A new centre for new opportunities

I’m a 17-year old boy from London who has come to volunteer with The Ideas Partnership in Kosovo .At TIP’s Azure Learning Centre in Fushe Kosove , Roma and Ashkali children are watching intently, curious at the science experiments being shown to them by kind volunteer during Saturday Extra-Curricular activities, being helped by other volunteer teachers. They are also helping themselves to water on what is a blazing hot day , and snacks . These children, who have come due their love of learning, are able to develop their talents and curiosity in a way that is otherwise denied to them. This is because the Roma Community in Fushe Kosove is one of the poorest in Kosovo. 

One boy whose home I visited ,Resul and his family of six, have to survive on his elder brother picking from rubbish to sell, which usually earns them 5 euros a day . This is a common form of employment in the community. With many children dropping of school early, and one third of girls getting married under the age of 16, people here are trapped in a cycle of poverty.

When I was seven, I first came to Fushe Kosove and came to visit baby Elham and his 8-member family in an overcrowded one room shack. The Ideas Partnership was then a new charity, and had to rent scruffy rooms in someone’s house in order to carry out its activities. Fortunately, things have changed for the better in Fushe Kashove. Elham and his family, with the assistance of TIP supporters , now live in a clean, comfortable new house. He regularly attends Saturday Extra Curricular activities at the now bright and spacious Azure Learning Centre, and watched with excitement the scientific experiments being conducted. He told me of his enjoyment of school, and in particular of science.

The Ideas Partnership is not as large and well -known as some charities but it’s work is nevertheless equally valuable in helping people in poverty. Since TIP are a small charity , you can be assured that donations to TIP are always going directly to help the people of Fushe Kosove. Although, this learning centre is not complete and the upper floor is unusable , your kind donations have made the ground floor of the Learning centre functional so that children like Elham are able develop their skills and stay in school for longer.

Almost 6 months have passed since the opening of the doors of the Azure Learning Center in Fushë Kosovë and since that period many beneficiaries have held activities and benefited in different ways. Although almost half a year has passed in terms of the continuation of the works on the second floor, there has not been any great progress due to the lack of funds.

Until now, the second floor has been left with rough construction, the pipes for solar heating have been placed, as well as the leveling has been laid. A few months ago, some students from the MARA Foundation visited our center and they bought 5 doors for the second floor, but we need 2 more.

We also need a lot of other work to be done to finalize the work on the second floor, such as the floor, walls, ceilings, roof, electrical installations, installation for water and sewerage, as well as installation for heating and ventilation, as well as external facade and kitchen.

As it was planned that for a short period of time all activities will be held only on the first floor of the center until all the works on the second floor are completed. Activities in the center are being held regularly, but the limitation of space is making the process very difficult.

For Labinot, who is a regular participant in the Science Activity, but also for many others, it is very important to finish the works on the second floor as soon as possible, to start holding the activities there because every Saturday when they are having an activity, they have to hold the activity in the kindergarten spaces since the class is busy with other students from extracurricular activities.

We sincerely thank all those who have donated even 1 Euro for the construction of this center and we are forever grateful, and we strongly request all those who wish to make changes in society through their money to donate for the completion of works on the second floor because these children, young people and these women really need these spaces.

Donor, thank you very much!

With love,

THE IDEAS PARTNERSHIP