PROJECTS

Kids Fests, Gjakova

The two main purposes of this program are to help the traumatized children of war-torn Kosovo recapture their innocence and joy, and to introduce them to the Gospel. Every Fest has 30 minutes of high-energy praise as well as games, object lessons, or dramas that reinforce a weekly Bible story. The program began in 2004 as a test project for six weeks, and has grown into a weekly meeting now starting its fifth year. Up to 100 children participate, with weekly attendance averaging 60. In July, the Kids Fests worship team was the featured song and dance group at a Samaritan's Purse summer camp that impacted more than 110 children. Plans are underway for a mini Kids Fest program to be conducted in four villages outside Gjakova in August. Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes were distributed in December as a "door opener" for the Kids Fests program to be received in the summer.

Children's Heart Project
Children who have been born with congenital heart defects that fit the criteria of our project are identified by co-operating Kosovar pediatric cardiologists. They, along with a family member and translator, are flown to North America for surgery. The staff of Samaritan's Purse-Kosovo visit the children and their families for one year after they return, providing prayer, encouragement, and Christian literature. We also connect them with believers and/or a local church in their area. The project has benefited 139 children since 1999.

Widow Ministry, Gjakova
During the Serbian-Kosovar conflict, almost 10,000 women lost their husbands. Samaritan's Purse is helping 32 widows by funding a ministry center where they come for a weekly meeting for fellowship and time around the Word of God. Many widows are discouraged from wearing make-up or doing anything that would express any joy in life. In the center the women are reminded of their God-given beauty, value, and purpose. It is a safe place of hope and healing. In an effort to alleviate poverty we have developed two income-generating programs, the making and selling of handcrafted greeting cards and the sale of crocheted doilies and handcrafted Christmas decorations and bookmarks. We also have met practical needs such as the provision of firewood, school supplies, English lessons, food packs, clothing, shoes, hygiene kits, as well as home renovation projects.

Kids Klub
This is a follow-up program for boys and girls who have received successful heart surgery through Children's Heart Project, Samaritan's Purse staff visit the child's home to present a Bible story, worship songs, and a game or related activity for the child, the siblings, cousins, and neighbors. Parents, grandparents and visiting neighbors often attend, providing a great way to reach the older generation as well. Some of the moms participate as enthusiastically as the children. Since May 2008, four new Klubs have been started for children and one Klub was successfully handed over to a local church. The program has benefited approximately 180 children.

Roma Colony Outreach, Prizren, Brekoc, and Gjakova
The Roma in Kosovo are marginalized and discriminated against. Most live in abject poverty in areas that would qualify as slums. In April 2007, Samaritan's Purse began reaching out to children in the Gjakova Roma colony by teaching about Biblical character traits, hygiene, nutrition, health, exercise, and many other practical things. In September 2007, we rented a center Prizren to teach 30 children how to read and write. A Bible story is the highlight of those classes. A pre-school class began in March for 20 Roma children in the community of Brekoc, a suburb of Gjakova. In May, literacy classes were begun for 54 children from ages 7 to 12 who live in the Gjakova colony. Most have not attended school before. In addition to the classes, Samaritan's Purse has provided blankets, shoes, clothing, hygiene kits, food packets, school supplies, winter outerwear, and medical treatment for Roma communities in both Gjakova and Prizren. These programs have directly benefited 134 children, as well as their parents and siblings.