Deputy Minister of the MCR, Qaush Balaj hosted the Representative of the Danish Refugee Council

Ministry for Communities and Return:
Deputy Minister of the MCR, Qaush Balaj, hosted today a working meeting with the representative of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Mrs. Kristen Stec and her collaborators. The meeting was mainly informative and realized that the two parties among themselves acquainted with the work of current activities. The meeting also discussed the forms and possibilities of intensifying bilateral cooperation in the implementation of some projects in the process of return of displaced persons and their reintegration into society.

Having been newly appointed to the post of Deputy Minister, Mr. Balaj informed his interlocutor that he is aware of the achievements of the MCR and all that the Ministry for Communities and Return has made for the return process together with international partners offering financial support for its successful implementation.

Activities which is meeting the DRC in order to fulfill its mission in the return of IDPs said that will be continuity. These are projects that institutions of the Government are committed to meet. What we are called is to cooperate with others to meet the norms, rules and standards of the European Union, which are the goal of our state.

DRC representative, Mrs. Kristen Stec, announced the Deputy for the long cooporation of the MCR with the DRC, saying that this cooperation will be continued further. Currently the MCR and the DRC are working on several projects such as:
-    The "Re-integration and stabilization of communities in Kosovo" funded by the US State Department implemented by the DRC;
-    Return Project in Prizren and stabilization of communities, a project co-funded by the British Embassy and the Ministry for Communities and Return;
-    Project closing collective centers in the municipality of Strpce.
Regarding the closure of collective centers zonj.Stec said they are in the preparatory phase of the project and expect to meet with the mayor of Strpce for its beginning.

In order to harvest good results as my sides agreed to continue cooperation with mutual official meetings and joint efforts in the period following the implementation of projects and resolve issues which are of particular importance for the development of communities and increase the return process. (Source: Ministry for Communities and Return)

Read more about DRC's return projects here

DRC provides work experience for IBCM students

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DRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Business College Mitrovica (IBCM) to enable students to gain practical experience while working on DRC projects in Mitrovicë/a. In March, DRC was happy to welcome two new interns, who will work with the community and economic development teams for 6 months.

Liridona Elezi will spend the next six months supporting community development activities as part of the Sida-funded Support to Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities in Mitrovicë/a Project. Liridona studies Public Administration at IBCM and wishes to gain practical experience working with local civil society organizations and project development and monitoring.  Supported by DRC staff, Liridona assists DRC’s local partners to draft projects and reviews project proposals. With her excellent English skills, she also contributes to documenting project activities and drafting stories that highlight the experiences of beneficiaries in DRC projects.

Our second intern is a 4th semester student of Environment and Agriculture at IBCM. With her experience working with local companies and educational background, Blerina Ombashi is well suited to support the Economic development team at the Social Business Incubator in Roma Mahalla. During her internship, Blerina can put her academic learning into practice. She will support minority business Manager Teuta with drafting a new business plan for her laundry business and participate in the Social Business Incubator Community Board which provides a platform for coordination and exchange between community and stakeholders in Roma Mahalla. She will also be able to contribute to activities related to environmental protection and health which are integral parts of the Support to Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities in Mitrovicë/a Project.

Thanks to its cooperation with IBCM, DRC is happy to contribute to local students’ professional development. With DRC interns gain hands-on experience working with local government representatives and communities and get the opportunity to clarify career goals and build a professional network in their respective fields of interest.

For more information on IBCM courses, please visit their website: http://ibcmitrovica.eu/

British Ambassador Ian Cliff visits DRC beneficiaries in Prizren and Dragash

Danish Refugee Council staff in Prizren were happy to introduce Ambassador Ian Cliff to beneficiaries of two projects funded by the British Embassy. 

Women entrepreneurs receive start-up support

Women entrepreneurs receive start-up support

Elvira Salihi welcomed Ambassador Cliff in her newly opened laboratory. As a beneficiary of the Community Stabilization Project (CSP) Elvira received a grant for medical laboratory equipment and training in order to succeed with her start-up business. The CSP project funded by the British Embassy in Kosovo and the Ministry for Communities and Return is supporting 38 women and minority entrepreneurs from 5 municipalities with grants, field-focused technical advice and business management training to support their new or existing businesses.

Ambassador Cliff also visited returnees in the Nenkalaja / Podkaljaja neighbourhood in Prizren. To date, DRC helped close to 30 families return from displacement  and rebuild their lives with funding provided by the British Embassy in Kosovo and the Ministry of Communities and Returns. The Sustainable return and reintegration project reconstructs and furnishes homes and provides income generation support for all returning beneficiaries.

