Projects

EXPANDING ACCESS TO QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND PRIMARY EDUCATION

Project Description

Overall objective: The Project aims to improve the ECD outcomes and school readiness for 1st and 2 grade of disadvantaged Roma children from six neighborhoods aged 4-6 and 6-8 attending schools in two locations by improving the parenting skills of the parents, strengthening the link between parents and pre-primary and school institutions, expanding the access to integrated ECD services and raising the quality of teaching and learning. Target groups: The direct beneficiaries of the project will be the Roma children and disadvantage non- Roma children of age 4-6 pre-school level, age 5-6 pre-primary level, and age 6-8,1st and 2nd graders of neighborhoods Edit Durham, Janine, Xheladin Hana, Bazhdarane, Jenimahall, Qyrtmahall. Components and Activities: • Component 1: Improving the access in mainstream, non-segregated ECD services Activity 1.1: Addressing financial and attendance barriers to preschool and pre-primary access of Roma children and returnees aged 4-5 and 5-6; Activity 1.2: Facilitation of access, enrolment and attendance of Roma children and returnees aged (4-5) in pre-school and pre-primary level (aged 5-6) through identification, recruitment and training of school mediators. • Component 2: Improving the quality of ECD services Activity 2.1: Toy Libraries covering the 6 locations Activity 2.2: Strengthening pre-school and pre-primary services & the capacity of educators to deliver child-centered education through qualified educators  Activity 2.3: Measuring the child development of the targeted 5-6 years old Roma children bringing a result to better understand the need for ECD support • Component 3: Expanding access to quality primary school education Activity 3.1: Outreach and enrolment for primary school education grade 1 and 2 including returnee children Activity 3.2: Support to children enrolled in primary school and development follow-up, as well as preparation of individual plans for Roma returnee children. Activity 3.3: Working with volunteers • Component 4: Improving the Parenting Skills and Practices of Roma Parents Activity 4.1: Informal literacy training and lessons in storytelling to Roma mothers (adaptation of the “Your Story” approach, based on the realities in respectful localities) Activity 4.2: Home-School-Community Liaison Activity 4.3: Primary schools’ platform

Implementation Period

01/12/2018 to 30/09/2021

Budget

121,676.00 €

Partners and Donors

Roma Education Fund (REF)

Personnel

Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights

Project Description

Through the EU-funded, KEC and ZFD in cooperation with 10 NGOs are implementing the project “Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights” which aims to empower local communities improve child protection measures in schools through awareness raising, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution. By doing so, the project aims to contribute to creating child-friendly and violence-free environments in Kosovo schools through targeted actions of civil society organizations and local communities for promoting children’s rights. Overall objective: To create child-friendly and violence-free environments in Kosovo schools through targeted actions of civil society organizations and local communities for promoting children’s rights. Specific objectives: To empower local communities improve child protection measure in schools through awareness raising, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution Activities:
  • Set up an online platform to raise awareness of children’s rights and child protection measures.
  • Develop information materials for children, parents, teachers and wider public.
  • Organize contest for the best media article on children’s rights.
  • Organize regional conference on children’s rights.
  • Select 10 local NGOs to work with 40 rural schools.
  • Conduct children’s rights and peer mediation trainings for NGOs, children, parents and teachers.
  • Organize study trips for NGOs and school representatives to Peer Mediation Clubs in Macedonia and Albania.
  • Assist local NGOs to support schools implement child protection policies.
  • Collect examples of good practice from targeted schools and publish them.
Target groups:
  1. 15,000 children from 40 elementary schools
  2. Their parents
  3. Around 1,000 teachers from 40 elementary schools
  4. 10 grassroots NGOs
  5. General public
Implemented by: Kosova Education Center (KEC) & Forum ZFD

Implementation Period

03/04/2017 to 30/09/2019

Budget

€ 272,450.00

Partners and Donors

European Union

Personnel

Ardita Kabashi

Protecting Children from Violence

Project Description

The goal of the project was creating a safe and child friendly environment in schools through dissemination and implementation of the Protocol for the Prevention and Referral of Violence in Kosovo Pre-university Education Institutions and establishment of Peer Mediation Groups. The project worked in ten municipalities of Kosovo: Prishtine, Obiliq, Peje, Ferizaj, Gjakove, Podujeva, Shtime, Klina, Suhareke and Gjilan Direct beneficiaries of the project are: children from selected schools in 10 municipalities involved in the project (Prishtine, Obiliq, Peje, Ferizaj, Gjakove, Podujeva, Shtime, Klina, Suhareke, Gjilan and Prizren) and targeted Municipalities. Indirect beneficiaries of the project are: Government of Kosovo with all line-ministries (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Work and Social Welfare, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health), Council for Protection and Justice for Children (OGG of the OPM). Output 1: By end of 2017, Improve child protection mechanisms on violence against children in 26 schools in 11 municipalities through implementation of the Protocol. Output 2: By the end of the project, capacities of municipal official (20 officials /11 municipalities) are strengthened to monitor and support schools in implementing the Protocol. Output 3: By the end of the project, capacities of 10 CSO’s (minimum 2 staff per CSO) working  in the area of Child Protection are increased to support Protocol Implementation. Project partners: FORUM ZFD, MEST

