‘Kids for Peace’ youth visit orphan Kosovo children to brighten their day
“This is the first time in my life that children, who are not part of our orphanage, are coming to visit us and spending time with us. I’m enjoying this time with them and I wish these things would happen more often,” said *Liridon, one of the children living at “SOS Villages”, an orphanage in Prishtina, Kosovo’s capital.
During the summer a group of 50 Kids for Peace took their own initiative with World Vision’s support to help their community by organizing fun activities for orphan children living at “SOS Village”. The children had a chance to spend a good and special time with Kids for Peace members. They organized fun games for more than 100 children: football, painting, storytelling for the little ones and at the end of their visit they distributed presents for all of them, encouraging the children to rejoice in everyday life.
Kids for Peace member, Donik Hajredini, who is also an orphan, said: “They need love and understanding, because they have never been close to a really normal childhood.”
14 year-old Donik is from Mitrovica commune. Years ago he lost his parents and since then his life has changed drastically. Hearing about this orphanage on TV some weeks ago he proposed the idea to the group: to visit these children with the desire to get to know them and to help each child forget their loneliness through games and good company, even for a day.
“I know what it is like to be an orphan, missing a normal childhood and the precious love only your parents can give to you,” said Donik. “I know how orphan children feel. I just want them to know I understand exactly how they feel and what it is like to live this way.”
“It is the first time in my life someone is telling me a fairy tales,” said 6 year-old orphan *Artina, as she was enjoying the fairy tale told by one of the Club members. “I love to make new friends and especially to meet with children who come here because they really care about us,” she continued happily.
“I’m more than surprised to see such initiatives from children for children who have lost hope,” said Nazan Mustafa, one of the “SOS Village’s” care givers. “Such activities are very important and meaningful for our children in orphanage. Activities like these help the children to be more socialized, to feel part of the community and equal with them. What is interesting in this case is that children are helping children. This is amazing and is happening for the first time in our institute.”
“There are a lot of orphan children in Kosovo after the war,” said Fatmira Faka, a Club member from Kushtova village. “They miss their parents more than anything in the world. We want to make them to miss them less. I see sadness in their eyes, but they are friendly as well. Our mission is to bring joy to them and see them happy. For this we are here,” she said.
During this summer the Kids for Peace held daily meetings to plan more summer camp activities such as this one, helping other children understand the meaning of peace and harmony. The Youth club in Mushtisht prepared a program on peace and children’s rights with almost all of their peers in school. They met with local youth NGOs from the Gracanica commune and youth centre –SHL Kosovo from Rahovec - to look for possible ways of collaboration.
Two months ago representatives opened a new club in the Gelance school in the Suhareka Commune which was organized, planned, led and finalized by them. They are continuing to follow up with this process and supporting the new club, meeting them and conducting orientations to help them to grow and move forward as young agents for peace in Kosovo. Older Kids for Peace members have trained lots of new members who joined the Kids for Peace initiative to volunteer for the well-being of other children during summer camp. The topic in the training was Child Protection and youth participation awareness for new members.
“It’s such encourage to see how enthusiastically Kids for Peace members planned everything in such detail, with love and commitment,” said Persiana Kamberaj, Kids for Peace project manager. “They have a strong will to help and care for the others less happy and build with their own hands a beautiful world in this place.”
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“Even this day ended and end both children from “SOS Village” and the Club enjoyed a different day together,” said Mirjeta Imeni, from Mitrovica commune. “Kids for Peace are planning to continue visit this orphanage again - We are not done yet in this orphanage! Our next plan is to raise funds and buy presents, clothes and toys for children in need. Also we are planning to do activities like this again and again to help such children feel true love, peace, and give them strength to believe that they are equal and inspire them to have dreams for the future, because I believe if they find the power to dream and love themselves, they would forget the pain,” said Mirjeta, her gentle eyes focusing on the little orphans.
*** The names of SOS Village’s children are intentionally changed to protect children’s identity.