Projects of 2007
During 2007, the organization expanded and engaged in a large number of projects. This year, the budget of the organization had reached close to 300 thousand dollars, while the number of donors had reached 24, which helped to create a great independence of the organization and its expansion in many fields of action where Kosovar society needed it, enabling the organization to in the following years, to focus more on specific sectors according to personal interest. A number of more than 10 permanent employees were actively engaged in various projects, while hundreds of people were engaged in special projects and short-term engagements.
This year, ten organizations including “Syri i Vizioni” create the coalition of NGOs “Democracy in Action” with the aim of monitoring the elections in Kosovo. This was a rather extensive enterprise that influenced the rise of the role of civil society in Kosovo and had a direct impact on the democratization of politics and the improvement of the electoral process.
Another important aspect of engagement in this field was the creation of an informal coalition for a clean parliament. This coalition, which was created on the eve of the 2007 parliamentary and local elections, aimed to influence the creation of a clean parliament. This was done through a research from which a booklet was published with the data on all the candidates who were called unworthy for the Parliament of Kosovo. The research showed that there are about 50 names of proposed candidates who have a suspicious past and do not deserve to be in the Parliament of Kosovo. This has helped the citizens to become aware of the past of these candidates and that a good part of them are not elected in the 2007 elections.
At the same time, the Eye of Vision with another project, campaigned for the largest possible turnout in the elections.
In order to democratize and increase transparency, in a joint project with Father Lorenc Mazreku from Peja and the municipality of Peja, a regulation was drawn up that was then approved in the Peja assembly that obliges the municipality to be more transparent. He also worked with the municipality on urban planning in the Zatra locality, which until this period had the status of an informal settlement.
The above activities influenced the creation of a new image for the organization and greatly increased the number of activists and citizens directly engaged in the projects.
In activities in support of the projects of partner organizations during this year, several activities and debates have been prepared and held by SiV: with ATRC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to raise awareness for the protection of forests in Kosovo; with the FIQ, the issue of security in Kosovo was addressed, etc.
But in addition to these, the activities planned in the past years within the framework of the KIP, the projects in the neighborhood “7 September”, Llazović, Kasneci, the project with the web pages of the municipalities, etc., continued. that had started a year ago and were continuing this year as well.
Strengthening democratic efforts through peace-building initiatives
Project Title: Strengthening Democratic Endeavors Through Peacebuilding Initiatives
Duration: 16 months (June 2007 – September 2008)
Place: Peja region
Implementing organization(s): Eye of Vision
Budget: €21,931
Donor: United Nations Endowment for Democracy through CARE International
Project goal: The main goal of this project is to reduce inter-ethnic conflict in the targeted communities through this initiative and strengthen reconciliation. With this project, there has been close cooperation with municipal authorities and civil society in the realization of activities aimed at supporting communities to address and manage inter-ethnic conflict at the community level.
Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries are all communities living in the region of Peja that is covered by this project. This includes not only minority but also majority communities. In addition, local government and civil society have benefited from assistance in capacity building.
Realization of the project: The project is focused on raising intervention capacities with the aim of raising the quality of services to communities with a mixed population, as an important component to create trust and cooperation between communities and the municipality. Furthermore, the project is focused on supporting civil society and local government to identify the causes of the conflict and ways of addressing it, in order to end the cycle of violence in Kosovo.
Activities and Results:
• Engagement of 25 civil society representatives through training in conflict resolution, mediation and rights;
• Promotion of community structures (village councils), inter-ethnic participation, cooperation and accountability;
• Assistance in initiating 3 community initiatives to improve the quality of life of marginalized groups such as women;
• Increasing the participation of civil society in municipal decision-making structures.
See you in the boxes - Elections 2007
Project Title: See you at the boxes - Elections 2007
Duration: 1 month (November - December 2007)
Place: Peja region
Implementing organization(s): Eye of Vision
Budget: €5,193
Donor: IREX/ATRC
The purpose of the project: Increasing the participation of citizens in the 2007 elections in the region of Peja, which includes four municipalities: Deçan, Klinë, Istog and Peja.