Implementation Period

01/02/2017 to 31/07/2018

Budget

€ 82,105,50

Partners and Donors

UNICEF

Personnel

Kosovo Integration Initiative- KOSINT 2020

Project Description

“Kosovo Integration Initiative - KOSINT 2020” aims to improve the access of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in education, employment and social welfare, contributing to the fulfilment of commitments made by the Kosovo Government, by encouraging the participation of civil society organizations in monitoring sectorial reforms, policy development and budget planning. KOSINT 2020 is funded by the Roma Initiatives Office (RIO) in the framework of Open Society Foundations (OSF), and is implemented under the leadership of Kosova Education Center (KEC) with the cooperation of Balkan Sunflowers Kosova (BSFK), Roma & Ashkalia Documentation Center (RAD Center) and Syri i Vizionit. The period of implementation is 36 months. The project has three main components:
  1. Building capacities of civil society organizations for participation in monitoring sectorial reforms, policy development and budget planning;
 
  1. Monitoring sectorial reforms in Education, Employment and Social Welfare, in the framework of Kosovo Government commitments for the inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities;
 
  1. Policy development and advocacy through the involvement of civil society organizations in reform policies in the domains of Education, Employment and Social Welfare, in the best interest of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.
One of the crucial tasks of KOSINT 2020 is the establishment of a network of civil society organizations which contribute specifically to the inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the domains of education, employment and social welfare in Kosovo. This Network will strengthen the impact of each organization and widen the scope and outreach of activities towards monitoring and advocacy on issues that concern communities. Network members will play an important role in decision-making processes in terms of ongoing harmonization of KOSINT 2020 activities with the evolving needs of the aforementioned communities. Kosovo Education and Employment Network (KEEN), a coalition of civil society organizations with years of experience, will offer constant support to KOSINT 2020 through training and expertise in monitoring capacities and policy development.

Implementation Period

01/01/2017 to 29/02/2020

Budget

$470,257

Partners and Donors

Roma Initiatives Office (RIO)

Personnel

Kosovo RAE Early Years Network- K-RAE-EYN (Phase 2)

Project Description

The project aims to expand and strengthen the network Kosovo RAE Early Years Network (K-RAE-EYN), a network of professionals and pre professionals for Development in Early Childhood of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo . This network was established based on the concept of "Romani Early Years Network (REYN)", initiated by the International Step by Step Association - ISSA. So far KRAEYN network has member individuals and organizations who advocate for children's welfare of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities and their involvement in quality and inclusive education. On November, 2016 the second phase of the project started. The main aim of this phase is the KRAEEYN network expansion with new members not only in the field of education, but also in the welfare and health areas. The project will provide support for KAEEYN's members and will help them to organize a number of activities to raise awareness, and offer better opportunities regarding welfare and education for Roma, Ashkli, Egyptian communities and others.

Implementation Period

01/11/2016 to 30/04/2018

Budget

$ 40.000

Partners and Donors

Open Society Institute (OSI)

Personnel

Hana Zylfiu-Haziri

Together for Equity in Early Childhood

Project Description

This project is the second phase of the project “Together – Support to Integration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children in preschool education.” The Project aims to improve the ECD outcomes and school readiness of disadvantaged Roma children aged 4-6 in 4 locations by improving the parenting skills of the parents, strengthening the link between parents and pre-primary institutions, expanding the access to integrated ECD services and raising the quality of teaching and learning. Additionally, with the selected relevant partners the project aims to support the improvement of the Early Childhood Development situation of Roma children throughout Kosovo by advocating nationally for the welfare and rights to the quality education. Project components and activities: Component 1: Improving participation in mainstream ECD services Its aim is to eliminate the existing barriers to pre-primary access and participation of Roma children aged 4-6 in the above localities by expanding access to preschool education, the provision of need-based material support, the provision of furniture and pedagogic materials to renovated preschool classrooms and intense communication and work with the RAE parents through pre-primary mediators and information campaigns. Component 2: Improving the parenting skills of Roma parents Its aim is to achieve visible improvements in the parenting skills and practices of parents (and mothers, in particular) of Roma children aged 4-6 in selected localities through informal literacy training and lessons in storytelling (Your Story); Parents school for building the awareness and skills to implement good parenting practices (Community events with parents on early childhood nutrition, health and education); and enhancing the interaction of parents with ECD and pre-primary institutions (Home-Pre-primary-Community liaison). Component 3: Improving the quality of ECD services Its aim is to improve the quality of teaching and learning of Roma children in pre-primary by strengthening the capacity of educators to provide child-centered education through tailored training on child-centered and inclusive education and regular on-site mentoring services. Component 4: Advocating for rights of quality education for Roma children This aim of this component is to create advocacy initiatives for raising awareness on the benefits of inclusion of Roma children in early childhood programs. Advocacy initiatives in cooperation with KRAEEYN - Kosovo Roma Ashkali and Egyptian Early Years Network will target the society as a whole, primarily decision makers at local and national level to create a more favourable educational framework in Kosovo.

Implementation Period

01/09/2016 to 31/08/2018

Budget

€ 171,728

Partners and Donors

Roma Education Fund (REF)

Personnel

EU-SIMRAES II

Project Description

The overall objective of the EU-SIMRAES II is to support the Government of Kosovo in the development of democratic and multiethnic society by implementing the strategy of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities and its action plan. The specific objective is to ensure fair access of Roma children, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in pre-primary education, primary and secondary education by improving enrollment, attendance and attainment of children by providing community and financial support. Activities of the first component implemented by KEC:
  • Support the operation of 10 teaching centers.
  • Raise awareness of parents of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities to enroll children in school on time.
  • Provide logistical support for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities to attend primary education.
  • Hire individual mentoring and homework assistance for children.
  • Organize trainings against prejudice for teachers and parents, and provide mentoring /counseling to ensure implementation of competencies acquired.
  • Organize local events to help better integration of children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian at school level.
Expected results:
  • Inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children from 10 targeted municipalities in pre-primary, primary and secondary education and improvement of the results of their learning.
  • Improved access and continuity of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian students in upper secondary education and improve their capacity to benefit from higher education.
  • Organizations working in the field of education of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities improve their capacity to deliver quality services to their community members.

