"There is no better
way to understand a people than by becoming part of
their daily lives. The Balkans Peace Program offers you
the opportunity to become part of our daily, family
lives in Kosova. I am very glad you chose to participate
in this program, and I have looked forward to this
meeting with you. So, I welcome you to Kosova and the
Government of Kosova."
Mr. Nehat Mustafa
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Technology
Government of Kosova
"The Balkans Peace
Program gave me the opportunity to experience the
culture and history of Kosovo first-hand. Living there
for 3 weeks with a host family who spoke only Albanian
for the most part, and being immersed into their culture
was a very rewarding and positive experience."
Cpt Rodrick Kelly
Royal Military College of Canada, BPP 2013 Participant
"I
have never been more accepted or loved in a new
community in my entire life, than I was in Gjilan. I
can’t thank Faton and the Bislimi foundation enough for
the opportunity they gave me. I miss Kosovo and my
Kosovars every day that I’m back home. This trip made me
realize how much more can go on in a country than I even
dared to think about initially. It forever opened my
eyes to the good nature of people, while making me
realize that even with the best intentions things can
still get horribly wrong. My love for Kosovo is
unwavering, and I hope the country and its people all of
the best."
Evan Klein
University of Alberta, BPP 2013 Participant
"The Balkans Peace Program gave students
like myself a chance to be immersed directly into the
Kosovar life fourteen years after the war had taken
place. We were able to see how students around our own
ages lived in a post war society, and hear from the
locals how the war affected them, at the time and
currently, and what the government was doing to help. At
the same time we did get to have in depth meetings with
members of the Kosovo government to hear how they have
arranged budgets and created programs in order to help
rebuild their country's economy."
Anneka Sutton
Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, BPP 2013 Participant
"The three weeks I spent in Kosovo
amounted to an incredible experience that I will never
forget. I was placed with an amazing homestay family who
took great care of me and I will consider Festa a friend
for life. While I could never completely understand what
it is like to live in a post-conflict society, the
stories and information from my hosts as well as the
information learned throughout Professor Bislimi’s
course helped me to gain a better understanding of the
war in Kosovo and the society that it is now. For a
country with such a grim past, I was amazed at the
history, resilience, and unfalteringly optimism that its
people carry with them every day."
Danielle Gregoire
University of Alberta, BPP 2013 Participant
"My time in Kosovo on the Balkans Peace Program was an
eye-opener for the struggles that people have to make on
daily basis to move on with their daily lives. Coming
from Europe and going to Europe's newest country, this
was an important lesson for me. I enjoyed every minute
there and I plan to return as soon as I get a chance
again."
Milan Zavada
Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic), BPP 2013
Participant
Some
Pictures:
Mind you that between the program staff and
participating students, thousands of pictures have been
taken. In what follows, we will only be able to present
of few of these pics...
Class time at the Gjilani College
Class time at the Gjilani College
Lunch time...
After the meeting with Dr Krasniqi,
Speaker of the Parliament of Kosova
Dinner with Former President of
Kosovo, now Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli at his
own residence
After the meeting with Nehat Mustafa,
Deputy Minister of Education
After the meeting with Dr Hajdin Abazi,
Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
At the Rugova Gorge
Students capture the view of Prizren
from its medieval hilltop castle
Touring Kosova's nature...
Inside the Gadime Cave
View of Shkoder, Albania from its castle
Time to enjoy the Albanian
seashores...
Let's cheer for the local team...
Students visit the Kosovo War exhibit
at the Kosovo National Museum
Certificates of Completion are handed
out...