovo started in July 1999 immediately after end of the war in Kosovo, when majority of the refugees returned to their homes. Since then, AVSI has developed several projects in different areas and in different sectors such as: Emergency, Reconstruction, Socio-Educational, Health, Institutional Building and Agriculture. Since 2000 AVSI Foundation in Kosovo is recognized as international NGO by Kosovo Government, Ministry of Public Services, registered in the Department of Registration and Liaison Office of NGO Pristine with registration No.: 5300145-9 and it has the Public Benefit Status No. 60000187-1. AVSI- Distribution of Food and Emergency Immediately following the period of conflict, AVSI started emergency projects for the effected population in the municipalities of Pristine, Viti, Peje. For a period of six months, food packages were regularly distributed to the affected population. The provision covered a vast territory and it reached about 10,000 people especially children in kindergartens, primary schools and health centers. The initiative Bread for Refugees, sponsored by the Italian Food Bank, with the support of the Rainbow Mission in management of private funds and implemented by AVSI, made possible the distribution of food in Pristina, Peje, Gjakove and Viti. A total of 18,400 people benefited. AVSI - Reconstruction Projects Homes for Refugees. - Since August 1999, AVSI in collaboration with the Rainbow Mission in Kline, Istog and Shtime municipalities realized project: Homes for refugees. The project aimed at ensuring adequate housing for the families in Kosovo for the winter season. AVSI rehabilitated 42 houses, it provided material for self-construction of 358 houses for a total of 400 houses of category 3 (slightly damaged) and category 4 and 5 (seriously damaged and destroyed). In cooperation with UNHCR, AVSI rehabilitated: 34 houses in Peja, 8 houses in Shtimlje. AVSI supplied materials for houses: 18 in Kline, 37 in Peja, 40 in Istog, 262 in Shtime supplying 314 wood stoves and 59 electric pumps. In project were involved except Italian volunteers also the owners of houses damaged by the war, supported by companies and local suppliers. In all the sites in which this project has been implemented AVSI, we have seen about 2,600 people directly involved in project, supported by relatives and friends for reconstruction of their houses. For the reconstruction, about 300 people directly benefited from the support of AVSI (for a total of approximately 3,000 indirect beneficiaries), selected among most vulnerable families in the community. 1
Starting from May 2000, AVSI, in collaboration with the "European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), promoted a" Project for the reconstruction of houses "in Istog. At the same time launched a project for the renovation of schools in municipalities of Pristine and Shtime. This project was entirely funded by AVSI with funds raised in the private fundraising campaign called "Tents", organized by AVSI in Italy at Christmas time and in all countries of the world in which the Foundation association is present. The work of reconstruction and rehabilitation was completed in February 2001. Rehabilitation of Schools. - From January 2000, AVSI has been also working in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools, with funding from Italian Lazio Region and from private funds collected during the campaign "Tents." The V-category of schools in Prugovc (Municipality of Pristina) and Zborc (Municipality of Shtimlje) estimates were rebuilt. AVSI - Socio- Educational Support Socio Educational Support. From August 2000, AVSI and UNICEF in collaboration with a local NGO called AYA (Albanian Youth Association), started in three villages: Prugovc, Zborc and Barileve, a project through which many trainings were carried out to empower a group of local youth as leaders able to organize recreational activities for children, in order to promote their self-expression and communication, thereby able to overcome their psychological problems. The project was funded by the CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference) and AVSI's own resources and lasted 24 months. In this project took place all regions and municipalities of Kosovo. In the "Children's Festival" in which there were about 600 children and numerous teachers including several priests and nuns. This event has had resonance through out the territory of Kosovo due to the presence of television networks. Children Support. - Since the beginning of 2001, AVSI added Kosovo to the countries involved in its distance support program (DSP), with programs in Prishtina and Viti. The DSP, which is run by AVSI Foundation in more than 35 countries in the world, aims at improving the living conditions and supporting the educational path of children and adolescents in need through the stable contribution of the Italian and International sponsors. AVSI is able to locally a personalized care of each child in needed and selected in program providing food, school supplies, health and hygiene care. Support of the Education System in Kosovo. - From the 2006 AVSI started the program "Sponsorship of education system " in Peja, in 2 elementary schools Xhemail Kada "and Gjakova in 2 Kindergarten Ganimet Terbeshi and Holy Family. The project is financed by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Relying on the experience gained so far, the project aimed to improve the socio educational system in the West region Municipality of Peja / Gjakovë favoring within it the values of human development, tolerance and integration. The project made interventions to improve infrastructure and support the faculty of the four schools included in these municipalities. In addition, particular attention will be given to activities aimed at reintegration and livelihood of families and children belonging to the Roma community. 2