Implementation Period

01/04/2016 to 31/10/2019

Budget

€1,300,000

Partners and Donors

European Union

Personnel

Building Social Inclusion Through Education

Project Description

The overall objective of this project is to advance social inclusion in the field of education, through improved institutional responsiveness and better servicing of marginalized Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) communities; The specific objectives: 1) Strengthened capacities of CSOs dealing with RAE to engage in the dialog with educational institutions and better respond to the priorities of their constituents in the field of education; 2) Enhanced peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and partnering amongst experienced and grassroots CSOs in the bordering regions, to support inclusion efforts in the field of education.

Implementation Period

15/12/2015 to 01/10/2018

Budget

€94.297

Partners and Donors

European Union

Personnel

Kosovo Academy for Education for Democtratic Cizizenship and Human Rights Education

Project Description

Kosovo Academy of Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (EDC /HRE) is a training organized jointly by Kosova Education Center (KEC) , Municipal Directorate of Education (MDE) in Pristina, the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Wergeland Centre (EWC). Academy aimed to strengthen the democratic culture in the schools of the municipality of Prishtina by traiing education professionals and community stakeholders, as well as by further developing their capacity to implement and promote EDC/HRE in their schools and communities. The main activities and achievements of the Project were:
  • Drafting of the academy concept and format
  •  The call for applications and selection process
  • Preparatory meeting for the academy
  • The five-day training
Academy outcomes were to:
  1. Facilitate sharing of experiences and good practices in EDC/HRE
  2. Support participants in the development and implementation of the school project
  3. Encourage cooperation and partnership between the different actors involved in education and between the participating schools
  4. Supports the creation of a network of professionals that promote EDC/HRE
  5. Facilitate the implementation of the Charter of the Council of Europe EDC/HRE and the use of materials of the Council of Europe at the local level.

Implementation Period

01/12/2015 to 30/06/2020

Budget

€12,300

Partners and Donors

Council of Europe

Personnel

Prevention of violence in schools

Project Description

The goal of the project was creating a safe and child friendly environment for schools through dissemination and implementation of the Protocol for the Prevention and Referral of Violence in Kosovo Pre-university Education Institutions. The main results of the project were: 1. Improved child protection mechanisms on violence against children in schools through implementation of the Protocol 2. Increased awareness of key institutions, civil society, media and community in general on prevention of violence against children in school Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries of the project are: children from all pre-university education institutions in seven municipalities involved in the project (upper secondary schools, lower-secondary schools, primary schools and pre-primary institutions) such as Prishtinë/Priština, FushëKosovë/Kosovo Polje, Obiliq/Obilić, Pejë/Peć, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Gjilan/Gnjilane and Gjakovë/Djakovica. Indirect beneficiaries of the project are: Government of Kosovo with all line-ministries (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Work and Social Welfare, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health), Council for Protection and Justice for Children (OGG of the OPM).

Implementation Period

20/06/2014 to 20/02/2016

Budget

€137.230

Partners and Donors

UNICEF

Personnel

Support to integration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children in preschool education (TOGETHER)

Project Description

The objective of the project was to improve the early childhood development (ECD) outcomes and the school readiness of disadvantaged Roma, Ashkalia, and Egyptian (RAE) children aged 5-6 in selected localities by improving the parenting skills of the RAE parents, strengthening the link between parents and preschools, expanding the access to integrated ECD services, and raising the quality of teaching and learning. Project components, activities and expected results: Component 1: Improving the access to and participation in mainstream, non-segregated ECD services aims to eliminate the existing barriers to access and participation in pre-primary and of RAE children aged 5-6 in the selected localities by provision of need-based material and intense communication and work with the RAE parents through preschool mediators and information campaigns. This component includes activities to (a) address financial and transport barriers to preschool access of RAE children aged 5-6; (b) to facilitate access, enrolment and attendance of RAE children aged 5-6 in pre-primary level and transition of RAE children aged 6 into primary education through identification, recruitment and training of school mediators. Component 2: Improving the Parenting Skills and Practices of RAE Parents aims at achieving visible improvements in the parenting skills and practices of parents (and mothers, in particular) of RAE children aged 5-6 in selected localities through informal literacy training and lessons in storytelling (My Story), Parents school for building the awareness and skills to implement good parenting practices (Community events with parents on early childhood nutrition, health and education), and enhancing the interaction of parents with ECD and preschool institutions (Home-Preschool-Community liaison). Component 3: Improving quality of ECD services aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning of RAE children in pre-primary by strengthening the capacity of educators to provide child-centered education. This component includes activities for strengthening the capacity of pre-primary teachers to deliver child-centered education by improving the teaching and learning in pre-primary through capacity building activities promoting the child-centered approach to ECE.

