Bethany Social Services: Albania/Kosovo Report ... - Milika Dhamo

Bethany Kosovo
Youth and Voting
Encouraging youth to vote is especially vital in a new democracy. In
cooperation with the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Fare
Verde, Bethany Kosovo began a program entitled “Awareness of Youth
for Participation in Kosovo Election 2004.” Nine debates were organized
near the polling stations for the election. During each debate,
the importance of voting was discussed and information was distributed.
The youth voiced their opinions regarding the major social
problems in Kosovo and stated their ideas for a successful political
candidate.
Kosovo children participating in
Bethany programs
Kosovo youth attending a training class
Rainbow Colors
Bethany Kosovo has worked to improve the childhood of Kolonia
Roma Ashkali-Egyptians (RAE). More than six hundred RAE live
near a garbage dump, with at least 102 families living in severe poverty
and an unemployment rate of 92%. In addition to prejudice, the
children face serious health problems and a lack of education.
Environmental clean-up program
Through Rainbow Colors, the children were invited to explore the
concept of beauty, something not often considered in their daily lives.
This program allowed children to express themselves through various
art media. Staff hoped to increase the children’s self-esteem and positive
socialization by exhibiting their work in schools and within the
center itself. If a child can realize that there is beauty within himself
and his surroundings, he may develop a passion to spread this beauty,
sharing it with others and striving to transform that which is not
beautiful in his life.