Structural rehabilitation and maintenance in 4 schools in the municipality of Gjakova, supply of didactic material, informatics, sport and recreational material for the 4 schools. Implementation of training for 50 teachers and qualification for teachers and educators working in the primary schools and kindergarten. Rehabilitation of educative system in west region. - Since 2007, AVSI has collaborated in western region with CESAL, a Spanish NGO, in the socio educational program "Educative Support" on behalf of children and adolescents of Roma communities in the Peje school Xhemaijl Kada and in Gjakova. Also involved were local partner Hope of Life Shpresa e Jetës, the Departments of Education (Municipalities of Gjakova and Peja) and the Ministry of Education in Prishtina. Projects 2011-2013 Since 2008 AVSI in partnership with the local organization The Hope of Life ( Shpresa e Jetes )has been implementing the DSP in the municipalities of Peja and Gjakova, where are involved 5 primary schools and 2 public kindergartens. The activities comprises: school support, family support, training for teachers, integration of Roma children in schools, academic support, information, art, reading, sports, summer activities, summer camps, etc. Each year 400 children are involved in project. Increase of the quality of teaching: As September 2011 AVSI is implementing program for integration in school of ROMA children through educative activities and increase of the quality of teaching in the municipality of Peja, in elementary school Xhemail Kada and funded by US Embassy in Kosovo. The overall objective is to reduce and prevent school abandonment and social alienation and discrimination of the children living in the multi-ethnic district 7 Shtatori in Peja/Pec municipality. Target beneficiaries are children that come from poor families, in particular way those that belonging to RAE community. Activity to reducing school abandonment rate and to increasing social integration for 116 children RAE community include, distribution of school materials, improving teaching standards and social-educative proposals through seminar of 30 teachers involved in the intervention as well as sensitizing the families of RAE communities living in 7 Shtatori district regarding school abandonment prevention, educational opportunity and providing medical consultancies AVSI - Local Partner in Socio - Educational Activities The local partner The Hope of Life (Shpresa e Jetes), is a non profit local organization founded in 2004 in Pristine by young professional students with mission to support civil society enhancement in Kosovo. It is an NGO with already a good experience in field of socio educational action with a operational and managerial structure already in place and eager to acquire more experience and to grow in terms of human and material resources to better answer to the social and educational needs present in Kosovo. Since 2004 AVSI and Shpresa e Jetes has been collaborating in the implementation of different socio-educational activities and agricultural actions in Kosovo, first, distance support socio-educational program, and second an agriculture project financed by 3
European Commission, implemented in the West Region aimed at strengthening the civil society to create this agricultural Network. AVSI Health Project Health treatment of Children.- Since 2011 AVSI Foundation in cooperation with the Italian Association GUARIAMOLI, Italian KFOR-i Italian, and the Italian Embassy in Prishtina is implementing the project for treatment of Kosovar children up to age 18, who suffer from serious illness who cannot be treated adequately in Kosova. These children suffer from serious illness, mainly deriving from poor families, and from families of victims of the war in Kosovo. This project originates since 1999, which has been implemented within the Italian KFOR- health sector CIMIC Health Team based in Pejë where till have been treated around 1000 cases with severe illness, which have the need for urgent treatment and intervention in Italy. Only during 2011 are treated 15 new cases of severe illness and 35 were sent to regular medical checkups. Project is managed and coordinated through a software ( data base for identification of cases), admission of new cases by degree of illness - emergency intervention organize of traveling (visas and tickets), as well providing of shelter and food during their stay in Italy. Within this project are provided medicaments according to request of cases, the organization of health control of existing cases and health assessment of new cases by doctors from Italy. AVSI - Development of Agriculture From 2001 AVSI promoted and run various agriculture projects, which have played an important role in the development of the agriculture sector and related institution building in Kosovo, particularly in the Peja region providing high-quality technical assistance and various forms of training and support to the farmers, to their associations and institutions. Institutional Building. since 2004 AVSI, in collaboration with UNDP (United Nations Development Programs) and the region of Lombardy, has developed the TAM (Technical Assistance and Training Program for Municipalities). AVSI worked for the formation of democratically elected municipal officials and leaders in the first free elections after the war in 1999.The program's objective was to transfer skills and capacity in local economic planning. In the first phase 9 months only Dragash was involved in project, in the 2nd stage where the project was extended to other municipalities of Kosovo (Peja,Gjakova,Istog,Klina) of Kosovo. 4