Implementation Period

01/03/2014 to 31/07/2016

Budget

103.975

Partners and Donors

Roma Education Fund (REF)

Personnel

PROCON – Protecting Children Online

Project Description

The specific objective of the project was to ensure better protection of Kosovo children from online risks through awareness raising, empowerment and coordinated action of the Government, Civil Society and Industry to take appropriate protection measures. This project contains two interlinked components: 1) Protecting children online.– A multi-stakeholder group for online protection of children, composed of representatives from different stakeholders were set up to address the children online protection challenge at the policy and technical level. A study tour to Hungary was organized for the multi-stakeholder group to develop the capacity of its members to engage constructively and in a well-informed way in the multi-stakeholder policy making processes at national level. The program included a training seminar offered by ICSS (International Children’s Safety Service) and a number of site visits to learn from experience of Hungarian government agencies, schools and CSOs. ICSS also supported the participatory process of developing a national strategy for protecting children online which is expected to reflect the multi-sectorial nature of such intervention. The two-day regional conference for online protection of children served to disseminate project outputs to wider public and exchange experience with experts from other West Balkans Countries. 2) Stepping up awareness and empowerment. – A web page to facilitate the flow of information on the protection of children online was set up. Information materials for children, parents and teachers were developed by a team of Kosovo and EU experts based on the best models of the EU Safer Internet Program. At least 100 on-site information sessions were organized in primary and secondary schools for children, parents and teachers. Also, on-line information sessions were developed and posted on the project web page along with information materials to raise awareness about online risks and empower children to cope with them. The Project supported up to 10 school-based initiatives for improving online protection of children which may include various types of awareness raising and empowerment activities, and also run a campaign to raise awareness of the general public on the issue.

Implementation Period

24/12/2013 to 24/12/2015

Budget

€ 203,684

Partners and Donors

European Union

Personnel

Kosovo RAE Early Years Network (K-RAE-EYN)

Project Description

The specific objective of the project was to develop skills and good practice, establish effective partnerships and support capacity building of RAE and non-RAE professionals and paraprofessionals working with RAE children and their families for improving their own performance and the quality of provision in general. The project idea was based on the Romani Early Years Network (REYN), which was launched during the international ECD conference, organized jointly by the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) and Diversity in Early Childhood Education and Training (DECET) in October 2012. REYN is a joint partnership of ISSA and the Roma 'Kopaçi' Initiatives at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) Early Childhood Program. The aim of this Network was to particularly empower Romani ECD professionals and paraprofessionals working with Romani communities, offering them opportunities for professional development, training, study visits and international networking across the ECD sector.

Implementation Period

01/09/2013 to 01/09/2015

Budget

€ 118.323

Partners and Donors

Open Society Foundation (OSF)

Personnel

Hana Zylfiu-Haziri

PROSPECT

Project Description

The aim of this project was to enhance the capacities of the learning community centers, and to develop the network of stakeholders to support the establishment of a non-discriminatory and integrative school. The projects was financed by KKS (Karl Kubel Stiftung) and BMZ (German Ministry for Development), and implemented by KFOS, while KEC manages the professional development component of the centers. During the year, KEC conducted regular monitoring activities at all centers. In general, tutors were very much engaged. In some cases, tutors were changes, which caused obstacles in the work, since the new tutors were not trained. During the monitoring, the main focus was on supporting tutors to maintain the files children, so that they are able to document children’s development. Not all Centers have started to maintain individual children’s files. In October, in cooperation with KFOS, a training for the organization development was organized. The training was divided into two topics “Communication and Leadership” which was implemented by KEC, and “Advocacy” implemented by ATTA.

Implementation Period

01/07/2012 to 31/12/2015

Budget

43.560€

Partners and Donors

Fondacioni i Kosovës për Shoqëri të Hapur (KFOS)

Personnel

Hana Zylfiu-Haziri

Prevention of Violence in Schools

Project Description

The main objective of the project was creating conditions for primary and lower secondary schools in Kosovo to be transformed into child friendly schools and free of violence environment in order to become powerful teaching institutions. The main project activities were: 1. Support of the violence prevention network - Organizing the 1-day training with members of Municipal and Regional Committees for Protection of Children’s Rights. - Drafting of the action plan of the Municipal and Regional Committee for Protection of CR 2. Extending and empowerment of the violence prevention network Conducting meetings with MED representatives for the establishment of the Municipal and Regional Committees on Child Rights. Establishment of the Municipal and Regional Committees on Child Rights Monitoring and evaluation of the Regional and Municipal Committees on violence prevention Development of two day training with School director for drafting of the School Development Plans for the period 2010 -2015 (with objective: Creation of the Safe and Non-Violent Environments in School Environments) 3. Creation of Kosovar committee for violence prevention Drafting of the detailed guidelines of Kosovar Committee on Violence Prevention Organizing public discussion on Guidelines on the work of National Committee on Violence Prevention 4. Dissemination of the progress and achievements of the project intervention Preparation of the five exhibitions of changes done by the project (five pilot municipalities) Organizing a week exhibition on the positive changes from the project (15 municipalities of Kosova) Development of the regional conference in five centers (Gjakove, Gjilan, Mitrovica, Peja and Prizren) Preparation for organizing Child Rights Fair Main results: 1. Violence prevention network supported and strengthened; 2. Violence Prevention network empowered through conferences, training, round tables, exhibitions, media etc. ; 3. Violence Prevention network structure created at central level; 4. Special Protocol on prevention and response against violence approved; 5. National plan on prevention and response against violence drafted; 6. Monitoring and Evaluation framework developed;

Implementation Period

15/12/2010 to 15/12/2012

Budget

€96,985

Partners and Donors

UNICEF

Personnel

EU Support for Implementation of the RAE Strategy (EU SIMRAES)

Project Description

The main objectives of the project were to improve the socio-economic well-being of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo by facilitating access to education, by preserving and promoting RAE cultural heritage and by improving information in/on RAE and the mainstream media. The main results of the action were: 1. Improved access and retention of RAE communities in pre-school and elementary education and improvement of their capacities to benefit from secondary and tertiary education levels. 2. Promotion of RAE cultural heritage and media/outreach skills development.

