Campaign Story

Who are we?

SAKUNTALA NGO was established in 2008 with the aim of creating a stable environment in Kosovo for the integration of minority communities in order to represent their position, human rights and promote the values of equality, social inclusion, socio-economic development for all individuals and groups regardless of their ethnic, religious, gender or social affiliation. Among other things, the organization was established to promote and preserve the interests of diversity, the values of equality, dialogue, and solidarity.

What is our goal?

Women from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities are discriminated against, have limited access to employment, education, and health care, and these are just a few of the factors that are contributing to the deep-seated oppression and marginalization of women in minority communities. Lack of schooling and gender and ethnic discrimination against these women are significant obstacles to their integration into Kosovo society.

Therefore the purpose of this project is:

1. Improving the skills of Roma women and girls through vocational training for handicraft activities.
2. Improving socio-economic development, promoting traditional creativity, and strengthening their cooperation with the private market, women’s NGOs, cultural and local institutions.

Through the above-mentioned activities, their skills for handicrafts will be improved through professional training, followed by the promotion of their products and selling them in the private market, thus improving their living conditions. This will be a driving force for the promotion and preservation of cultural values as well as the socio-economic development of Roma women and girls. These trainings have been held before and have shown great success, but we want to achieve something more long-term and that women do not stop after completing the training, but continue to promote their work. Therefore an exhibition with these handicrafts will be organized, with the participation of civil society, cultural NGOs, local institutions, the private sector, and craft associations in order to promote handicraft products by Roma women and girls.

How will your support help us?

With the funds that will be raised, the necessary material will be purchased to start the training with these women and young girls from the Roma community. This project will increase their skills for traditional handicrafts through vocational training. Women aged 18-50 will be selected for the activities. The training will be organized in the municipality of Prizren, in the Yunus Emre Institute, a Turkish institute that has its branch in Kosovo, in Prizren and in Peja. The training will last 4-5 months and will be held by facilitators, trainers who will provide advice on women’s empowerment through handicrafts. The direct beneficiaries of this project are women and girls from the Roma community in the municipality of Prizren.

Budget