CRS Partners in Kosovo

The work of CRS is accomplished in partnership with an extensive network of church and local organizations led by the people we serve. By working with partners, we can bring about real changes to systems and practices that contribute to poverty, hunger, injustice and conflict around the world. Our partnerships result in efficiencies of time and resources, especially during crises, when every minute counts.

Catholic Relief Services Kosovo works with a variety of local partners, including local and national government institutions. These partners include both secular and faith-based nongovernmental organizations in Kosovo. In 2006 and 2007, CRS Kosovo worked with the following key partners: Galaxy Stars, Center for Civil Society Development, Kosovo Population Foundation, Caritas Kosovo, Kosovo Law Center, Union of Parent-Teacher Associations of Kosovo, and Center for Protection of Victims and Prevention of Trafficking.

Galaxy Stars

Galaxy Stars works on the Albanian Kosovar side of Mitrovica to increase tolerance and understanding among people regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The organization has implemented media campaigns for the Open Society Foundation and CRS, and organized debates among students, parents and teachers concerning school. In its work, both with CRS and other donors, Galaxy Stars has established a proven track record in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. They have developed expertise in youth work, trainings, public awareness campaigns, and media dissemination.

The Center for Civil Society Development

The Center for Civil Society Development (CCSD) works primarily in the Serbian Kosovar areas of northern Kosovo to encourage young people's full participation in the cultural, political, social and economic development of their communities. The center has researched young people's attitudes toward their present conditions in the predominantly Serbian Kosovar areas, developed environmental projects, and established a youth center in northern Kosovo. CCSD has partnered with CRS since 2002 in creating and training student councils in north Mitrovica. In their work, they have also established similar expertise in Participatory Learning in Action, networking, and conflict transformation.

The Kosovo Population Foundation

The Kosovo Population Foundation (KOPF), under the CRS Partnership Against Trafficking in Human Beings project, contributes its social research expertise. It uses the findings to design anti-trafficking public service announcements and reach out to thousands of young people. Previously, it focused its efforts on HIV and AIDS awareness through public service announcements and peer-to-peer outreach to youth throughout Kosovo.

Caritas Kosovo

Caritas Kosovo partners with CRS in many different projects across Kosovo. It is a member of Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Europa. Under the CRS Partnership Against Trafficking in Human Beings project, Caritas Kosovo partners with the Islamic Community of Kosovo. Together, they seek to educate and engage religious leaders throughout the territory to both prevent trafficking through community outreach and protect victims of trafficking. In particular, the partnership helps reintegrate young girls into their home communities and families once the girls are rescued from victimization.

Kosovo Law Center

In 2005, Kosovo adopted its first action plan to combat trafficking through prevention, protection and prosecution. Under the CRS Partnership Against Trafficking in Human Beings project, the Kosovo Law Center, based in Pristina, works with CRS to monitor the implementation of this action plan. The center, first organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, is what would be called a public interest law firm in the United States. It conducts legal research and compiles legal journals, but also works with prisoners and youth. Its staff comprises local lawyers, but the Kosovo Law Center is also a magnet for legal interns from the United States, Canada and Western Europe.

The Center for the Protection of Victims and Prevention of Trafficking

The Center for the Protection of Victims and Prevention of Trafficking was organized by the United Methodist Committee on Relief in 2000 in Pristina to shelter victims of trafficking who were rescued by law enforcement and to conduct anti-trafficking activities. In 2005, it became a self-supporting local nongovernmental organization that continues to shelter mainly foreign victims of trafficking from Moldova, Romania, Albania and other countries. The center partners with CRS to build the capacity of caregivers who offer direct assistance to survivors, the former victims of trafficking.

Union of Parent-Teacher Associations of Kosovo

The Union of Parent-Teacher Associations of Kosovo represents more than 70 Parent-Teacher Councils and 7 Parent-Teacher Associations established mainly in central and east Kosovo. The union focuses on education with an emphasis on community and parental involvement in the school. Through these priorities, the group promotes the importance of parental involvement in school life, from the most basic, grass-roots activities in the field through participation in decision making in the schools. Lately, the Union of Parent-Teacher Associations has been involved with issues of keeping Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian as well as Albanian children from dropping out of primary school, and in anti-trafficking efforts.