Education is a fundamental aspect of a society's progress, and in Kosovo, donors have many opportunities to give and support educational initiatives.

According to the data from Catalyst Balkans, companies and citizens in Kosovo from the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2022 supported education with more than 1,2 million euros through 221 philanthropy actions.

Individuals often donate to support specific educational initiatives such as scholarships, school repairs, or the purchase of educational materials. Donors who contribute through nonprofit organizations, associations, or foundations usually have a more comprehensive approach to their donations, focusing on long-term solutions to education challenges in Kosovo.

Donations for education in Kosovo are primarily directed to schools, universities, educational organizations, and local initiatives. Many of these donations are targeted toward specific initiatives, such as providing scholarships or funding for school repairs.

Nonprofit organizations in Kosovo play a vital role in supporting education. One such organization is the Kosovo Education Center, which focuses on improving the quality of education in Kosovo by promoting inclusive education, teacher training, and curriculum development.

Corporate donors also contribute to education in Kosovo. One example is the TEB Sh.A. bank, which established a scholarship program for talented and underprivileged students in Kosovo. Through this program, students receive financial support for tuition fees, mentorship, and career development opportunities.

Many international organizations and foundations operating in Kosovo support education. For example, UNICEF has focused on improving early childhood education and promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities. The diaspora community has also played a vital role in supporting education in Kosovo. Online platforms like GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Global Giving have facilitated many successful education-related crowdfunding campaigns.

Overall, donations and giving for education in Kosovo come from various sources, including individual donors, corporate donors, international organizations, and nonprofit organizations. The support these donors provided has helped improve the quality of education in Kosovo and has provided opportunities for talented and underprivileged students to achieve their academic goals.

In the rest of the article, we’ve prepared a few success stories on how philanthropists in Kosovo support education.

Support for the libraries

In 2020, Kosova Makers League and the Foundation “BONEVET Prishtina” equipped ten public libraries in Gjilan, Prizren, Viti, Ferizaj, Prishtina, Gjakova, Peja, Shtime, and Skënderaj with educational tools. The project aimed to transform public libraries into centers for developing digital skills by donating Microbit devices, 3-D printers, laptops, and other technology. The purpose of these donations was to teach citizens to work with advanced technological equipment.

The Foundation “BONEVET Prishtina” also provided educational workshops for librarians and citizens. The project is organized by the Institute for Youth, Development, and Innovation (IRIM) with support from Google.

The same year, a professor and known writer from Vushtrri, Bedri Tahiri, donated 70 copies of books to the school's library, "Hajrullah Shala" in Akrashtica of Vushtrri.

In 2020, books were also donated to the University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina". The University received a donation of books from the former deputy of the Geneva Canton, Eric Leyvraz, and the president of the Albanian-French Association, Tahir Shabani. This donation contains books in French from various fields, such as music, archeology, linguistics, literature, and culture. The gift counts about 2,500 texts from the areas mentioned above.

Examples of mass-individual giving for education

In 2020, the Kosovo Women's Network launched a crowdfunding campaign to provide laptops for girls who could not attend school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign successfully raised over 9,000 euros, providing laptops for over 200 girls in Kosovo.

In 2021, the Music School "In Tune" was opened, which is supposed to educate and prepare students for further education in music. Citizens supported the fundraiser for equipping the school through the Kosovaideas platform.

The same year, the organization "Happy Mothers and Kids", thanks to many donors' help, collected 1,000 school bags with equipment for children in tough economic situations. The bags were collected as part of the "September this year with the complete bag" campaign.

Another example is the fundraising campaign conducted on the KosovaIdeas crowdfunding platform in 2022. Citizens helped raise funds for the project initiated by Roma Veritas Kosovo to support the "Music 4 All" Music School. The school offers free music classes and workshops for children and youth. More than 5,000 euros were raised to purchase necessary teaching and art materials, equipment, and funds for transportation, events, and heating bills.

  • Scholarships for the students

In 2021, for the fifth year in a row, through its scholarship program with RIT Kosovo (American University Kosovo), Meridian Express granted 5,000 euros worth of scholarships to students from socially disadvantaged families.

  • Help for students from disadvantaged families

Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo distributed 151 tablets and 275 school bags with supplies to the Municipal Directorate of Education in Prizren, intended to be distributed to children from socially disadvantaged families. This contribution was made as a part of the Herbert Stepic CEE Charity, within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between UNICEF and Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo.

The aim was to increase cooperation in promoting social importance and childcare issues. The donated equipment and supplies, worth over 30,000 euros, were distributed to students from the following schools: "Lidhja e Prizrenit", "Motrat Qiriazi", and "Remzi Ademaj".

  • Free language courses for the children

Last year, the organization "Happy Mothers and Kids" got a donation from Britannica ELT-Edmond Ramadani School for Foreign Languages. The school will provide free foreign language courses for the next five years for children benefitting from the organization's services.

Conclusion

Donating for education in Kosovo is vital to building a better future for the country and its people. Education is the key to unlocking the potential of individuals and communities, and it is only through investing in education that Kosovo can achieve sustainable development and long-term prosperity.

Whether supporting students with scholarships, donating educational materials, or investing in infrastructure and teacher training, every donation makes a significant impact. By donating for education in Kosovo, you are contributing to the growth and development of the next generation and ensuring that they have the tools and skills needed to succeed.

Moreover, donating for education in Kosovo is not just a one-time contribution but a long-term investment. By empowering young people with education and training, we are helping them become productive members of society and contribute to their communities growth and development.

To learn more about donations and philanthropy actions for education and other important causes in Kosovo, visit kosovadhuron.org.


 

This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Catalyst Balkans and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

The Citizen Engagement Activity in Kosovo is a five-year initiative implemented by Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).