Shaban Gashijan was born on 15th of August 2004 in the Cesmin Lug Camp in Mitrovicë/a North. From 2002 to 2007 his parents lived in Cesmin Lug in very bad conditions. In 2007 they returned to their home in Roma Mahalla in Mitrovicë/a. Shaban is in 6th grade at “Branko Radicevic” primary school in Mitrovicë/a North.

Since 2011 Shaban attended educational activities on homework support provided by DRC’s local implementing partner RADC Learning Centre in Roma Mahala. The aim of the Learning Centre is to increase the involvement of children of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian communities in Mitrovicë/a, by providing additional education support through which Shaban gains more knowledge in order to find his place in the school system.

In July 2015, NGO PRAM with support from DRC started to implement the subproject “Football school”, financed by Sida, represented by Swedish Embassy in Prishtinë/a. This subproject foresees to train more than 50 Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian children from Roma Mahala and 2 Korriku/Sitnicko Naselje neighborhoods.

In 2016 Shaban was registered at the Football School where he trains together with 50 children from Roma Mahala and 2 Korriku/Sitnicko Naselje neighborhoods that participate twice per week in trainings at the local football stadium. After one year of training at Football School, Shaban was selected by FC Trepça 89 to play as a professional football player for Super League of Kosovo/a for U13 team.

Thanks to Danish Refugee Council through funds by the Swedish International Development Agency, Shaban Gashian continues to attend educational and sports activities, which make him part of the society.