Implementation Period

01/09/2010 to 28/02/2013

Budget

€ 1.070.000

Partners and Donors

European Union

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE)

Project Description

Kosova Education Center (KEC) participated in different regional projects, which aimed at teacher training in order to apply the principles of Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE) in their classrooms. One of the projects that KEC continued to implement during 2014 was the “Human Rights in Action” project. The “Human Rights in Action” projects started to be implemented in Kosovo at the start of September 2013. During 2013, a questionnaire was drafted to assess the implementation level of EDC/HRE principles by social subject teachers in the upper-secondary school “Mehmet Isai” in Gjilan, which was part of this regional project. To have a clearer picture of classroom implementation of such principles, the researchers hired by KEC asked that the questionnaire is filled by 20% of teachers and 20% of students of “Mehmet Isai” school in Gjilan. The data gathered from the questionnaire were presented in a joint meeting with the teachers and students of this school on January 16, 2014. The possibility to involve students’ council in various decision making processes of the school were discussed during that meeting. The report became available to the public through the website of the “Human Rights in Action”, financed by the Council of Europe (CoE) and European Wergeland Center (EWC). A leaflet is also published in this website, which presents the activities implemented during 2013/2014 under this project in Kosova.

Implementation Period

01/09/2009 to 01/10/2009

Budget

Partners and Donors

European Union

The European Wergeland Center (EWC)

Personnel

Concepts of Citizenship among Primary School Students in Kosovo

Project Description

The main objective of the project was to assess the level of understanding of citizenship concepts among Kosovo students and define modalities for interventions. The overall goal of project “Concepts of Citizenship among Primary School Students in Kosovo” was to contribute to the development of democratic citizenship society in Kosovo. The main activities of the project were: • A research on understanding of basic concepts of citizenship was conducted with school children all over Kosovo. 25 schools with 1500 students of 8th grade were the target of the research. A report from the research was prepared and published. The report was a basis for future interventions in this field. • A manual for teachers on civic education was developed. It relies pretty much on the outcomes of the research, and helps teachers to address important issues in teaching citizenship. In order to facilitate this process, trainings and informative session with teachers of civic education were organized. Main results: 1. The understanding of citizenship among Kosovo children is assessed through a research. 2. A manual on citizenship education is produced.

Implementation Period

01/08/2009 to 30/09/2013

Budget

€264.419

Partners and Donors

Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences (KFH)

Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)

Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)

Zurich University of Education (PHZH)

Personnel

Advancing Participation and Representation of Ethnic Minority Groups in Education (APREME)

Project Description

The objective of the project was to advance participation and representation of minority ethnic groups in education systems in the Western Balkans Countries by promoting good practices and supporting local initiatives. The Project “Advancing Participation and Representation of Ethnic Minority Groups in Education” aimed to empower students, teachers and parents to build initiatives that advance participation and representation of ethnic minorities in elementary (compulsory) education. The project started by qualitative research to solicit the opinions of parents and other community members on the current practices of school-parent-community involvement strategies of schools in regards of creating an inclusive participatory environment, i.e. the efforts to engage parents belonging to ethnic minorities into school level governance. National surveys and the Regional summary were published in English and the languages of the Region. The findings were summarized and discussed on regional level. Collection of good education stakeholders’ practices to reduce inequity and raise the quality of education took place in parallel to the above. It included a review of different types of interventions initiated and/or implemented through stakeholder participation (school students and parents in particular) with the aim to advance educational inclusion and quality at school and local community level and provide mechanism(s) for horizontal learning and best practice exchange thus supporting sustainable initiatives on institutional and local level. Final product was a book with good practices. Following this, local communities engaged in actions planning to translate their views on inclusion and quality into practical programmes at the local level. These local initiatives, in order to promote inclusion and quality culminated in regional conferences, which showcased and discussed the outcomes of the project.

Implementation Period

19/05/2009 to 18/05/2011

Budget

€391.700

Partners and Donors

European Union

Open Society Institute (OSI)

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

Prevention of Peer Violence

Project Description

The main objectives of the project were: • To raise awareness of the schools on issues related to children’s rights • To build a positive self-image of children • To overcome the intolerance among children and teachers • To define the forms of peer violence and raising awareness among children and teachers Monitoring and evaluation activities were carried out in 10 primary schools, which were willing to participate in the project and 3 teachers from each school were involved in trainings. They were expected to disseminate knowledge and learned skills among other colleagues. One local coordinator for each of participating schools was appointed among psychology graduates who, in the meantime, established the new organization – Foundation Together Kosova. The project had a “pyramid structure”. Initially, seminars for 30 teachers were organized in cooperation with Foundation Together Slovenia. Each seminar was followed by its own phase of the project, with specific goals and tasks. After the seminars the teachers were obliged to train their other colleagues with the help of local coordinator. The coordinator works with schools, providing them support and empowerment when needed. Coordinator is supervised by professionals from the Foundation Together Slovenia. Main results: • Handbook for work in schools prepared and distributed to the participants • Two seminars successfully executed • School Programme developed and implemented

