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.