Beneficiaries: The direct beneficiaries are the citizens of the region of Peja, which has over 200,000 inhabitants. Through various information activities during the one-month period, the project has contributed to increasing the number of voters on voting day.
Project implementation: This project contained activities related to the information and education campaign of voters during the election campaign in November 2007. This undertaking included appeals to vote through promotional materials, telephone calls, posters, flyers, t-shirts, sugar packets , posters and sending e-mails.
Activities and Results:
• Informing a large number of citizens about the importance of participating in elections;
• Participation of citizens in debates;
• Receiving opinions from phone calls made;
• Informing citizens with the programs of the four candidates for mayor in Peja, Istog, Klinë and Deçan.
"Democracy in Action" – 2007 Elections
Project Title: "Democracy in Action" – 2007 Elections
Duration: 2 months (October - December 2007)
Place: Region of Peja (Peja, Klinë, Istog, Deçan)
Implementing organization(s): "Eye of Vision" within the coalition "Democracy in Action"
Budget: €25,280
Donor: USAID / IREX, IFES, NDI, Olaf Palme, SOROS, Vala 900
The purpose of the project: "Democracy in Action" was established with the purpose of monitoring the parliamentary and local elections organized in November 2007, as well as with the purpose of raising the awareness of citizens to participate in the elections. In addition to "Eye of the Vision" part of the "Democracy in Action - Elections 2007" coalition are 10 organizations: 1. Construction of the Mitrovica Community (CBM); 2. Communication for Social Development (CSD); 3. Center for Civil Society Development (CCSD); 4. Developing Together (DT); 5. Forum for Democratic Initiatives (FID); 6. Initiative for Progress (INPO); 7. Kosovo Center for International Cooperation (KKBN); 8. Democratic Institute of Kosovo (KDI); 9. Association "Mother Teresa"; 10. Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED);
Beneficiaries: The direct beneficiaries are the entire population of Kosovo. In particular, a number of people who have been involved in the process as monthly and daily monitors have benefited from training on the electoral process and system in Kosovo. Also, all voters have benefited from voter education campaigns in general, while the undecided ones in particular.
Implementation of the project: Activities include the overall monitoring of the election process: campaign monitoring, election day monitoring, media monitoring, voter education, parallel counting of votes and publication of early results.
Activities and Results:
• Monitoring of over 100 election activities during the campaign period;
• Monitoring of election day, voting and counting of votes
• Announcement of the preliminary result a few hours after the closing of the boxes
• Engagement of 5 long-term observers (LTO) for a period of one month;
• Engagement of over 300 short-term observers (STO) on election day;
• Organization and holding of over 50 trainings for STO for a period of 10 days;
• Organization of the voter education campaign one week before the elections.
Visibility of the Kosovo Initiative Program (KIP)
Project Title: Visibility of the Kosovo Initiative Program (KIP)
Duration: 7 months (May – November 2007)
Country: Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro
Implementing organization(s): Syri i Vizioni in partnership with IAN and ZZP
Budget: €9,391
Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Kosovo Initiative Program (KIP)
The purpose of the project: This project aimed to provide reliable information on the process of return to Kosovo in three languages (Albanian, Serbian and English). The project included the collection and dissemination of information and data as well as other necessary facts in order to facilitate the progress of returns. The collected information was printed in brochure form and distributed, but also published on the websites of municipalities such as Istog, Klinë, Skenderaj, Prizren and Mitrovica.
Beneficiaries: The direct beneficiaries are the displaced persons who live outside Kosovo and the five municipalities that have benefited from a brochure with all the information in one place and have benefited from complete data for the most up-to-date website on the return process.
Project Implementation: This project included research and information gathering, designing, editing, printing and distributing the brochure. In addition, there have been a number of different activities such as organizing regular meetings with municipal officials to gather information, signing memorandums with municipalities and other technical activities covering Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro.