Implementation Period

01/02/2009 to 31/12/2009

Budget

€32,050

Partners and Donors

Foundation Together Slovenia

Personnel

Ardita Kabashi

Promoting the Rights of the Child in the field of Education

Project Description

The objective of the project was to raise awareness on the situation of children’s rights in the field of education in Kosovo by organizing concerted monitoring action of civil society organizations in cooperation with central and local authorities and building capacity of schools to contribute to this endeavor. The project had two major components: 1. A system for monitoring and reporting the situation of children’s rights was developed in close cooperation with the MEST and local authorities. 30 schools from Prizren and Prishtina region were selected. In those schools monitoring process actively involved school committees for protection of children’s rights. Particular attention was paid to schools with substantial number of ethnic minority students, students with disabilities and students from other disadvantaged groups. In addition, a control group of thirty schools matching target school in multiple ways was selected, also for the purpose of monitoring of children’s rights in the field of education. Following the training of external monitors and school monitors, the monitoring action was carried out four times during the lifetime of the Project. Annual monitoring reports allowed the comparison of results between the two groups of schools, with slightly better situation in targeted schools due to activities of school committees. 2. This action entailed a lot of work with committees of children’s rights in Kosovo schools, which started by establishing new or mobilizing existing committees, to continue building their capacity for monitoring action, and awareness raising activities in their area of responsibility. In each targeted school, 2-3 teachers/parents were involved in working with committees, and they also benefited from capacity building activities of the project. Main results: 1. A system for monitoring and reporting situation of children’s rights in the field of education was developed. 2. Improved capacity of students to identify and address cases of violation of children's rights in the education system.

Implementation Period

15/01/2009 to 15/07/2011

Budget

€140,600

Partners and Donors

European Union

Fondacioni i Kosovës për Shoqëri të Hapur (KFOS)

Personnel

Ardita Kabashi

Kosovision

Project Description

The Kosovision Project is a national contest in which all primary schools in Kosovo participate, more specifically, fifth grade pupils of all ethnic backgrounds. The number of participants is 30,000-35,000 per year. The children deal with topics present in their immediate environment: living together, education, economy, infrastructure, environment. From the methodological point of view this corresponds to the process of Education for Democratic Citizenship as it is promoted by the Council of Europe. The main objectives of the project are enhancing the abilities and skills of the Kosovision Contest participants (pupils) to address real life community issues in a creative and responsible way. The aim of the project was that by the academic year 2014/2015, to transform the Kosovision Contest into a regular activity of primary education in Kosovo. During the period of September 2008 - June 2014, the project was funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), meanwhile starting from September 2014-June 2017 the funding was offered by MEST, based on an agreement of understanding with SDC, with an annual amount of 93,000 EUR. The project will constantly try to integrate kosovar serbs pupils into the project. Main results: 1. Three cycles of Kosovision Contest are completed. 2. Teachers are capable to promote participation of children in democratic processes. 3. MEST takes the necessary measures to integrate Kosovision Contest in the regular education system.

Implementation Period

06/09/2008 to 30/06/2017

Budget

€ 1.465.132

Partners and Donors

Ministria e Arsimit, e Shkencës dhe e Teknologjisë (MASHT)

Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)

Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)

Personnel

Ardita Kabashi

Creation of safe environments in Kosovo schools

Project Description

The main objective of the project was to contribute building safe environments in Kosovo schools. The project was divided into two major components. The Advocacy Component related to outputs 1&2 and consists of various awareness raising and networking activities, including conferences, promotional activities, and exchange of information. In its training component, the project focused on 300 teachers who would be empowered to facilitate creation of safe environments in their home institutions. The main project activities were: 1. Awareness raising activities • Organizing round-tables, debates, and a national fair, • Distributing of educational materials for safer schools, • Organizing school-based promotional and activities. 2. Network for promoting safe schools • Working with school committees for safety. • Developing a manual for school committees, • Establishing municipal committees for school safety. 3. Development of training program • Developing the safe school concept in a participatory way, • Developing training program for trainers, • Developing training program for teachers. 4. Capacity for creating safe school environments • Provision of a 5-day training program for 30 trainers, • Provision of a 2- day program for 300 teachers and monitoring. Main results: 1. Improved awareness on the role and importance of creation of safer, non-violent and human environments in the educational institutions. 2. A stable and powerful network for promotion and implementation of a safer school concept built. 3. Training program for building and empowering local capacities for implementation of the idea of safer schools developed. 4. Capacity for implementing and promoting safe, non-violent and friendly school environment built.

Implementation Period

01/09/2008 to 31/08/2009

Budget

€62,895

Partners and Donors

UNICEF

Personnel

Coaching of projects in support of RAE Communities education

Project Description

The main objective of this project was the improvement of implementing capacities of the three organizations implementing projects in support of education of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities. The project included the following activities: • Monthly reporting by the Centers • Field visits • Organization of meetings between the Centers • Training of teachers working in Centers • Training for public school teachers • Printing of a brochure. Main project achievements were the following: • Non-governmental organizations: Association “Durmish Aslano” in Prizren, “Centre of Ashkali Community” NGO in Dubrava and the Bethany Christian Services (BCS) in Gjakova, were expected to submit regular monthly reports on their work and implemented activities. These reports were later merged in a single report that presented a comprehensive outline of the project implementation. The reporting mechanism served also as a lever for timely implementation of activities. • Field visits were organized by KEC with a purpose to provide a closer view into implementation of activities. These visits did not target only NGOs involved in project implementation, but also beneficiaries, partners and other stakeholders. These provided additional information into the dynamics and quality of implementation of project activities. • Other achievements of this project were the several joint meetings with representatives of the three Centers engaged in project implementation. These meetings were good opportunities for exchange of experience and resulted in new initiatives for development of various activities that would contribute in the field of education of RAE communities. • Training events with staff engaged in the Centres / NGOs and with teachers working in public schools with children from RAE communities contributed to the adequate and timely implementation of activities. These trainings helped to increase capacities of the Centres and, at the same time, endowed them with knowledge on new teaching methods and contributed to alleviate and mitigate prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination. For the same purpose, a brochure was designed and published as part of the project campaign against discrimination and segregation.

