Support 500 Kosovo Youth Learn by Volunteering

Dear friends,

It might be the end of the year, but our young volunteers - that you so generously support – continue to initiate projects that help their communities + themselves to grow. From volunteer Debate Clubs who help out a kindergarden, or Solidarity Action Day project in Skenderaj Municipality that raised more than 1,000 EUR for a cause, or the Super-Volunteer clubs that help out in the local youth centers - our youngsters keep on giving and learning at the same time. As usual, we have so much to share but here's a recap of what was done so far this year + a few notable mentions:

- More than 3,000 youngsters (65% female) were part of our activities and are activaly contributing to their communities and found a safe place to discover themselves,
- Close to 60 volunteer projects implemented where more than 5,000 citizens benefited from their community impact,
- Made work-experience possible for more than 300 youth - through partnerships with local businesses as part of the Solidarity Action Day,
- Built a bridge between Kosova and its diapora youth, where more than 50 diaspora youth were active in our activities through camps and other ways,
- Gave 30 young people the opportunity to further grow through international exchanges.

Notable developments in the past 3 months include:

- Launched of the new Super-Volunteer Clubs: With 250 active volunteers in 13 Super-Volunteer Clubs we are covering 9 municipalities in Kosova and will have a positive impact for these communities. These youngsters will learn about Diversity, Health, Advocacy and Civic Participation, Career Orientation, and the Environment. They will contribute to the community through volunteering but also find a space to safely discover themselves. In addition, our youth-debate continue to attract a large following: This time, 475 students participated in their weekly meetings. They also continued to gather institutional support from Municipalities for such initiatives.

- Built a strong base for the 2024 Solidarity Action Day: This year's event broke all records when it came to gathering funds and became the best-achieving Solidarity Action Day in its network of organizations throughout Europe. Now, even more youth are joining the preparations, along with more businesses, and more international organizations , and more local initiatives (local Solidarity Action Days) are launching. As an example of the local initiatives taking place: The worker bees of Skenderaj shone on Solidarity Day - 57 pupils of the "Hamez Jashari" Gymnasium with the support of 18 partner businesses collected a total of 1,000 euros which they will give to a local charity.

We keep our social media channels updated frequently, so do check them out (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X - Formerly Twitter)

All of us at TOKA are proud of our youngsters impact on their communities and fellow peers, and also on their personal development - all made possible with your help.

Until next time, I wish you a happy and a healthy 2024 to you and your loved ones.  

Sincerely,
Jehona and all the TOKA team

Links:

• TOKA website
• TOKA Instagram
• TOKA TikTok

Dear friends,

The temperatures are running high, but our young volunteers – that you so generously support through donations – continue to learn, grow into smart, community activists that are continuing to change their communities for the better. Hundreds of youngsters continue to pass through our “Service-Learning” program, where they learn the basic skills that will make them the changemakers that their communities need and to set an example for others to follow. Out of many events and activities, here’s the selected three STORIES that we would like to share with you:

1. Broke records on the 1st ever Solidarity Action Days
2. Camps are back and are packed with youngsters
3. Volunteers keep on improving their communities

BROKE RECORDS ON SOLIDARITY ACTION DAYS

The first-ever Solidarity Action Days that we organized broke the record of the most funds raised in the history of the founding organization’s history (the SAME Network of European organizations are the founding members). During the 6-days in June, 275 volunteers working voluntarily at 30 businesses and raised funds that they will distribute to organizations dealing with mental health and disabilities. 54 Youth Leaders were engaged in assisting volunteers on the local reception stations and gave out certificates by the end of the day to all 275 volunteers.
 
The total amount that these young volunteers raised was 6,075 EUR - this amount is a new record for any Solidarity Action Day initiative that was implemented for the first time in any country as part of the SAME network history (Solidarity Actoin Day Movement in Europe).

In addition, the Solidarity Action Event Launch was visited and endorsed by the President of Kosovo, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani and Prishtina Mayor - Mr. Përparim Rama with a special focus on institutionalization of volunteer work.

CAMPS ARE BACK AND ARE PACKED WITH YOUNGSTERS

Close to 200 young volunteers joined the 6 weekly-camps that were organized over a period of July – August at the Loyola University, in Prizren, Kosova.In these camps, youngstersfrom Kosova, Romania, N. Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North America and Israel, spent time getting to know each other, sharing best practices on volunteering and projects, and learning new skills that would take their knowledge levels even higher – resulting in better projects for their communities. Other topics that were covered were the environment, sports, and mental wellbeing. One noticeable factor is that camp participants continue to be female: This year, over 65% of camp participants were female.

VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE WORKING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

All 27 Service-Learning Clubs successfully completed their program and implemented at 27 community projects. The 2022/2023 Service-Learning clubs not only did go and learn what it means to be a volunteer and an active citizen, they also managed to raise close to 1,000 EUR for the projects, involve municipal representatives and receive their commitment to fund some of their projects. These community projects continue to benefit more than 3,500 people that live in those communities and are encouraging others to take similar actions – the domino effect of volunteering. Although there are many, here are some that we think had the most impact.

- At Meto Bajraktari School, Prishtina, the school buffet is being created by volunteers. They cooked food and sold it, raising 300 euros. For the first time, the school will have a buffet where students can eat inside the school building.
 
- The "Alfa" club at the "Kongresi i Manastirit" School in the village of Gllamnik in Podujeva carried out a project related to Career Orientation. They created a corner with information about the different professions that students can choose and the skills they should possess and a carousel that shows the different professions.

- The “First Steps” club of the "Veli Ballazhi" School in the village of Gorance in Han i Elezit, cleaned the school yard of garbage. Then they planted flowers and roses. Beneficiaries of the project are 150 pupils and 100 family members of the community.

- The "Hyjnoret" club prepared meals at the Home for the Elderly and Without Family Care in Skenderaj. Apart from food, they spent quality time with them talking. Beneficiaries of the project are about 30 residents of the Home for the Elderly.

This is exciting, so we have to share it as well:

We sent our first voluntary service ever in the SAME Network - Rudina Zeqiri (former Club participant and mentor of Research and Advocacy Working Group of the Youth Leaders Academy) who will be serving in SAME main office in Lubeck from July 2023 - August 2024. She was selected among hundreds of other candidates throughout Europe. This shows the continuous improvement cycle that we’re applying is working and that we’re developing capable and motivated youngsters who are willing to take the extra step.

To catch up on these and other activities, do follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok as well as on our website.

Until next time, I wish you good health to you and your loved ones.  
Stay cool and thank you for trusting us.

Sincerely,
Jehona and all TOKA team

Links:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram