A monthly mixer has quickly become a must-attend event for young entrepreneurs seeking to build relationships, share knowledge and hear from experts (and live bands) in a relaxed and congenial atmosphere.
New playgrounds, sidewalks, and street lights… these are a just a few of the projects that municipalities can implement to improve the lives of local residents. USAID and the Ministry of Local Government Administration recognized outstanding municipal performance at a February 14th event in Pristina at which incentive awards were presented to eight municipalities, following a competitive process.
On Thursday, January 17, Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson visited two USAID projects as part of a day-long visit to the municipality of Vushtrri. In the morning, the Ambassador and USAID Mission Director Maureen A. Shauket met with Mayor Bajram Mulaku and unveiled a plaque inaugurating a new public green space and sidewalk along an area previously used as an illegal dumpsite. With support from USAID’s Democratic Effective Municipalities Program (http://www.demi-ks.org/?cid=2,1), the municipality identified the removal of the illegal landfill as a community priority, based on feedback received from residents. The USAID program, in cooperation with the municipality of Vushtrri, also has provided signs in high traffic areas, expansion of the green space and creation of a running path along the SItnica River, improvement of the green areas in Smerkovnice and Bukosh primary schools, and the creation of a playground adjacent to the park.
USAID and the University of Prishtina signed a Memorandum of Understanding on January 22 under which the Agency agreed to support reform efforts for the administrative functions of the Office of the Rector. USAID/Kosovo Mission Director Maureen A. Shauket and University Rector Ibrahim Gashi signed the memorandum at a media event in Pristina. The initiative is the first to be undertaken as a result of a multi-million dollar higher education partnership between the U.S. Government and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo.
Twenty-five women representing Kosovo political parties, civil society, business and media have graduated from the new Kosovo Women’s Leadership Academy. The Academy was created by the National Democratic Institute with USAID support to prepare more women to assume positions of influence in Kosovo affairs. Members of the academy’s first class were selected from among the participants in the “Week of Women 2012” activities that USAID supported in March. Many of the graduates are considering running for office in the next local and national elections.
The Microsoft Corporation has named the Green School in Pristina, Kosovo the first Innovative Pathfinder School in the Balkan region. The award recognizes schools that use technology and innovative teaching approaches to equip students with 21st century skills. The Green School joins an elite group of only 65 such schools selected to receive this distinction in 2012.
If you had been in the Rugova Valley recently, you would have seen more than just beautiful mountain scenery. On July 14th, representatives of USAID and the Ministry of Education witnessed robots engaged in Sumo wrestling and dancing. They also saw a robot in the shape of a crocodile. It was all part of Robotiks 2012, a summer camp involving 43 students, aged 12 to 15, from 21 schools across the country.
The U. S. Government and the Government of Kosovo have agreed to work together to establish a five-year, multi-million dollar higher education program in Kosovo, to be implemented by USAID. The objective is to produce a new generation of well-educated, highly qualified leaders to drive significant change in the country in economic, political and social development. On Friday, July 20, U.S.
Community leaders and USAID representatives inaugurated a new park and playground on July 10, 2012 near the site of a former illegal landfill in the municipality of Klokot-Vrbovac. The landfill posed a threat to the municipality’s natural thermal water resources, which are used by two health service centers. At the municipality’s request, the USAID Democratic Effective Municipalities Initiative www.demi-ks.org/?cid=2,1 supported the cleanup of the landfill and construction of the first public park in the community.
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