Implementation Period

15/03/2008 to 31/12/2008

Budget

€9.123

Partners and Donors

Fondacioni i Kosovës për Shoqëri të Hapur (KFOS)

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

Multi-Cultural Education

Project Description

The aim of Multi-Cultural Education project was creating a new mindset on the role and importance of quality education and education on human and children’s rights for the prosperity of the Kosovar society, education for active peace as the key precondition for the development of the citizens of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity, race, religion or their social, political, economic, gender or any other background and affiliation. The main objectives of the project were: • Increase the awareness of the role and importance of the multicultural education; • Development of local capacity for multicultural education; • Develop a manual for multicultural education; • Develop multicultural and multiethnic activities The main activities were: • Developing ToT (Training of Trainers) program, • Organizing ToT with trainers of “Education for Children’s Rights”, program • Training of the teachers, mainly engaged in social sciences in accordance with the program “Multicultural education”, • Developing the manual for Multicultural education, • Developing the curriculum on Multicultural Education, • Organizing multicultural social events. Main results: 1. 25 counsellors for Child Rights were included in ToT (Training of Trainers); 2. 120 teachers, mainly engaged in social sciences were trained in accordance with the “Multicultural education” program; 3. Various social activities based on multicultural education were held in different locations in Kosovo; 4. 10 discussions and debates on multicultural education were organized; 5. Manual on Multicultural Education was drafted; 6. A curriculum on Multicultural Education was drafted. 7. Lesson plans on Multicultural Education were developed and distributed to teachers

Implementation Period

01/01/2007 to 31/12/2015

Budget

€73.066

Partners and Donors

Open Society Institute (OSI)

Association of the Education of Adults in Kosovo

DVV International

Personnel

Education for Social Justice

Project Description

The main objective of the project was promoting equality and diversity in education system in Kosovo, by building capacities of stakeholders in the field of Social Justice. The programme “Education for Social Justice” was a training programme that aimed to establish critical awareness in order to understand cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity as human values. Acceptances of the other without any prejudices, being tolerant and open, are core traits of every citizen and a condition for creating a democratic society. Such an approach allows every citizen to be accepted and treated in a fair and equal way in the individual, social and institutional aspect. The main activities were: • Translation of the Manual on ESJ (Education for Social Justice) • Delivery of ToT (Train of Trainers) • Delivery of field trainings • Organizing social events with teachers and children Main results: 1. Manual on Education of Social Justice translated in Albanian. 2. Training capacities in the field of Social Justice built. 3. Teachers, school administrators and students from different communities trained. 4. Social events with children.

Implementation Period

01/01/2007 to 31/12/2011

Budget

€50,629

Partners and Donors

Open Society Institute (OSI)

The World Bank

US Embassy

OSCE Mission in Kosovo

Personnel

Advancing Educational Inclusion and Quality in South East Europe

Project Description

The project “Advancing Educational Inclusion and Quality in South East Europe” was an international research project supported by Open Society Institute Education Support Programme. It corresponded to the decision of OSI-related representatives of 10 SEE countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia). The main objectives of the project were: • Better understanding of the causes of disparities in education quality and equity, by carrying out national surveys of school directors; • To support sustainable initiatives on local, national and regional level to improve quality and inclusion.
  • Project activities were divided into three groups:
  •  National surveys of school directors to discover their capabilities, values, attitudes, and practices;
  •  National surveys of parent’s needs, expectations and experience in regards of school efforts toward their engagement in school life; and
  • Action research to initiate new and document existing community-based initiatives that are successful in improving educational quality and inclusion.
Main results: 1. Surveys and survey reports on the capacities, values, attitudes and actions of school directors towards advancing educational inclusion and quality at school level in eight SEE countries. 2. A number of thirty participatory action research projects carried out in the 10 SEE countries with the involvement of about 800 to 2000 participants, including students, parents and teachers and the related reports. 3. Country volumes in local languages on the findings of the national surveys of school directors, and the results of participatory action research. 4. A regional synthesis volume of the country survey and action research findings in English.

Implementation Period

01/01/2007 to 31/12/2010

Budget

600,000

Partners and Donors

SOROS Foundation

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

Roma Inclusion in Education

Project Description

The purpose of this project was to facilitate the development of the Strategy for Integration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities in Kosovo – Education Component 2007-2017. The integration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in education is one of components of a more comprehensive strategy for integration of these communities in Kosovo, which is being developed under the aegis of the Prime-Ministers Office. Drafting of the strategy in the field of education has been sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MEST) and supported by the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS). The process of development of the education component was coordinated by the Kosovo Education Center (KEC) and was characterized by a broad participation of all involved parties: government, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities representatives, civil society, political parties, international organizations engaged in human and children’s rights (OSCE and UNICEF), etc., who all engaged in continuous efforts for reaching consensus in all key issues. The development of this document benefited significantly from the fact that the Government of Kosovo had already developed and approved its Strategy for Development of Pre-University Education for the years 2007-2017. Both these documents emphasize universal inclusion in education by offering equal opportunities for all, which laid sound grounds for developing the strategy for integration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in education. This strategic plan envisions 25 measures which can further be elaborated into dozens of concrete projects through which to implement the necessary transformation from the current situation to the fulfillment of the mission of this Strategy. The document was approved by the Ministry of Education in October 2007.