Activities and Results:
• Realization of over 40 meetings with different institutions in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro in order to collect more accurate information on return;
• Signing of 5 memorandums on cooperation in the return process with the municipalities of Istog, Klinë, Skenderaj, Prizren and Mitrovica;
• Printing of one thousand (1000) color copies in three languages (Albanian, Serbian and English) for each municipality.
• Publication of complete data on the return to the websites of the municipalities
Support for the reintegration of the Roma and Egyptian community in the "7 September" neighborhood
Project Title: Support for the reintegration of the Roma and Egyptian community in the neighborhood "7 Shtatori"
Duration: 5 months (August – December 2007)
Place: Peja region
Implementing organization(s): Eye of Vision
Budget: €6,125
Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
The purpose of the project: This project is the continuation of the previous efforts in providing assistance in the "7 Shtatori" neighborhood. Specifically, the project focuses mainly on preschool activities with neighborhood children from the returning and receiving community.
Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries are 20 children from the neighborhood "7 Shtatori", regardless of whether they are members of returned families or the host community of this neighborhood, all of them have benefited without distinction, also in social activities and preschool courses. Realization of the project: This project is the continuation of the previous preschool activities for 20 children of the Roma and Egyptian community during which computer courses and writing and reading are offered in a period of five months. In addition to the activity, the project also has the realization of radio broadcasts in the local media as well as the publication of articles in the printed and electronic media in order to further advocate for the process of the return of the Roma and Egyptian community to Peja.
Activities and Results:
• Twenty (20) children from the Roma and Egyptian community aged 4-6 benefited from the courses and other activities;
• Organization of preschool courses and social activities for the Roma and Egyptian community;
• Contribution to the improvement of the center where children gather;
• Two radio shows and the publication of several articles in the media.
Coordination of the OWPEJL network for Kosovo
Project Title: Coordination of the OWPEJL network for Kosovo
Duration: 12 months (January - December 2007)
Country: Kosovo
Implementing organization(s): Eye of Vision
Budget: €11,200
Donor: Hivos
The purpose of the project: Support and promotion of OWPEJL's program areas (projects and initiatives) with a focus on creating the content of materials for publication in the Albanian language as well as network management/representation for Kosovo of OWPEJL. Coordination of activities will be done through the OneWorld network in the Southeast Europe region.
Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries of this undertaking are all those countries that access the OWPEJL through the Internet and are thus notified quickly of developments occurring in the region covered by OWPEJL as well as in the particular languages of the readers of these countries.
Project implementation: This project is based on the provision of support through the exchange of information and online and printed materials related to the areas of direct cooperation and public information. In addition, OWPEJL enables readers to obtain information about various social, economic and political developments in the countries it covers. Communication between network members is based on partnership, where each organization exchanges information and materials for coordinated distribution.
Activities and Results:
• Maintenance and coverage of the Albanian language portal of OWPEJL
• Publication of more than 100 topics/issues and publication in the Albanian language. This information is further translated into the languages of the countries where OneWorld is located;
• Regular engagement of a person (network manager) and editor;
• Increasing the diversity of information provided for the countries covered by the OWPEJL platform.
Action Plan for Re-integration in the Llazović neighborhood in Peja
Project Title: Action Plan for Re-integration in the Llazović neighborhood in Peja
Duration: 11 months (April 2007 – February 2008)
Place: Municipality of Peja
Implementing organization(s): Eye of Vision
Budget: €13,800
Donor: European Agency for Reconstruction through the Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
The purpose of the project: This project aimed to create conditions for the return and re-integration of 30 Serbian families with nearly 120 members from Serbia and Montenegro in their countries of origin in Kosovo, more precisely in the neighborhood "Llazović", in the urban area in the Municipality of Peja.
Beneficiaries: The direct beneficiaries of this project are 30 Serbian families with nearly 120 members, who are displaced in Serbia as well as the host community in Kosovo. Work was done in separate focus groups with women, men and young people, where each group consisted of 5 members from both communities - returnees and hosts.
