Get a Kosovan Kid to School

In July 2019, we visited Ajshe, a young Kosovan girl who had lived in the Fushe Kosove community all her life. Aged 12, she has been involved with the work of The Ideas Partnership (TIP) since she was 7. She informed us whilst chatting that she had a large family with 4 brothers and 5 sisters. She also told us that some of her family lived in Germany. TIP has also worked with 4 of her siblings with the support of her parents who recognised the importance of education in order to offer a brighter future for their children, despite having a difficult upbringing themselves.

When speaking with Ajshe and other members of the Fushe Kosove community, the issues they faced were similar including lack of employment, education, sanitation and the poor economic climate for the disadvantaged communities in Fushe Kosove, where 96% of the community are illiterate. However, despite these struggles, Ajshe reiterated to us that the area was improving as a result of the work of TIP.

During her 5-year journey with TIP, Ajshe has been grateful for opportunities that TIP has offered her and the rest of the children in the community. Ajshe informed us that TIP has offered tutoring alongside her schoolwork, offering help with homework, specifically maths. This has helped her improved her grades. Ajshe expressed her love of the sports activities at the centre which are fun for her and the other children. The sports activity she most looks forward to is Volleyball but she also enjoys the new Rugby activities being offered. However, her favourite activity with TIP is the ‘Girl’s Club’ which allows the young girls of Fushe Kosove to be educated on the issues they are presented with in their community such as Early marriage, something Ajshe’s parents want her to avoid in order to continue studying. The club arranges speakers to come in, her most memorable being a visit from singer Eliza who also performed for them. The club also reiterates the importance of female empowerment and equality as well as negotiating other difficult subjects such as hygiene and sexual health. The club gives the girls the knowledge in order to make the best decisions in their future lives. We asked Ajshe her aspirations for the future, she replied that she wanted to be a Police Officer after being inspired by both television programmes and witnessing the important work they undertake in Fushe Kosove. There is a sense that the importance of TIP’s work with Ajshe has allowed her to have such aspirations. Through the assistance from TIP, girls such as Ajshe have such high standards for the future which may have been different without the support available to them.

What was apparent when speaking with Ajshe is that her and her family cannot thank you enough for the continued support. She hopes in the future that TIP will continue to support more young girls like her and preserve the ‘Girl’s Club’ which empowers the young girls of Fushe Kosove and the wider community. Without your donations, the lives of these girls may have been different but instead it has allowed them to have high ambitions, such as being in the Police Force and with the help of TIP, this has become an attainable goal. With your continued donations and support we can ensure our valuable work continues for generations.

Rrahim was sleeping when we paid a visit to his family in one early sunny morning in May. As we and his mother, Nurije, were talking, Rrahim woke up and said hello to us blushing.

Rrahim is 7 years old. He is the son of an 8-member family living in Fushe Kosove in a difficult economic situation. He lives in a 3-bedroom house with his mother, three sisters, and three brothers. His father passed away six months ago after losing the battle with cancer. Their only income is the social assistance given by the municipality – a small amount of money that doesn’t cover school expenses for all the children.

The Ideas Partnership, thanks to your generous donations, has for some years now been providing this family with school materials, books, bags so the children do not abandon school.

TIP also provides transport from home to school for all children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Fushe Kosove who cannot afford to pay the bus to go to school during winter. Your donations make it possible for many children like Rrahim to attend school regularly and continue their education.

 “I really like going to school. I have lots of friends there and we learn so many new things. My favorite part is when the teacher asks me to read out loud in front of everyone. I love reading”, says Rrahim.

His mother, Nurije, explains that Rrahim always looks forward to attending TIP’s Saturday Learning Activities where he gets to meet with his friends regularly and learn all together. Last week, they colored pages with different animals and figures in it.

In his free time, Rrahim likes to play football with his friends.

“My favorite football player is Ronaldo. He is very fast and scores lots of goals”, says Rrahim.

“I would like to be like him one day. I don’t have a football yet, but when I do, I will practice very hard and maybe one day I will play like him”.

He gladly approves my request of taking his picture. Maybe next time I’ll see him, he’ll be as successful as his favorite football player. Between now and then, he only needs a football.