Widows Fund Fushe Kosova

Igball is both a grandmother and a mother to her three grandchildren. The 61 year-old woman living in one of the most neglected parts of Kosovo, Neighbourhood 28 in Fushe Kosova, lost her husband 10 years ago to disease. But that was not the worst life had in store for her. They say there is no pain like the one of a parent losing their child, and sadly enough Igball had to live through it. Five years after losing her husband, Igball’s lost her 27 year-old son who died suddenly, after a short disease, leaving behind his mother, wife and three children, all devastated. After the death of Igball’s son, his widow decided to leave, leaving the children to their grandmother.

Suad, a volunteer from the community who administers the Widows Fund of small grants to women in Fushe Kosova tells me how, despite all the heartache Igball has been through, she still tries to make the best of the possibilities for her grandchildren. Isuf, her grandson who started school this year, was being bullied on his way to school, losing his interest in going to school at all. ‘I could not let him drop out of school’ – said Igball, refusing to let Isuf miss out on his education, so she decided to walk to school with him and the other children every day, until the bullying stopped.

Igball is also very proud of her granddaughter Hatrete who now attends the 4^th grade. ‘The first thing she does when she comes back home is her homework; she doesn’t even stop to eat,’– says Igball smiling. She says that with the donations she receives of clothes, food and school material for the children through our Widows Fund which you’ve made possible, it is much easier for her to look after them, even though she’s on her own.

So thank you for giving Igball something to hold on to, making it possible for her to look past her many sufferings and look after her three beautiful grandchildren!