FIDA INTERNATIONAL: DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION IN THE WEST BALKANS (2014-2016) Albanian Community Development Programme The Community Development work which was started in 2004 is carried out in cooperation with three Evangelical Churches. The target groups include children and youth from poor families, Roma people, and small rural farmers. The objective of the Programme is to strengthen partners capacity to deal with social and economical challenges in their target communities. The local training team is responsible for training the partners and volunteers in the communities. Training team uses the Community Development Education (CDE) method. The team trains also small farmers from rural villages to use integrated pest management methods in farming, and support them to build up effective mutual cooperation with the purpose to share information and to deal with the challenges related to agriculture. English courses along with club and camp activities, support
children s and young people s schoolwork and increase their opportunities for further studies. The young people graduated from secondary school are encouraged to go on to secondary education, or to take part in vocational training courses. Educational support has proven to be particularly important for children in Roma communities, and children who live in remote villages. The child sponsorship program that is included into the Community Development Programme helps to improve the quality of life for the children of poor families. The program strengthen partners capacity to continue holistic sustainable development work in their target communities, and to inspires them to take in use more local resources in the work. Location: Tirana, Peqin and Fier and surrounding areas Budget 2014: 114 804 Duration of the project: 2007-2016 Project code: 5093 Integration of Vulnerable People into the Society The project aims to provide vulnerable men and women with a safe environment to live in when they leave the safe houses or prison, and sponsor children of prisoners with basic aid, counselling and education. With an increasing involvement of Albanian society members, the projects aims to provide better opportunities for after leaving institutional care and to help them make positive life choices and be capable of ruling their own life. The project also aims to see a reduction in re-offending and in the re-trafficking rate of victims of trafficking in Albania through this work. Fida will be partnering with The Christian Society for Albanian Prisoners in Albania. They partner with Prison Fellowship International and the Catholic and Orthodox churches. They are a recognised charity in Albania which has been registered since 2002 with the Albanian government. They are the only ongoing prison ministry organization in Albania and run educational projects in the prisons and rehabilitation programmes for ex-prisoners and victims of human trafficking. The first focus is on prisoners (male and female) that expressed themselves to make a positive change for their life. For that reason the project have social workers, vocational courses and social activities. Through these activities and experience the project can select the people that need support after leaving prison. With a growing voluntary involvement of the Albanian society (individuals, organizations and businesses) and making use of state provided vocational courses the project supports (ex-) prisoners and their families as well as victims of trafficking and victims at risk of trafficking to break the negative circle and stigma, due to poverty, gender, culture, or ethnicity reasons. The project will be working directly with vulnerable women (and occasionally men) as they leave prison or the safe houses. Many of the girls and women have no home to go to when they leave prison or the safe house; their families often do not want them back which put them at high risk of being re-trafficked. Through in-prison vocational courses like language and plumbing courses for men, and hairdressing and sewing and rehabilitation programs outside prison, the project supports girls and women to
independent living and supports them in finding employment. The project will help the individuals make a network of friends through work, through church and within the community. The project will also be assisting in the reunification with their families and for the women who have children to try and bring them back together. Children of Prisoners receive monthly basic support when their parents assure that they will go to school, but more importantly, a relationship is build, they receive counselling and practical daily advice and we try to connect them with summer holiday programs, renovation groups, schooling programs etc. The goal is to provide life improving support for vulnerable children, men and women in relation with prison, victims of human trafficking. Location: Tirana Budget 2014: 51 464 Duration of the project: 2008-2016 Project code: 5094 Regional Coordination and Organisational Development The project purpose is the partners increased capacity to carry out sustainable development work in their target communities in Albania, Bosnia, and Kosovo. The programme focuses on strengthening the partners to increase employment prospects through starting businesses, advancing training for men, women, youth and children and promoting self reliant community development. Fida international s (Fida) partners in Albania are the Good news churches in Tirana and Fier, Source of Hope church in Peqin and CAAP (SHKBSH) that works in and with prisons. In Bosnia & Herzegovina, the partner is the Christian Fellowship in Banja Luka and the Evangelical church in Tuzla. The Kosovo partner is Fellowship of the Lord's People. Until now the partners have organized street repairs, environmental clean-ups, introduced sports, facilitated trainings, and several persons have found employment through job coaching in Albania, and through various trainings in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Albania. Europe s highest unemployment is in the Balkans together with the perception of criminal association. These render the necessity of activating local organisations to rally in addressing the distress of people in their area. Facilitating sustainable development, especially for youth is therefore essential. By empowering partners to become more active in community development by using local manpower and funds, the partners will contribute towards sustainable development in the West Balkans region. Entrusting them with ownership and responsibility for implementing initiatives ensures sustainability. Some communities have already empowered young men to be leaders and role models through sports programmes Location: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo Budget 2014: 34 045 Duration of the project: 2004-2016 Project code: 5480