For more pictures of the visit, follow UK in Kosovo, the British Embassy's twitter feed here

Minority businesses supported with grants

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The Community Stabilization Project (CSP) funded by the British Embassy in Kosovo and the Ministry for Communities and Return is supporting 38 beneficiaries from 5 municipalities with grants, field-focused technical advice and business management training to support their new or existing businesses.

Following the selection of beneficiaries, Danish Refugee Council contacted all beneficiaries to gather information on the technical requirements of inputs requested under the grants, ensuring beneficiaries receive the adequate equipment to improve or start their businesses.

To date, 10 grants have already been delivered.

Among the businesses supported is a start-up business establishing a medical laboratory in Prizren. Elvira, the owner, started the business to put her many years of experience working in medical laboratories to good use. To improve her chances to succeed with this venture, she chose a location in close proximity to local hospitals. With the delivery of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment through the project, she believes she will be able to offer her services at competitive prices.

In the case of Arif, no high-tech equipment was requested. Arif runs an orchard in Globocice/a village, Dragash/s municipality. Through the project grant, he was able to erect a proper fence around his property, which shows how even seemingly simple improvements can add value to businesses.

In the coming months, DRC will continue to support beneficiaries who received their grants already and deliver additional grants to another 30 beneficiaries.

CSP is funded by the British Embassy Kosovo and the Ministry for Communities and Returns and covers  5 municipalities: Pejë/Pec, Istog/Istok, Prizren, Strpce/Shtërpcë, Dragash/Dragas.

Beneficiaries of the Community Stabilization Project selected

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DRC is happy to announce that the selection process for support under the Community Stabilization Project has now concluded. 38 beneficiaries from 5 municipalities have been approved and will receive grants, field-focused technical advice and business management training to support their new or existing businesses. The list of beneficiaries is available here. DRC is now in the process of contacting the beneficiaries and gathering information on the technical requirements of inputs requested under the grants. Once this stage is finalized, the tender process will begin.

In addition, the project supports small-scale community projects that promote inter-ethnic cooperation and support reducing the social isolation of minority returnee and remainee families. 3 projects have been selected, including:

  • The rehabilitation of the park and playground of the local Primary School in Dobrushë/a, Istog/Istok

  • The building of a rockslide protection wall in Landovicë/Landovica, Prizren

  • The rehabilitation of a cobblestone road in Sevce, Shtërpc/Štrpce

The Municipalities of Istog/Istok, Prizren and Shtërpc/Štrpce will co-fund the projects to benefit the local community in their respective municipalities.

The Community and Stabilization Project is funded by the British Embassy in Kosovo and the Ministry for Communities and Returns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business Centre Zvecan and DRC organize Crafts Fair in Mitrovica

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The 'HOLIDAY SEASON CRAFT FAIR' promotes traditional and innovative handicrafts produced by 15 NGOs and women's initiatives, among them Vullneti i Grave, and provides income generating opportunities to women in society.

However, the Fair will not only provide a sales opportunity for the participating women, but also enable the participants to network with similar initiatives in the North and to explore possibilities for further collaboration with the Business Centre Zvecan.

To this end the fair will be used as a platform to inform relevant stakeholders about women’s economic initiatives in the area, to present the work of the respective NGOs and women's initiatives and to engage in discussion with the Business Centre Zvecan and private sector representatives about ways to effectively promote traditional Kosovo crafts.

Read more about Vullneti i Grave on their website: www.vullnetiigrave.com or find them on facebook

Download the list of Fair participants

 

Bridging the learning gap - The Learning Centre, Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/a Booklet 2013

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For the past three years, the Learning Centre has provided kindergarten, pre-school and homework support classes to the growing number of children and youth in Roma Mahalla.

Read more about the Centre's work or download the Booklet in English, Albanian or Serbian below:

 

Since 2009, Danish Refugee Council has supported its former implementing partner Caritas and current partner Roma and Ashkalia Documentation Center (RADC) to run the Learning Centre located in Roma Mahalla, Mitrovicë/a. The Centre is currently funded solely by Sida as part of the Community Development component of the DRC Kosovo Stabilisation of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian Communities Project in Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/a.