Implementation Period

01/12/2006 to 30/11/2008

Budget

€32,775

Partners and Donors

Fondacioni i Kosovës për Shoqëri të Hapur (KFOS)

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

Evaluation of projects supporting education of RAE communities for the period of 2006-2007

Project Description

The object of evaluation were KFOS projects that focused on the education of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities which were conducted during 2006 and 2007 by three non-governmental organizations: Association "Durmish Aslano" in Prizren,  the NGO "Centre of Ashkali Community" in Dubrava and Bethany Christian Services (BCS) in Gjakova. The evaluation used the qualitative methods of analysis that were conducted through the study of the project documentation, field visits and meetings with all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of projects. From the evidence gathered it was concluded that KFOS funded projects have contributed to the achievement of their common goal - improving the integration of children of beneficiary communities in society.

Implementation Period

18/02/2006 to 15/03/2006

Budget

€1,880

Partners and Donors

Fondacioni i Kosovës për Shoqëri të Hapur (KFOS)

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

Higher Education for Minorities

Project Description

The one-day International Conference on "Higher Education for Minorities in Kosovo" was organized on 18th of May, 2006 in Prishtina with the financial support of the "Forum 2015". By organizing this conference, "Forum 2015" aimed at opening a genuine dialogue to address the important aspect of the education of minorities in Kosovo, in spite of the efforts of the Kosovars to be part of European integration. The primary purpose of the conference was to open a debate on Kosovo society modalities of higher education for minorities in Kosovo, in an effort to meet the needs of ethnic communities to be educated in their mother tongue. The conference was preceded by a study drafted by Georg Woeber, higher education expert from Austria, participants from Kosovo and European countries who have positive experiences in solving the problems of minorities were invited.

Implementation Period

16/02/2005 to 31/07/2005

Budget

€19,000

Partners and Donors

Fondacioni i Kosovës për Shoqëri të Hapur (KFOS)

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

Supporting the education of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities

Project Description

The overall objective of this project was to improve the socio-economic integration of RAE communities in Kosovo. The main aim of the project was to assist the RAE community in improving their participation in education. The idea was to implement the project in three pilot centers and undertake a range of activities within communities and schools in order to increase the interest for education among members of the community and help them work better in education. The project was organized in three locations: Ashkali community in Ferizaj- Through the establishment of contacts between MED and KEC in Ferizaj, it became possible to engage a teacher by the MEST for pree-school ashkali children, a class which opened in the primary school of Zaskok. The Roma community in Prizren. KEC organized additional classes to the community through the centers of this community, and also it organized the preschool teaching for 20 children of this community in a private nursery. For community needs the association "Durmish Asllna" was adopted. Egyptian community in Gjakova- The center coordinator found out  that most of the children of this community were not vaccinated. As an emergency activity, the center in collaboration with the Ministry of Health did the proper vaccination for these children. In order to increase the interest of parents for children's health they organized debates and discussions with the citizens of this community.

Implementation Period

28/09/2004 to 31/12/2005

Budget

€106,144

Partners and Donors

Fondacioni i Kosovës për Shoqëri të Hapur (KFOS)

Personnel

Petrit Tahiri

I.M.PACT

Project Description

I.M.PACT (Introducing methodology in Education for Democratic Citizenship Initiatives of the Stability Pact) Project was an initiative for South-East Europe aiming at developing management capacities for EDC projects by introducing and disseminating a comprehensive methodology for participatory project planning and self-evaluation. Involving six beneficiary and partner institutions from six participating countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosova, Moldova, Romania and Serbia – the project was developed to respond to the need for capacity building in project design and management, which was identified in the Monitoring Report of the EDC–Working Group. The Project was also aiming at developing the “evaluation culture” as a mean for quality insurance in EDC projects implementation. The following main activities where implemented within the project:
  • Training of the representatives from the partner institutions;
  • Development of a training toolbox and translation in the languages of the partner countries;
  • Selection of trainers from each participating country;
  • Training of trainers in participatory project planning and self-evaluation;
  • Selection of in-country training participants and delivering of trainings;
  • In-county follow-up activities;
  • Reference group meeting and self-evaluation session.

Implementation Period

01/09/2004 to 31/12/2005

Budget

Partners and Donors

Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)

Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)

Personnel

Education for Children’s Rights

Project Description

The purpose of this action was to advance the rights of the child in Kosovo by building local capacity to deal with children’s rights in education system and by bringing the children’s rights issue high on the political agenda. The main components of the Project were: 1) Building local training capacity; 2) Building capacity for child rights counseling in primary schools; 3) Improving the situation of child rights in schools; 4) Developing a child rights curriculum at the Faculty of Education; 5) Raising public awareness of child rights. This Project has contributed to building an effective capacity within the education system:
  • 49 children's rights trainers,
  • 1,200 teachers trained for children's rights counselors in schools,
  • 500 school committees on children's rights established,
  • 3 books published,
  • Children's rights curriculum for the Faculty of Education developed

Implementation Period

01/11/2003 to 31/10/2006

Budget

€345,765

Partners and Donors

Trocaire-Ireland

American Bar Association

SOROS Foundation

UNICEF

Personnel

Ardita Kabashi