Finding new perspectives in the divide In many aspects, Mitrovica is not an ordinary city. Kosovars who do not live in Mitrovica will often be quite puzzled when you tell them that you’ve decided to come back volunteering for another year. Most of the time, thinking about Mitrovica only brings out images of ethnic division…
Painting School in Lepina Under the shadow of a big tree, six kids are sitting behind their canvases, in a warm and peaceful atmosphere. From August to October 2020, the backyard of Bajram and Farija Mehmeti was turned into a painting school. Four afternoons a week, kids from Lepina and surrounding villages were welcomed by…
Burnt plastic was the scent that accompanied me the first day I arrived in Kosovo. As I reached Gračanica, where GAIA’s non-formal education center was waiting for me, the people of the Roma mahalla, my new neighbours, were burning their trash outside, in the streets. An incongruous thought came up to me: “Does Kosovo…
It is weird how you can discover your living place, once you start to look around from another perspective. Since years I am living in the city of Dresden in Saxony, Germany. I know the roads I am taking every day; walking, riding along them with my bike or taking public transport. But as much…
Shifting perspectives is a response of GAIA’s volunteers to the Covid-19 pandemic. As an environmental and peace building association, we could not postpone our activities and only wait for this crisis to end. Most of the world is facing social distancing measures but yet we are witnessing a real collective desire to exchange, to communicate.…
The stories of Célia and Hugo, volunteers in GAIA’s Mitrovica program In February 2019, Hugo and Célia, two French volunteers, joined the program of GAIA Kosovo in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica. For one year, they became active members of the GAIA team, contributing to organize various events and workshops, or creating partnerships on…
Trying to make myself conscious about a shortened voluntary year Florian Herm Volunteering cannot be planned. Especially not if it leads you to another place with things to do you are not experienced in. When I look back, way further than the beginning of my own voluntary service in the Permaculture project of GAIA in…
[Albanian and Serbian versions below] “We are all dreamers!” Teodora, 6 years old, wants to be a ballerina, and Liridon, 11 years old would like to become a cameraman. They both have dreams and they both took part in the workshop organised in Mitrovica by GAIA Kosovo during November and December 2019. The project involved…
Last week was a workshop about Rocket mass Heater and energy efficiency, it took place in Boževce permaculture estate with 15 other participants What is a Rocket Mass Heater, What is a rocket stove ? A Rocket Mass Heater is an energy efficient stove, mostly made of natural materials. The fireplace is insulated and dimensioned…
This is my third year returning to the National Park Sharr in the summer. Each time, I am picked up by a friend of GAIA at the foothills of the National Park close by the colossal walls of Narciss, a proud relic of the Yugoslav period. As the car climbs up the roughly 1700 meters…