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.