Development Programme for Roma Community The Tuzla Community Development Programme seeks to address the needs of marginalized groups of people through building up the capacity of a local partner for community development. Marginalized groups in the Tuzla area are the Roma, Women prisoners, and youth facing unemployment and a dim future. Fida partners with the Tuzla Evangelical Church to address the needs and challenges of these groups that are among the most disadvantaged in Bosnia. Fida works together with its partner by providing practical training in community development. The main approach of the programme is that of community health education. This includes home visits, promotion of holistic health, and awareness-raising events, especially for children. The programme incorporates child sponsorship and sports as strong elements in the project. Floorball is a new sport introduced to Bosnia through this project and has spread to youth in other areas of Bosnia as well. Through the practical development work being carried out, the partner will increase their capacity for community development and establish long-term partnerships with marginalised groups such as the targeted Roma communities. The Roma, women prisoners, and youth of Tuzla will gain knowledge and skills that help them to become the main actors in their own development. These efforts will contribute to decrease discrimination and improve the overall quality of life for people in Tuzla. Location: Tuzla region, Bosnia and Herzegovina Budget 2014: 39 587 Duration of the project: 2004-2016 Project code: 5470 Life with Purpose - Education and Culture Centre in Banja Luka The purpose of the programme is to support and strengthen the local partner's work among youth, students and families in the Banja Luka area. The programme is a continuation of the 2006-2010 community development programme, which main partner, the Protestant Church Christian Fellowship (PCCF), focuses on youth together with Fida and the Christian NGO, EKC IHTUS. About 20,000 students from across the country will make the capital of the Republic of Srpska, a real student city. The high unemployment and tragic history contributes to general apathy which does not provide a good starting point for young people. The project is addressing the fact that there is no hope for the future, especially among young people. It does this through the education and culture centre in Banja Luka which provides unemployment reducing and social justice awareness training, while maintaining cultural activities. An important part of the project is a child sponsorship program in both Banja Luka and the nearby town of Prijedor. It provides assistance for a total of 79 children and their families for a better future. Through the programme the partner's ability to carry out high-quality development work is increasing. The centre's activities contribute to employment, positive attitudes, and better life
management skills of the target group. In the long term, the program will promote sustainable economic development of the partner's area of operations. Location: Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Budget 2014: 114 804 Duration of the project: 2006-2014 Project code: 5475 Community Development Programme in Millosheva The purpose of the project is to improve life management skills for people in Millosheva area. This is done through professional courses and different activities. The NGO House of Hope is Fida s implementing partner of the project. The main target groups in this project are children, young people and women. Cooperation between Fida and partner has made it possible for people in the Millosheva area to have access to different trainings and activities which have a positive impact on life skills management in children, young people and women. The project arranges different kind of activities and professional courses such as: English, Sewing, Volunteer programs, Children s meetings, Women s meetings, topical trainings for women, and sport activities. Cooperation with UNDP has made it possible to start a social business with a common goal of empowering women by training and creating new employment for them. The main purpose of the project is to indirectly fight against Human trafficking and domestic violence by creating new jobs. Fida s partners in Kosovo contribute toward sustainable development in the west Balkan region. Location: Millosheva, Kosovo Budget 2014: 102 927 Duration of the project: 2000-2016 Project code: 5485 Roma Community Development Programme in Kosovo The project purpose is to improve partners potential to foster a better quality of life for Roma people in Kosovo. Since 2000 Fida s partner in Kosovo has been the Fellowship of the Lord's People (FLPest.1985) in Prishtina. The project is implemented through their NGO; House of Hope (reg. 2000). HOH has many years of experience in humanitarian aid and development work in Kosovo. The partner has done charity and food relief for many years. They have seen the poverty among the Roma and the question was raised, how they could be helped more. This initiated the project idea, whose target groups are children and young people in three Roma communities in Kosovo. 2014 is a planning year for the project. After that the partner will arrange training, tutoring, and employment advancing activities for the target group. There will be afternoon clubs to support children s schoolwork, literacy and sewing teaching for women and employment advancing courses for men. Advancement of recycling is also envisioned in the project plan. A well functioning Child
Sponsorship (CS) programs for 200 Roma children will be developed during the planning phase of 2014 to start in 2015. The project goal is to decrease discrimination and increase dignity among the target groups. The Roma people in Kosovo will have an improved quality of life and better education and employment opportunities as a result of the project. The partner s capacity for community development among Roma people will also increase. Location: Kosovo Budget 2014: 27 711 Duration of the project: 2014-2016 Project code: 5486