 

Click the caption to download the Booklet:

Buy your gifts at the 'Holiday Season Crafts Fair', 23 December 2013

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Danish Refugee Council and Business Center Zvecan are organizing a 'HOLIDAYS FAIR CRAFT WORK' to promote, develop and nurture traditional and innovative handicrafts, and provide income generating opportunities to women in society.

Place: Above CRYM CENTER - Mitrovica (ex VIVA)

Date: 23 December 2013

Time: 11:00 - 16:00

November 23th 2013 - A football tournament for tolerance

 
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On 23th November, the NGO Sport Sans Frontières will organise with the support of the Danish Refugee Council and SIDA a football tournament in Mitrovica. The tournament will gather around 80 children from 4 different communities: Albanian, Ashkali, Bosnian and Roma. It will be organised by young volunteers who have been trained on sport animation by Sport Sans Frontières.

 

Empowering and Educating through sport

Since 2008, Sport Sans Frontières Kosovo has trained hundreds of volunteers from different communities on sport animation.

Thanks to the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and to Sida, 15 volunteers have been trained end October. They learned how to organise a football tournament for the children. The objective of the tournament is not competition: it aims to provide children with sport values such as fair play and solidarity. Children will form multiethnic teams. For them, sport will be a unique tool to meet their peers from other communities.

Agenda

The event will take place in Australia Balloon in Mitrovica. The day will start at 10AM with an opening ceremony. The children will form 16 teams. The first phase of the tournament will take place from 10h45 to 11h45 and the second phase (finals) from 12h40 to 14h. At 2PM a closing ceremony will be organised.

Contacts:  

Dafina Rudi, SSF Kosovo, 04 427 83 66, admin.kosovo@sportsansfrontieres.org

Burim Nebihu, DRC Mitrovica, +381 28 533 541,

 

The Danish Refugee Council project ‘Stabilization of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian (RAE) Communities Project’ in Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/Mitrovica started in 2009. It combines economic development with activities geared towards community development. Activities are implemented through a number of local partners and the project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).  Read more about  DRC Kosovo projects  www.drc-kosovo.org .

Primary school children from Mitrovicë/a celebrate Universal Children's Day together

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'I have rights!'

Under this motto, children from the Learning Center in Roma Mahalla, invited children from primary schools Andon Zako Cajup, Bedri Gjina and Eqrem Qabej to celebrate Universal Children's Day in the cultural hall in Mitrovicë/a. This event celebrated around the world marks the day on which the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child  were adopted.

At the Learning Center, the children learned about their rights, made drawings and decorations and worked hard to perfect their performances.  On the  day, they recited poems, performed songs and dances and moderated the event themselves. 

In line with the ideals set down in the Charter which not only promote children's rights but also the understanding between children of different backgrounds and cultures, folklore dance groups from Roma Mahalla, and the Bosniak and Turkish community performed their traditional dances and gave the audience an insight into their culture and traditions.

The event was supported by the Municipal Department for Culture, Sport and Youth in Mitrovica, the Danish Refugee Council and Mercy Corps.

The Learning Center in Roma Mahalla is run by the RADC and funded by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) under the DRC Kosovo Stabilisation of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian Communities Project in Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/Mitrovica which is  funded by Sida.

 

Learning Center brings parents and children together

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On 23 October the Learning Center in Roma Mahalla invited parents and children to a day of games and competitions at the sports hall in Mitrovicë/a. Roughly 60 parents and 100 children came and participated actively in the various activities devised by teachers and teacher assistants. Learning Center staff were pleased to welcome such a large number of parents, including both mothers and fathers.

 With the help of their parents, the children made cabbage heads from different vegetables, drawings and paper sculptures. Prizes for the best examples in the different categories were handed out by members of the judging panel consisting of Learning Center staff and representatives from OSCE.

For the past 3 years, the Learning Center has supported children between the ages of 3 to 15, providing pre-school classes and homework support for children enrolled in primary school in order to increase RAE children's chances to successfully participate in the mainstream school system in Mitrovicë/a.

The Learning Center is part of the DRC Kosovo Stabilisation of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian Communities Project in Roma Mahalla Mitrovicë/Mitrovica and is currently funded solely by Sida and run by DRC through its local implementing partner RAD Center.

 

“Seeing so many parents accompany their children, drawing and playing with them, is a sign that parents in Roma Mahalla are getting more and more involved in activities related to their children’s education. Besides making sure that children’s performance at school improves, engaging parents in Learning Center activities and encouraging them to take an active role in their child’s education is another priority for us ”
— says a member of staff at the Learning Center.