Jun 17, 2010
This morning was very busy. School has not yet dismissed for the summer so most of the SMF classes were held today (Saturday). In Gjakove they are held in two different locations with the volunteers spread out across classes. Some of the children have only begun in the last couple of weeks, but others have been in the program for years.[...]
Jun 16, 2010
This morning we drove through the last remaining camp in Gjakove. Vlora has lived in camps ever since the war and this is her home now.[...]
Jun 11, 2010
Today we walked. And walked. And walked. We walked all through “old town” in Gjakove and explored. The streets in that section of town are made of stone pavers, which we love, and the buildings are weathered from history.[...]
Jun 06, 2010
Children of war are inherently exposed to significant trauma. Due to widespread devastation of economic, structural, and educational systems these children have few options for reduction of distress and fostering of resiliency. The music education program of the Shropshire Music Foundation (SMF) has demonstrated significant long-term positive impact on children of war, including significantly higher secondary education graduation rates and college enrollment.[...]
Jun 04, 2010
My name is Qendresa Isniqi. I am 14 years old and in the 9th grade. During the wartime I didn’t lose anyone from my immediate family, but my house was burned.[...]
Jun 02, 2010
I just had a wonderful day and night in Zurich, Switzerland. One of my former volunteers, Shiprim, lives in Zurich with his wife Shqipe and his beautiful son Rilon.[...]
May 29, 2010
We had our first class in the village of Skivjan today. Over 100 children registered on Tuesday, but I think there were almost 200 in attendance today. It was really great.[...]
May 28, 2010
I’m in Kosovo for one week. I’ve never done this before. Two Psychology Professors from University of North Texas came to Kosovo to do research on our program and why it works, and brought me with them.[...]
May 20, 2010
I went to see the new movie “Robin Hood” this week. It was good—I felt carried away into the time portrayed in the film, which for me is the best part of seeing a movie at a theater. But I left the theater feeling uneasy.[...]
May 15, 2010
Last night at 3am I got a phone call from Polycarp, one of our wonderful Uganda youth volunteers. He said they are really struggling right now and asked when Burim or I would be coming. I told him that Burim would definitely come in September. I could tell he was disappointed that they would have to wait that long, but he just said how glad he was that Burim would definitely be coming.[...]