Caritas Kosovo
{{Short description|Kosovar social service provider and relief organisation}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Caritas Kosovo
| full_name =
| native_name = Caritas Kosova
| native_name_lang = Albanian
| logo = Caritas Kosovo Logo.png
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| established = 1992{{cite web |url= https://www.koha.net/en/arboretum/52250/Haradinaj-pledges-to-cooperate-with-Caritas/ |title= Haradinaj pledges cooperation with Caritas |date= 21 October 2017 |website= Koha Ditore |access-date= 4 July 2024}}
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| type = Nonprofit
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| status = Association
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| location_city = Ferizaj{{cite web |url= https://www.developmentaid.org/donors/view/58893/kosovar-catholic-church-caritas-cik |title= Caritas Kosova |website= developmentaid.org|access-date= 19 June 2024}}
| location_country = Kosovo
| coordinates = {{coord|42.3661|21.1597|display=inline,title}}
| origins = Catholic Social Teaching
| region_served = Kosovo
| fields = social work, humanitarian relief
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| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Dodë Gjergji
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| affiliations = Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Europa
| budget = {{currency|4413969|EUR}}{{cite web |url= https://www.caritaskosova.org/sq/raporte-vjetore |title= Annual Report 2021 |website= caritaskosova.org |access-date= 4 July 2024}}
| budget_year = 2021
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| staff_year = 2017
| volunteers_year = 2017
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| website = {{URL|https://www.caritaskosova.org/en}}
| remarks =
| formerly = Kosovar Catholic Church Caritas{{cite web |url= https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/questions/reponses_qe/2015/012452/P8_RE(2015)012452(ANN)_XL.pdf |title= Project Funding List 2015 |website= European Parliament |access-date= 9 July 2024}}
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Caritas Kosovo ({{langx|sq|Caritas Kosova}}) is a Kosovar Catholic not-for-profit organisation. It is a member of both Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis.
Background
Caritas Kosova was founded in 1992 as a Catholic initiative to support the local population experiencing rampant poverty, primarily through the distribution of humanitarian aid. At the time, it was not officially registered as an NGO.{{cite web |url= https://www.caritaskosova.org/en/about-us |title= History of Caritas Kosova |website= caritaskosova.org |access-date= 4 July 2024}} After the Kosovo War (1998–1999), various agencies from the global Caritas confederation became active in the country. Caritas Kosova then developed as an emergency relief actor, receiving funding and technical support from Caritas agencies in Caritas Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, and other countries.
{{cite web |url= https://reliefweb.int/report/serbia/caritas-information-activities-kosovo |title= CARITAS information on activities in Kosovo {{!}} EU DONOR CONFERENCE, Brussels, 28 July 1999 |date= 19 August 1999 |website= ReliefWeb |access-date= 20 June 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.caritas.eu/caritas-kosovo/ |title= About Caritas Kosovo |website= caritas.eu|access-date= 20 June 2024}}
Over the years, Caritas Kosova expanded its presence across the country and broadened its range of activities. As of 2024, the organisation has its headquarters in Ferizaj, with regional offices in Pristina, Prizren, Gjakova, Mitrovica, and Leposavić, while implementing activities in numerous other cities and villages. Despite being a Catholic organisation, Caritas Kosova works with various communities in the country without ethnic or religious discrimination.{{cite web |language=French |url= https://www.lamontagne.fr/clermont-ferrand-63000/actualites/le-secours-catholique-accueille-un-representant-de-caritas_1583464/ |title= Le Secours catholique accueille un représentant de Caritas |date= 11 June 2013 |website= La Montagne |access-date= 4 July 2024}} It is one of the few organisations active in both Albanian and Serbian-dominated parts of Kosovo,{{cite web |url= https://kosovofunding.org/user/csoprofile/3119 |title= Caritas Kosova |website= Kosovo Funding Portal |access-date= 19 June 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.redcross.org.rs/en/news/monitoring-visit-to-caritas-kosova-within-the-project-strengthening-resilience-of-older-persons-and-persons-with-disabilities-during-covid-19-and-future-crises/ |title= Monitoring visit to Caritas Kosova within the project “Strengthening resilience of older persons and persons with disabilities during COVID-19 and future crises” |date= 10 November 2022 |website= Red Cross of Serbia |access-date= 19 June 2024}}{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://rtvmitrovica.com/komuna-e-mitrovices-dhe-caritas-kosova-nenshkruan-marreveshje-bashkepunimi/ |title= Komuna e Prizrenit dhe “Caritas”-i vazhdojnë bashkëpunimin |date= 23 September 2022 |website= rtvmitrovica.com|access-date= 4 July 2024}} as well as with other minorities such as Roma, Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians.{{cite web |language= French |url= https://reliefweb.int/report/serbia/kosovo-lenjeu-de-lind%C3%A9pendance |author= Emmanuelle Dethomas |title= Kosovo - L'enjeu de l'indépendance |date= 12 March 2008 |website= ReliefWeb |access-date= 4 July 2024}}
