Get a Kosovan Kid to School

When you stop at the traffic lights controlling the busiest intersection in Kosovo’s capital, Prishtina, you are likely to spot an 11 year-old boy: in order to help ensure his family has enough to eat, young Gani spends a few hours every day washing car windows. It’s his addition to the fragile income provided by his parents for Gani and his siblings through the dangerous and unsavoury job of rubbish picking – scavenging recyclable materials from piles of garbage.

But even though Gani works every day, he makes sure to be back just on time for school. ‘He never misses a class. It is very heartwarming seeing how motivated he is, considering his background’ – says Hysni, the community mediator funded by your donations. I’m talking to him while we ride to school on the crowded bus, provided by The Ideas Partnership to get the children to and from school during bad weather, making sure they won’t miss any classes. When we get there, we run into Gani’s English teacher Albana, who tells us that he is a very good student, and smart. Nevertheless, Albana is very surprised to find out about his family’s conditions. ‘I have noticed him not being very attentive now and then, but never knew that he works!’- says Albana, looking shocked.

Gani is the first child of the family to attend school. But he is very excited to tell us that his little sister, Liridona, is attending school now too, following his footsteps. He adds that because the GlobalGiving donations provide him clothing and with what he needs for school, he does not have to work as much now, ‘Now I have more time to study and even help my little sister with her homework’ says Gani proudly.

Now, thanks to you and your support, Gani and other children like him can spend more time with their classmates and their books on their way to becoming a generation of change for their communities.