Rebuilding women's independence through preparation for employment

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

REBUILDING WOMEN’S INDEPENDENCE THROUGH PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

RRJETI I OJQ-ve TË GRAVE QELIZA Gjakovë

NGO WOMENS NETWORK QELIZA Gjakova

The Women's Network Qeliza is a group of NGOs, and unite individuals to improve the status of women and youth through educational activities. Advocacy addressed to relevant institutions and the community in general. The Network promotes gender equality through all its activities.

The Women's Network was established in 2001 when local NGOs got united for implementing joint initiatives. Since then, the Network has achieved over 50 projects on community support and democratization. Also, Network's main activities have focused on campaigning, advocacy, and lobbying in all sectors of life, strengthening networks through capacity building of NGOs, and developing links with the local Government. In cooperation with Local Government, Qeliza has implemented the project mapping the needs of communities through the straightening of local parliament and Political Parties.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

REBUILDING WOMEN’S INDEPENDENCE THROUGH PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

The general action goal of this project is the support of presumed victims of trafficking by increasing their self-confidence, enhancing their professional capacities, and supporting them toward their economic independence

Financed by EU in KOSOVO under the “Moving Forward: Promoting Greater Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings in Kosovo” project. A project implemented by Family and Childcare Centre (KMOP)

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

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ADVISING AND CONSULTING IN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SESSIONS

During the period of 15 months, regular individual and group sessions have been organized with the aim to reduce the consequences of violence committed by the abuser, and on the other hand, counseling is done with a view to ending the discrimination of women and girls who are potential victims of trafficking and those who are victims of trafficking, who have no access on education, health services, employment, and so on. 32 cases were identified during these sessions. Based on the specific evaluation, as well as their skills and will to learn, they have been oriented for particular professional training. “During the sessions in counseling with the victims, the assessment of each case, where it has been noticed that most of them have gained confidence, have begun to believe in the functioning of the public institutions, the will and the desire to engage in activities have arisen with the opinion that they will do changes in their lives as well as an increased sense of self-esteem against the causes of violence that can be exploited by potential victims of trafficking in victims of trafficking.�

Nafije Rudi, Psychosocial Counselor

230 SURVEY

Within the framework of the lectures cycle, a questionnaire was conducted on the level of awareness of high school students regarding trafficking in human beings in Kosovo. The questionnaire contains a total of 15 questions answered by 230 students from 13 high schools in 5 municipalities, out of which 62 students from Gjakova; 54 students from Decan; 42 students from Malisheva; 38 students from Rahovec and 34 students from Junik.

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

LECTURES FOR HIGH SCHOOL'S STUDENTS

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During the period of 3 months (October - December) were held 15 lectures in 12 high schools of 5 municipalities, such as: Junik, Malisheva, Gjakova, Deçan and Rahovec, with the participation of 466 students (247 girls and 219 boys) from 10th, 11th and 12th grade. The lectures were conducted by two experts - a juridical representative and a psychologist, who addressed the topic in the fight against trafficking in human beings in Kosovo, in social and juristic/legal aspects. The duration of a lecture was 90 minutes, and the topics discussed were: what is trafficking; who are the victims; what are the signs; how to distinguish them; how to prevent them; how to help them; how to raise awareness in the wider society; and juristic/legal aspect - The Protocol of Palermo; Local Legislation - Kosovo Criminal Code; Concealment of the criminal offense of trafficking; Frequently Asked Groups and Forms; Different statistics (local and global); Preventing and addressing cases; Awareness facts; Advocacy in society. During these sessions we have had such comments that the lectures on raising awareness among young people about this negative phenomenon are most common in high schools. According to them it is very necessary to distribute as much information as possible about the punishability of this criminal offense, the most frequent forms of its appearance, the profiles of traffickers / victims profiles and as the main pillar of the discussion is continuing to be addressed prevention of trafficking in human beings.

“I emphasize that at one of the meetings, respectively in Gjakova, a girl at the end of the lecture has addressed a case on behalf of her friend, seeking only identity protection since according to the girl she reports, her friend is constantly hurt by the publication of pictures by an adult and used according to his own words at any time. I personally and on behalf of the organization I provided the assurance that in the event of the exploited / threatened girl appearing in our offices, we will make it impossible to protect her at all institutional instances.”