Project implementation: The project largely consists of activities for dialogue through focus groups and workshops in the field of advocacy and education. In addition, the organization in groups of 5 members and divided into 3 focus groups of women, men and young people, has gone through a process of training and meetings between each other from the two communities. The selection of these groups was based on the articulation of the will (from both sides) and the readiness to work, cooperate and coexist with all communities in the Llazović neighborhood. Moreover, there have been awareness-raising activities in the local media all along in order to inform the general public.
Activities and Results:
• Raising cooperation and contributing to strengthening relations between relevant groups and community groups;
• Creation of three focus groups consisting of women, men and young people;
• Facilitating direct contact between groups and communities;
• Creation of a joint agenda with the communities for further action to improve the conditions in the Llazović neighborhood.
Together we create the best cities - Locality "Zatra" Pejë
Project title: Together we create the best cities - Locality "Zatra" Pejë
Duration: 5 months (April - August 2007)
Place: Municipality of Peja
Implementing organization(s): Eye of Vision
Budget: €2,922
Donor: IREX/ ATRC
The purpose of the project: This project aims to help in the full implementation of Urban Planning with special emphasis on the neighborhood "Zatra" in Pejë, which is an individual informal settlement. This would be achieved based on cooperation with the residents of the neighborhood and their direct participation in decision-making for the benefit of the neighborhood.
Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries are 1300 residents living in 350 houses in this neighborhood. In addition, this enterprise affects the raising of the wider awareness of the population in the Municipality of Peja by showing how life conditions can be improved with actions and the common organism for a better life.
Realization of the project: The project was implemented through a number of activities such as: direct consultations with urban planners and neighborhood residents (making visits and organizing a joint workshop), as well as analyzing the urban, social, environmental and economic situation. The goal was achieved through a door-to-door survey in the form of a population and housing census for all residents of this neighborhood.
Activities and Results:
• Complete registration of residents and houses in the Zatra neighborhood
• Identification and registration of informal places of residence;
• Involvement of the residents of the neighborhood in direct participation in the urban planning of the neighborhood;
• Raising community awareness and direct participation in urban planning;
• Compilation of the list by residents during the SWOT analysis;
• Creation of an adequate data base for the neighborhood including the current situation in terms of urban, social, environmental and economic aspects.
Meeting of the Fourth Phase of the Youth Activation Component - KIP
Project Title: Meeting of the Fourth Phase of the Youth Activation Component - KIP
Duration: 5 months (June - November 2007)
Country: Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro
Implementing organization(s): Syri i Vizioni leading organization assisted by Caritas Kosova- Mitrovica, Initiative for Peace (IFP)- Pejë, and Zaviçaj za Povratak (ZZP), Kragujevac, Serbia
Budget: €27,258
Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Kosovo Initiative Program (KIP)
The purpose of the project: This project is the continuation of work with youth within the Youth Activation Component. The project aimed to further expand and build cross-border ties between youth groups, primary school activists in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro with a focus on capacity building. Compared to the previous stages, in this part there has been an increase in the number of schools and at the same time the number of students who will participate in youth activities and the exchange of experiences.
Beneficiaries: Groups of students from 12 primary schools from Kosovo and Serbia are direct beneficiaries in succession from 10 schools that were before. In general, 120 students from these schools will be direct beneficiaries, and other students as indirect (indirect) beneficiaries are expected to participate in various activities during the implementation of the program for the distribution of small funds.
Project implementation: This component was implemented in 12 different locations (6 in Kosovo and 6 in Serbia) targeting 120 students, 12 per location. In a geographical sense, schools were selected in the following cities: Pejë, Mitrovica, Klinë, Istog, Gurrakoc and Skenderaj in Kosovo, while in Serbia they are Smederevska Palanka, Kragujevc, and Kraljevë. Project implementation consists of networking; capacity building; designing and launching 12 websites in all participating schools; encouraging and leading youth groups to design and deliver 6 projects in Kosovo and 6 in Serbia; allocation of grants and monitoring of the implementation of these projects.