Development of the agro-food sector. - AVSI in 2000 implemented two with Italian local Governments founding (Lombardia Region and the Province of Trento), involving 50 young farmers from different ethnic groups; Albanians, Serbs, Bosnians and Roma. Two were the components of the project: vocational training, technical assistance and the provision of tools and agricultural equipment. In framework of this project AVSI distributed also 1400 seeds kits in the area of Gllavicica donated by the Austrian Red Cross. Technical support of entrepreneurship. starting in 2001 through the implementation of project Technical support of rural sector financed by Trentino-Alto-Adige region of Italy, 20 farmers in the rural area of Peja municipality farmers, selected though a carful survey, benefit from technical training provide by experts from the Agriculture Research Institute of San Michelle All'Adige of Trento. Through this project was made possible Supply of: green house, tunnels, milking, mowing, trash cans for milk, vegetables seeds. In the project also the Serbian community of Grazhdevac/Peja was involved. Promotion of local association of farmers. From 2001 within the framework of the program funded by Trentino-AltoAdige in the Region of Peja, a survey on the existing farm associations and co-operatives to explore and foster their potential was carried out. Moreover an activity of sensitization towards the setting up of a co-operative business was conducted in village of Llozhan. Support rural communities. Since 2002 AVSI, with private and Trentino-Alto Adige Region funding, supported the local association Agroflora to reinforce its membership, capacity and sustainability and to set up a milk collection center. These initiatives have a considerable impact on the development of dairy sector in Peja region. In the past years, the association has successfully signed annual contracts with milk processors and its production has progressively increased. "Development of democratic and participation processes in Kosovo.- From 2005 through a project founded by the European Union AVSI kept supporting the initiatives and the growth of local agricultural associations and their network as a way in a region, well suited for agriculture, to foster community relationships, civil society development and participation. Trainings, focus groups for the members and for the Directors of the associations were given in order to strengthen also the link between local associations and municipalities, ministries and other institutions. Following this a network called Agrodukagjini composed by 11 associations was created. The agricultural production sectors involved: milk, fruit and vegetables, and beekeeping. The network has over 700 individual members and the indirect beneficiaries are more than 3,000. Development and training for women and young farmers.- An active and significant member association of the Agrodukagjini Network is the association of women s widows of the war Besimi in Decan, who are mainly dedicated to raising livestock, an initiative which continued to increase in productivity with the technical and other assistance from AVSI and the Network. Project Rural Grant Scheme: Based on the initiative of AVSI and local partners Agrodukagjini Network and Shpresa e Jetes in February 2011 (for 18 months), founded by European Union - European Commission Liaison Office, a new project was developed called Diary Products for all. Strengthening the role of the Agrodukagjini 5
Network in the agriculture sector in the region of West, the most important one for dairy production. This project focuses on supporting the initiatives of local agricultural associations, as providing better services to farmers and increasing their participation in agricultural and rural economic development directly contributes to the economic development of the region. This further favors local producers and facilitates involvement of local actors in the development of the region s economic processes. The specific objective is to increase the capacities of the associations in producing quality local products (milk and dairy products) for the local and regional market, through the completion of a mile - processing centre and the support of a Network of 5 agricultural associations of the West Region. Beneficiaries of this project are 170 farmers and breeders, members of the Agrodukagjini Network (5 associations involved, including the Besimi/Decan association of 70 war widows), 90% are Albanian and 10% Roma. AVSI Local partner in Agriculture Activities The local partner Agrodukagjini Network is a network founded in 2006 by 12 associations of farmers with support of AVSI. It is registered with the Registration and Operation of Non-Governmental Organizations in Kosovo. The Agrodukagjini Network is involved in different agriculture projects which benefit of the financial support of international donors: the European Commission, Trentino Region, and KFOR. The existence and the effectiveness of the Network is a success in itself. Its operational and managerial structure and capacity, with the discrete assistance and accompaniment by AVSI, are growing, towards an independent and self sustaining institution, which plays a vital role in the development of the single farmers, in the rural economy strengthening and in the consolidation of a peaceful and vibrant social fabric. AVSI Kosovo Headquarter in Peja: 23, Nëna Terezë street, tel +381 (39) 432 345 Email: avsi.kosovo@yahoo.com For more information: www.avsi.org 6