IOM #Kosovo Newsletter (August 2014)

IOM Mission in Kosovo Newsletter, August 2014

In this issue: - EU-Beautiful Kosovo II starts with 7 Quick Impact Projects - Support to cultural group enhances the possibilities for youth in Serbian community - EU-Return and Reintegration III improving the road network of NovobĂŤrdĂŤ/Novo Brdo Municipality

An EU-funded programme, managed by the European Union office in Kosovo

Photo 1: “Renovation of the Nazmi Zhegrova school’s yard” in Stanoc I Poshtem/Donje Stanovce village provides employment for 60 beneficiaries.

EU-Beautiful Kosovo II starts with 7 Quick Impact Projects The EU-Beautiful Kosovo Programme is an EU-funded programme implemented by IOM Kosovo and targeting the improvement of public infrastructures in Kosovo as well as the creation of new jobs especially for long term unemployed beneficiaries registered at the local employment centres as job seekers. The second phase of the programme started in December 2013 as a continuation of the successfully implemented EU-Beautiful Kosovo I. As a result of a Call for Proposals launched for Municipalities interested in participating in the competition by submitting relevant project ideas in line with established criteria and procedure, 26 infrastructure projects were selected for implementation. Out of these 26, 7 were identified as Quick Impact Projects to be finalized by the end of the current year.

Photo 2: “Construction of recreational and Health Centre for elderly people” was kick started with the mayor of Obiliq/Obilić municipality and representatives of future beneficiaries of the Health Centre.

After preparing the technical designs and carrying out the procurement process, the implementation of the 7 quick impact projects started in August 2014 in the Municipalities of Vushtrri/ Vučitrn, Obiliq/Obilic, Dragash/ Dragaš, Junik/Junik, Ferizaj/Urosevac, Istog/Istok and Viti/Vitina. These projects are targeting the renovation of existing school yards and health facilities, the construction of pedestrian paths and green areas as well as the construction of a health centre and recreational house for elderly people.

Through the implementation of the 7 quick impact projects, 436 new jobs were created, including 328 for long term unemployed beneficiaries. Out of 328, 24 women, 43 persons from minority groups, 38 youth and 12 persons with disabilities were employed with the support of the local Em- Photo 3: The project “Renovation of the Haxhi Zeka school’s yard” has ployment Centres within the Ministry of Labour and Social started in Istog/Istok municipality.

Welfare. The implementation of the 7 quick impact projects will be finalized by November 2014, when the projects will The high unemployment rate in Kosovo remains the main be officially inaugurated and handed over to the respective push factor of out-migration, particularly through irregumunicipalities for their future operations and maintenance. lar channels. Thus, the implementation of actions such as EU-Beautiful Kosovo, targeting the creation of new employThe unemployment rate in Kosovo is still extremely high, ment opportunities for the most vulnerable as well as the reaching up to 35% for general population, 44,4% for womimprovement of Kosovo citizens’ living conditions, is conen and 60,2% for youth and represents a major challenges tributing to the overall goal of the Government of Kosovo for the Kosovo society. Other particularly affected groups and the EU to reduce poverty and high unemployment level include persons with disabilities, minorities, returnees and which is currently affecting Kosovo development. those with limited education who find the integration in the already restricted labour market extremely difficult.

Photo 4: The project “Rehabilitation of the Erenik riverbank and creation of green area and walking paths” in Junik municipality is creating employment for 28 workers.

Photo 5: The project “Renovation of the Shaban Hashani’s school yard” employs total 77 workers in Ferizaj/Urosevac.

Photo 6: “Renovation of the City Park” in Viti/Vitina municipality is providing employment for 53 workers but also improving the living conditions of all 46 000 inhabitants of the municipality.

Photos 7 and 8: “Renovation of the Health Centre’s façade” in Dragash/Dragaš is improving the health facilities of the town. The photos indicate the Health Centre before EU-BK II intervention and the outcome that will be finalized by the end of 2014.

Photos 9 and 10:The project “Rehabilitation of the Erenik riverbank and creation of green area and walking paths” in Junik municipality.The photos show the riverbed before EU-BK II intervention and the outcome after the implementation of the project.

Support to cultural group enhances the possibilities for youth in Serbian community

An EU-funded programme, managed by the European Union office in Kosovo

The municipality of Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje in central Kosovo, right next to the capital Prishtina, has always been an ethnically mixed area populated by the Albanian community with RAE and Serbian minorities. Out of its 40 000 inhabitants, approximately 10% are Serbs. One of the Serbian communities is living in the village of Uglare.

The cultural group called “Branko Medenica� is an important part of the cultural lives of people of Uglare and surrounding villages. The group works within the local school in Uglare village, gathering youngsters of ages 7 to 16 and is promoting and maintaining Serbian culture through folklore and traditional dancing and music.

The young and enthusiastic dancers of the group have been successfully participating in competitions in Kosovo and surrounding countries. They have recently won a large regional competition in Nessebar, Bulgaria. However despite their success, funding sources are limited and thus the group decided to apply for support from EU-Community Stabilization II. The programme provided the group with new costumes and a sound system which were very much needed in order to enable to group to continue practicing, competing and promoting their cultural heritage. The budget for the project was 8 000 Euro, including 7 000 Euro assistance through the programme and 1 000 Euro contribution from the beneficiary.

EU-Community Stabilization II is an EU-funded programme, implemented by IOM Kosovo. The programme is targeting non-majority communities all over Kosovo. Through business grants and community development initiatives the programme aims at improving the living conditions of these communities. During the programme, 231 projects have been implemented all around Kosovo and further 52 projects are currently under implementation.

Photo 11: Before the project, the dancing group was lacking of proper costums and a sound system.

Photo 12:Thanks to the support from the EU-CSP II, the cultural group Branko Medenica is able to continue to compete and preserve their traditional culture in Kosovo.

An EU-funded programme, managed by the European Union office in Kosovo

Photo 13: 450 meters of gravel road was constructed in Llabjan village.

EU-Return and Reintegration III improving the road network of Novobërdë/Novo Brdo Municipality The municipality of Novobërdë/Novo Brdo has been one of the partner municipalities for EU-Return and Reintegration in Kosovo III, which is an EU-funded programme implemented by IOM Kosovo in partnership with the Ministry of Communities and Return. The programme is promoting secure and tolerant multi-ethnic society by facilitating the return process of refugees, IDP’s and IIDP’s through housing, harmonized assistance and income generation packages.

EU-RRK III also supports local authorities to ensure the sustainability of these processes and implements community and infrastructure projects in order to improve the living conditions of both the returnees and receiving communities.

In Kosovo there are still many places with poor and inadequate infrastructure, including roads. EU-RRK III, jointly with the municipality of Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, cooperated to improve some of the roads in the municipality to secure the access of all inhabitants to municipal services.

The road in Llabjan/e village was in a very bad condition and was reconstructed during this summer. As a result, 450 meters of gravel road was constructed by EU-RRK III and the municipality of Novobërdë/Novo Brdo will fix the remaining 900 meters. As a result, several households from Llabjan village will have a better access to the main regional road.

In June 2014, another road construction was inaugurated in the village of Zebince. During the implementation, 1900 meters of gravel road was repaired as a joint effort

by EU-RRK III, Kosovo Security Forces and the municipality of Novobërdë/Novo Brdo. Afterwards the municipality has paved the road with asphalt which indicates the pledge of the municipality authorities for the development of their home communities.

Photo 14: The constructed road in Zebince village was covered with aspalt by the municipality.