Activities and Results:
• Raising the knowledge of students and schools about the functioning of the KIP component for young people;
• Functionalization and creation of web pages in 12 participating schools;
• Raising the capacities of young people and creating opportunities to transfer the knowledge they have received to others;
• Creation of a strong network of 12 youth groups;
• Realization of 12 projects in schools in different fields of grants allocated to students; their monitoring
• Publication of the leaflet/brochure of the youth component of KIP;
Materialization of the Component's plans for the fourth phase and the long-term strategy
Project Title: Materialization of Component plans for the fourth phase and long-term strategy
Duration: 1 month (April - May 2007)
Country: Macedonia
Implementing organization(s): Syri i Vizioni leading organization, assisted by Zavičaj za Povratak (ZZP) Kragujevac, Serbia
Budget: €7,107
Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Kosovo Initiative Program (KIP)
The purpose of the project: This project aimed to empower and support youth groups from Kosovo and Serbia through regular meetings. These meetings had an impact on defining the work and expanding the actions of young people initiated by young people during these three years and thus, contributing to the improvement of inter-ethnic relations. The Youth Activation Component operating under the umbrella of the Kosovo Initiative Program (KIP) is the continuation of the fourth phase since the establishment of the KIP Secretariat Fund in 2004.
Beneficiaries: Four (4) organizations of the KIP Network, with two representatives from each participating organization, who have worked on the ground in strengthening activities and partnerships between organizations, as well as groups of students from 12 elementary schools from Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro.
Realization of the project: In a joint meeting with all KIP partners, it was discussed about youth development, networking and education within the Youth Component; developing a detailed action plan for the work of this component in the future and determining the implementation period.
Activities and Results:
• Raising cooperation between organizations of the Youth Component and strengthening the KIP Network;
• Determining the functioning of partnerships within sub-components;
• Improving and determining the division of responsibilities between partner organizations;
• Improving the distribution of information among partners for all activities of the Component;
• Increasing the number of schools in the projects – two more schools have been added to the current group of 10 schools;
• Drafting of the Youth Component Strategy for 2007.
Youth for Transparency
Project Title: Youth for Transparency
Duration: 1 year (July 2007 – August 2008)
Place: Municipality of Peja
Implementing organization(s): Syri i Vizioni leading organization with partners Youth Center "Father Lorenc Mazreku" and the Legal Office in the Municipality of Peja
Budget: €2,252 (1,420 + 832)
Donor: Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and GTZ, €1,420, and Municipality of Peja €832 (allocated in 2008)
The purpose of the project: This project has helped the Municipality of Peja in drafting and preparing the Regulation for transparency. The activity is directed in close cooperation with the partners in this project and in cooperation with the municipal officials, but on a voluntary basis regarding the engagement of young people and other logistical and administrative issues.
Beneficiaries: In particular, the direct beneficiaries are the local institutions of the Municipality. However, through the implementation of this regulation on transparency, citizens have benefited directly because the regulation creates more opportunities for them to be informed about how their tax is being spent and at the same time they can demand more accountability from their elected officials.
Implementation of the project: The entire project was implemented on a voluntary basis. The engaged groups have worked throughout the project for the benefit of the public. Most of the activities have been covered by these groups of volunteers that the two partner organizations have mobilized. The project involves the creation of focus groups with the combined participation of municipal leaders, citizens and youth from rural and urban areas. A working group (group of 10 people who will be selected from the focus groups) has been created to draft their proposals on the transparency regulation. Also, a three-day training on citizen participation with participants from focus groups was organized by the implementing organizations. Finally, flyers, press releases were printed and distributed, and Radio and TV debates/shows were held in order to inform the general public about this activity.
Activities and Results:
• Drafting of the regulation for transparency with a group of 10 people composed of local institutions, citizens and young people;
• Approval of this regulation in the Municipal Assembly;
• Designing and distributing flyers (800 in the Albanian language and 200 in the Bosnian-Serbian languages) to inform the public;
• Promotion of the regulation, distribution of press releases and organization of two radio shows: on Radio Pejë and Radio Dukagjini as well as a television show on TV Dukagjini;
• Organization of three-day training on "participation of citizens in decision-making".
