Building bridges of peace in children’s hearts in war-torn Kosovo

Kosovo is a war-torn country where the idea of peace has often been only a dream in the hearts of children. For nine years World Vision has been working with children in Kosovo to make their dreams of peace a reality. The Kids for Peace project promotes responsible and tolerant living with children of different ethnicities in five different areas across Kosovo. Now in 2010 about 400 children participate in 16 clubs throughout the country.Adem, a 14-year-old boy from Koshtova village near the divided city of Mitrovica, has experienced firsthand what it is to suffer at the hands of violence and intolerance. Yet remarkably, he wants to see reconciliation in his country – not revenge.

“My heart wants peace. There is a lot of peace in my heart and I want to share it with all the children in the world regardless of their ethnicity,” says Adem with a mixture of innocence and maturity that surpasses his 14 years.

My heart wants peace. The peace that Adem finds in his heart gives him the courage to face another day of life, in strife-torn Koshtova. He has lost a brother and sister; brother Sami and sister Sadete were abducted during the Kosovo war by Serb police; they were never seen again. His family’s home was burned to the ground. The hopes of his family were crushed. But instead of nurturing plans for revenge something miraculous has been growing in Adem’s heart.

Nine years ago when Adem was very young, his older sister Fatmira, then 11, was struck with an idea while watching World Vision employees work for peace during the war. Fatmira’s idea was to start the next generation working toward peace as opposed to war. Fatmira and World Vision started the first “Kids for Peace” club in 2002.

“When Fatmira came up with the idea of Kids for Peace clubs I was very happy. I thought that one day I would become part of the clubs,” says Adem with a smile.

An invisible but very real wall divides the town of Mitrovica, a wall of hostility and coldness that runs along the river which can be felt as you walk across the bridge. In that field of pain and violence, new attitudes bloom like beautiful flowers. “The most important word to me is ‘life’,” said Adem with hopeful eyes. “I want life to be respected everywhere and to work for peace in the world.”

“Kosovo children in World Vision’s Kids for Peace clubs learn to build relationships with the Serbian children,” said Rita Llulla, Kids for Peace Project Coordinator. “As they make friends with people who were once considered enemies they change their opinions about each other. They stop thinking about the bad things that have happened to them but instead they build bridges of friendship for the future.”

have goodness and not revenge, have feelings and not violence
“There is a popular saying in Kosovo that I like a lot, and it is my motto for life: ‘to have goodness and not revenge, to have feelings and not violence’,” says Adem with a confident and peaceful voice. “We have our own hymn in Peace for Kids club. My favourite part is when we all say ‘peace forever’– it gives me the inspiration and courage that I can do anything I dream of. My dream is to start an organisation that will promote and facilitate peace all around the world,” he says with eyes full of peaceful dreams.

Life has been hard for Adem and his family (his mother Nazimije 52, brother Safet 23; sisters Fatmira 21, Zelihe 20, Mimoza 18, Dafina 16, two married sisters Valbona and Fazile). It is difficult for them to forget the past, however Adem looks forward continuing to walk on the road of peace that his sister started to build years ago.

“I want my country, Kosovo, and all its children to know peace without violence,” he says with all his heart.

“Our future vision for Kids for Peace is to have even more children participate and to continue to promote peace in Kosovo,” says Rita Llulla. “Before joining Kids for Peace, these children were not open to talk about peace problems. We want for these children to become the leaders of tomorrow, to build their self-esteem so they can seek their rights and continue to reap what the fruits of peace they are sowing today.”

“Kids for Peace clubs have helped me forget the violence in my past life and to look forward to a better future with peace,” concludes Adem.

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