On 16 December, DRC was happy to welcome three US volunteers from Peace Corps Kosovo to its Sida-funded project activities in Roma Mahalla, Mitrovicë/a. They visited DRC premises, the Social Business Incubator Foundation, the Learning Centre and local partners.

Welcomed by Social Business Incubator Foundation staff and Nana the Community Officer, the volunteers had the opportunity to visit the small startup businesses hosted at the incubator and the Vocational Training Centre whose trainees include women from vulnerable communities. The incubator assists businesses with skills trainings and workspace to put their entrepreneurial ideas into practice, while trainees at the Vocational Training Centre are mentored by experienced professionals enabling them to pursue careers in their chosen field.

A special highlight was the visit to the handicraft enterprise Gjuvlano Mangipe, which promotes handmade products made by Roma and Ashkali women from Roma Mahalla. In their showroom located in the Social Business Incubator, the women display their products and were happy to talk about their activities with the Peace Corps volunteers.

Children at the Learning Centre, Roma Mahalla

To learn about DRC’s educational activities in Roma Mahalla, the volunteers also visited the Learning Centre, which is run by a local NGO partner with support from Sida. At the centre, children of different age groups receive homework support among other things in order to bridge the learning gap caused by interrupted schooling and years of displacement. The visit provided plenty of ideas for possible cooperation in future.

All initiatives visited are funded by Sida within the framework of the Support to Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities in Mitrovicë/a project implemented by DRC.

Peace Corps established its office in Kosovo 2013. Currently 58 Peace Corps Volunteers work at the grassroots level to create change that lasts long after their service. For more information please visit their website.