Edona Sina, Attorney at Law “The findings from the student’s participation indicated that they are interested to know more about trafficking at the domestic level as well as in receiving information on recognizing signs of trafficking, victims profile, physical and psychological trauma of victims. All students were highly enthusiastic to know how to be part of prevention by their actions, like making small projects e.g. design posters for awareness-raising, using social media to share and get informed in additions.”

Vjollca Kuqi, Psychologist

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

12 SCHOOL'S PROACTIVE CLUBS

School’s Proactive Clubs - After completing the lectures with high school students we held regular meetings and continual contacts with representatives from parents' school councils (students, teachers, parents), Gender Officers, as well as victim advocates, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and “Safe House”, where through co-operation with the abovementioned actors we have been able to identify several cases of VoTs and PVoTs.

24 VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Identified cases of PVoTs and VoTs were divided into groups, where they participated in professional training of different areas which helped them in capacity building and give them better opportunities in finding a job and regain their independent life. Some of the trainings were offered by the Center for Vocational Training in Gjakova and other trainings such as: tailoring, beekeeping, handcrafts, make-up, hairdressing, were provided by professional trainers engaged within the project. 24 beneficiaries have attended professional training in different fields, as: · Tailoring (7) · Beekeeping (3) · Handcrafts (5) · Make-up (6) · Hairdressing (2) · Administration (1)

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

ANTI-TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN

During the campaign days, in addition to the above mentioned activities, a live broadcast on Radio Gjakova was also held, with the participation of Edona Sina, attorney at law and Sakibe Doli from the Safe House. Ms. Sina spoke more from a legal point of view about the mechanisms for combating trafficking, as: SOP Strategies; Strategy for Fighting Trafficking 2015-2019; Minimum Standards; Law on Combating Trafficking. Meanwhile, Mrs. Doli has discussed about: Victims of trafficking - consequences of trafficking victims, individual and social consequences; What consequences do victims have and where they can seek help (shelter, police, social work center); Law on Compensation; Reintegration of victims of trafficking - a major social challenge.

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EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Based on the result gained by PVoTs and VoTs after the completion of relevant vocational training, the next step of the project was to provide the equipment and supplies for those professions that these PVoTs and VoTs will be capable to perform, such as equipment for tailoring, beekeeping, handcraft supplies, make-up and hairdressing supplies, which will further enable income generation, economic independence and reintegration into the society.

22 beneficiaries were provided with different equipment and supplies, as: · Sewing machines for tailoring (7) · Beehives for beekeeping (3) · Handcrafts supplies (6) · Make-up supplies (3) · Hairdressing supplies (3)

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

5 TRAINEESHIP

We have identified 5 cases, which have been engaged in a paid traineeship program, in a period of 6 months, into different fields, including engagement in the private sector as well as in different NGOs. Evaluation and monitoring of interns were done by the representatives, with the timesheet document for each month and the monitoring for the process of the internship was done by Network Qeliza.

5 ROUND TABLES

5 round tables under the topic “Prevention of trafficking in human beings� were organized in 5 municipalities. The aim was to promote the dialogue between competent local actors and civil society representatives on the phenomenon of human trafficking and the engagement of relevant institutions to combat it. Moreover, the purpose of the discussion was to raise awareness and increase the capacity of local institutions to raise the awareness of high school students about the risks and consequences of trafficking in human beings. Also, supporting PVoT by providing more quality services for their protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society. The number of participants in these meetings was 99 participants, with the presence of representatives from the Prosecutor's Office, Victim's Advocate, Gender Officer, Director of the Center for Social Work, Police Officer, Director of the Directorate of Education, School representatives, teachers, students and parents, as well as NGO representatives. In addition, during these 5 roundtables were presented the results of the survey "What do high school students think about the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings?", where 840 copies of the leaflets were distributed for high school students and teachers.

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

A trafficking survivor prepares a gift for Ambassador Apostolova in sign of appreciation for her motivational talk and for the EU support for social reintegration and economic empowerment through the EU funded project "Moving Forward: Promoting Greater Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings in Kosovo", handed over by Antigona Dajakaj Fejza, Deputy Project Manager.

PĂŤrmet Vula 25, 50 000 Gjakova +383 (0) 44 188 336 rrjetiqelizagjakove@gmail.com @rrjetiqelizagjakove Rrjeti Qeliza