Naser Ćazimi is a project coordinator at the local NGO Association for Peace Kosov@ (AFPK) in Kosovska Mitrovica. He has been an active member of Mitrovica’s civil society since 2000. Together with some international donors and NGOs Naser has greatly contributed to establishing a daily center/kindergarten for RAE (Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians) children in Žitkovac (former Roma camp). „This was a place where children could simply come and spend their free time“, he says.

In 2003 Naser started working with the Italian NGO Associazione per la Pace, where he met his current mates, Sokol and Advije. Two years later the guys decided to found their own NGO. Naser was appointed as the project coordinator. His main responsibilities compounded of the work in the office, such us keeping in touch with various employees and partners, as well as activities on the field, for instance direct work with the children. Besides it, he was also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the proceeding of projects.

At the moment AFPK works with a project dedicated to RAE children. Its aim is to promote the value of education among those children and their parents. AFPK puts a lot of efforts to support RAE children in any possible way to finish elementary school. The NGO works with different age groups of children. “We are trying to involve the kids in school-related exercises and some culture-based activities as well”, Naser explains. AFPK has already promoted some training in Roma folk music and traditional dances. Unfortunately, it is not easy to evaluate the success of this project. According to Naser, when activities take place, children are more eager to attend lessons at school and to do their homework. However, the success of the project strongly depends on the mood of those kids. Naser explains that there are 170-180 children on their list, nevertheless, during one exercise AFPK usually works with 25-30 changing children, but when the class is full, the guys have to deal with around 40 children at once.

Besides the project with RAE children, AFPK is also involved in the project with ICP. The latter is committed to the problems of the milk sector in both parts of Kosovo as well as cooperation and common interest to find an appropriate way to solve them. According to Naser, this project is proceeding in a right direction. He explains that participants from both parts of Kosovo have already presented their needs and problems and, therefore, now the time has come for the adequate support from the donors. Naser is afraid that if the donors fail to provide necessary equipment for the farmers, the project may finish as soon as the educational visit to Italy ends. However, he admits being surprised with such a high level of cooperation among four different yet cooperative sectors (local authorities, farmers, business associations and research institutions) involved in the project, especially in the Northern part of Kosovo. Regarding this cooperation, Naser expects something positive to happen.

While talking about future projects Naser explains that now the NGO is waiting for the answer from UNICEF about further cooperation towards RAE children. Moreover, AFPK is willing to collaborate with UNDP. The guys have come up with an idea to give some training for Roma youth (18-25 years old), who have not finished the school. “We would like to provide them with a sort of tool to be able to earn money themselves”, Naser says. This notwithstanding, financial issues should be taken into account as well. According to Naser, each day it becomes harder to find donors willing to support their projects. He explains that in terms of peacebuilding Kosovo is not important anymore; therefore many donors have switched their focus on Afghanistan or Iraq. Hence, AFPK is forced to be even more persistent in looking for relative partners, in this case for partnership with UNDP.

This situation makes Naser to think about the present and the future of his life in Mitrovica. He says that it is very difficult to see the difference of what has been some years ago and now. “For me it is like the same, I cannot see visible changes, maybe because I am still living in a camp”, he shares his view, “I would like to have my own house, to live freely, to work in a public sector, as all normal people do, unfortunately we are still forced to live in a closed area, like in jail”. However, the only thing Naser can do is just to wait and see what will happen in the future.