In the immediate aftermath of the Kosovo war, multiple other member organisations of the Caritas Internationalis confederation operated in Kosovo,{{cite web |url= https://www.cath.ch/newsf/caritas-secours-international-et-l-aide-aux-refugies-du-kosovo/ |language= French |title= 10’000 personnes prises en charge sur 28 sites |date= 12 April 1999 |website= cath.ch |access-date= 4 July 2024}} often supporting Caritas Kosovo. At the height of the emergency response, the American Catholic Relief Services had more than 400 staff in Kosovo.{{cite web |url= https://www.crs.org/our-work-overseas/where-we-work/kosovo |title= CRS in Kosovo |website= crs.org |access-date= 4 July 2024}} As of 2024, Caritas Switzerland still operates in Kosovo with its own office and staff, which has led to disputes with Caritas Kosovo.{{cite web |url= https://ekonomiaonline.com/caritas-kosova-per-akuzat-e-pdk-se-marreveshja-ka-qene-me-caritasin-zviceran-qe-operon-pa-miratimin-e-kishes/ |title= “Caritas Kosova” e vetmja organizatë që njihet nga Kisha Katolike në Kosovë: Marrëveshja e Ministrisë me Caritasin zviceran shkelje flagrante |date= 2 June 2022 |website= Ekonomia Online |language= Albanian |access-date= 19 June 2024}}{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://demokracia.com/caritas-kosova-marreveshja-e-mpjd-se-dhe-mzhr-se-ka-qene-me-caritasin-zviceran-qe-operon-pa-miratimin-e-kishes/ |title= “Caritas Kosova” {{!}} Marrëveshja e MPJD-së dhe MZHR-së ka qenë me Caritasin zviceran, që operon pa miratimin e Kishës |date= 2 June 2022 |website= Demokracia |access-date= 19 June 2024}}
Work
Caritas Kosovo started as a humanitarian relief agency involved in distributions and other activities,{{cite web |url= https://reliefweb.int/report/serbia/refugees-kosovo-updated-july-2001 |title= Refugees in Kosovo Updated July 2001 |date= 13 July 2001 |website= ReliefWeb |access-date= 4 July 2024}} then worked with internally displaced persons and returnees after the war.{{cite web |language= Italian |url= https://www.vita.it/macedonia-un-paese-in-bilico/ |title= Macedonia, un Paese in bilico |date= 10 July 2001 |website= vita.it |access-date= 4 July 2024}} Over time, it expanded its sectors of work to become a social service provider. The organisation has signed cooperation agreements with various regional and State authorities, including different municipality and ministries such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and the University of Gjakova.{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://edukimi.uni-gjk.org/en/lajme/1784/rector-nimani-signed-a-memorandum-of-understanding-with-caritas-kosova |title= Rector Nimani signed a memorandum of understanding with Caritas Kosova |date= 16 February 2021 |website= University of Gjakova |access-date= 19 June 2024}}{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://www.suharekaonline.com/suhareka/po-vazhdon-bashkepunimi-mes-komunes-se-suharekes-dhe-caritas-kosova/ |title= Po vazhdon bashkëpunimi mes Komunës së Suharekës dhe CARITAS KOSOVA |date= 24 September 2022 |website= suharekaonline.com |access-date= 4 July 2024}}{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= http://www.ekonomia.info/sq/ekonomi/mpms-nenshkruan-marreveshje-me-komunen-e-istoget-dhe-caritas-kosova |title= MPMS nënshkruan marrëveshje me Komunën e Istogët dhe Caritas Kosova |website= Ekonomia |access-date= 4 July 2024}}
Since the end of the Kosovo War, Caritas Kosova has been active in diverse sectors such as psychosocial support and mental health, labour market integration,{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://www.klina.info/ne-kline-do-te-filloje-realizimi-i-projektit-praxis-nga-caritas-kosova/ |title= Në Klinë do të fillojë realizimi i projektit “Praxis” nga Caritas Kosova |date= 24 September 2020 |website= klina.info |access-date= 4 July 2024}} rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration of prisoners,{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://klankosova.tv/i-burgosuri-hap-ekspozite-ne-prishtine/ |title= I burgosuri hap ekspozitë në Prishtinë |date= 16 December 2015 |website= Klan Kosova |access-date= 4 July 2024}} support to persons with disability, social assistance for families living in extreme poverty,{{cite web |url= https://www.caritaskosova.org/repository/docs/annual_report_2020.pdf |title= AnnualReport 2019|date= |website= caritaskosova.org |access-date= 4 July 2024}} and childcare{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://ferizajpress.com/marreveshja-e-komunes-me-caritas-kosova-parasheh-punesimin-e-22-personave/ |title= Marrëveshja e komunës me ”Caritas Kosova” parasheh punësimin e 22 personave |date= 22 October 2018 |website= ferizajpress.com |access-date= 4 July 2024}} An important sector of work is that of healthcare and home care.{{cite web |url= https://www.koha.net/en/KOSOVO/410575/in-the-absence-of-doctors%2C-two-municipalities-contract-health-services/ |title= In the absence of doctors, two municipalities contract health services |date= 25 February 2024 |website= Koha Ditore |access-date= 4 July 2024}}{{cite web |language= Albanian |url= https://radiokfor.com/1/shenohet-dita-nderkombetare-e-bamiresise/ |title= Shënohet ‘Dita Ndërkombëtare e Bamirësisë’ |website= Radio K4 |access-date= 19 June 2024}}
Photos
Donotion box for Caritas Kosova, in Prishtina Airport, 2016.jpg|Donation box for Caritas Kosova in Pristina International Airport in 2016.
Caritas Kosova - Office in Ferizaj.jpg|Entrance to the Caritas Kosova head office in Ferizaj.
Caritas Kosova - Prizren Office Sign May 2019.jpg|Caritas office in Prizren.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category|Caritas in Kosovo}}
- {{official website|https://www.caritaskosova.org/en}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=799hKHv3DFs&t=335s Official video for the 25 year anniversary of Caritas Kosovo] on YouTube (in Albanian)
{{Caritas Internationalis Member Organisations}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Charities based in Kosovo
Category:Social justice organizations
Category:Humanitarian aid organizations in Europe
Category:Organizations established in 1992
Category:1992 establishments in Kosovo