CHILDREN CAN’T LEARN WHEN THEIR BRAINS ARE FROZEN

PTP has received a handful of emails from Kosovo asking for funds to be used for the purchase of firewood.  This may sound like and “off the wall” request but, unfortunately, it’s not.  The majority of elementary and secondary schools in Kosovo have no heating and air systems, no indoor plumbing, sporadic electricity for lighting, etc.

In most schools each room has a wood burning stove that supplies heat for the class during the winter months.  Depending upon the size of the smaller schools they need between $1000.00 and $2000.00 to purchase firewood for the winter.

Following is the text of two of the emails I received.  They have not been edited.

Dated 10-15-06

VLADAN

Dated 10-24-06

I have visited the school in which Vladan teaches on several occasions.  I was there in December 2005.  The photo below shows me in one of the classrooms.  It was bitterly cold as they had no wood last winter.  I was in 4 layers of warm clothes and didn’t even want to take off my coat.  You may also notice in the photo that many of the children are wearing coats.  Those who aren’t didn’t have them. 

Please take a moment to click on the “Donate” button and make a donation via PayPal or mail a check to:

P O Box 100

Cordova, TN  38088

On the memo line write “Firewood” so we will know to direct 100% of your donation towards that project.  Time is of the essence.  The temperatures in Kosovo have already begun to drop below freezing on some days and every night.

We appreciate your support for this worthy cause.

We received a request in August 2006 from SFC John Craemer to assist in securing musical instruments for the Gnjilane School of Music.  The school has 425 students and 37 instructors.  The teachers, as is normally the case in Kosovo, make approximately $200.00 per month. 

SFC Craemer noted:  "Nothing in the world unites people like music.  Whatever differences there may be quickly fade away at the first note.  The Gjilan/Gnjilane School of Music needs your help to continue bringing the people of Kosovo closer together." 

He continued to comment that the school is in desperate need of musical instruments, music stands and sheet music.  Additionally they are in need of funding for repairs to the building.

I am happy to report today that great progress has been made by several sources in order to assist the School of Music.  The US KFOR Task Force Talon Soldiers made personal donations as well as held a raffle and raised a significant amount of money.  That money has been used towards repairs of the building.  Progress Through Peace, Inc. contacted two music stores in Memphis, TN – AMRO Music and Yarbrough’s Music.  Both stores made tremendous donations of musical instruments including coronets, trombones, saxophones and violins.  Additionally they donated boxes of sheet music and music stands.  The horns and sheet music have been shipped from the US and received in Kosovo.  PTP is still working to secure funding for the shipment of the remaining items.

A group in Wisconsin that SFC Craemer contacted has agreed to donate additional items as well.  Finally, SFC Craemer secured the donation of 15 brand new guitars.

By working together we have all made a significant difference in the lives of the students, teachers and citizens of Kosovo.  The students and teachers are working and practicing daily in order to present a concert for the KFOR Soldiers during the holidays.

Progress Through Peace, Inc. is honored to have been a part of this project.  We appreciate SFC Craemer for asking for our assistance.

If you are interested in making a donation to assist in the shipping of the remaining items please either click on the “DONATION” button and make your donation via PayPal or mail a check to:

P O Box 100,

Cordova, TN  38088

July/August 2006 – First Educational Summit 

The first Multi Ethnic Educational Summit was held for five days in Ferijaz/Urosecac, Kosovo.  It was a joint effort by Progress Through Peace, Inc. (PTP), Dr. Robert Anderson, USKFOR and INPO (a local non profit organization in Kosovo).

One hundred and twenty five elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators were invited to attend.  Each day we had teachers who had not been invited drive or walk for miles asking if they could attend.  It was very unfortunate that we had to turn them away.  We did so, however, with the promise that, in time, we will have more of these Summits and more will be invited. 

Dr. Robert Anderson conducted the Summit.  Dr. Anderson is renowned as one who works with school systems that do not meet minimum standards.  His successes in assisting those school systems are remarkable.  He has received commendations on the national level for his work.  Dr. Anderson is a member of scores of educational boards and committees within the United States.  His work has taken him outside of the United States to places such as Southern Africa and the Bahamas.  Additionally he has been instrumental in writing programs for community involvement in education, literacy programs for adults and pre school programs.

Progress Through Peace, Inc. had met with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Prishtina in order to invite them to attend the Summit as well as to gather information regarding standards for the school systems in Kosovo.  PTP was not able to gather information about the Serbian schools that are administered from Belgrade but is working to obtain that information, too.  It is important that this project be conducted as a team effort in order for it to succeed and assist in providing a better education.

Attendance at the Summit was remarkable.  It is a well known fact in Kosovo that most “seminars” are well attended the first day by the locals as a means by which to “see” what is going on.  Generally after that the attendance begins to drop off significantly.  That was not the case for this historic event.  Attendance was over 120 each day.

Throughout the five day Summit the teachers and administrators participated in a number of group exercises lead by Dr. Anderson.  The purpose of the group exercises was to engage the group in discussions ranging from basic needs (pens, paper, pencils, maps, etc), to physical needs (buildings, bathrooms, etc) to professional development seminars and parent/community involvement.  Each of the groups would make a list of “needs” then rank them.  At night the NGO, INPO, would tabulate the results and present Dr. Anderson with a written report as well as graphic presentations of the results.  The members of INPO (ages 16-25) were unbelievable.  Along with their professional analysis of the results they also provided most of the interpretation throughout the Summit.  Three additional personnel were used for interpreting.

All of the teachers and administrators as well as the Director of Education were more than pleased both with the core principals of the Summit as well as the results.  The participants worked across ethnic lines as if there were none.  The willingness to work together and camaraderie were remarkable.  They were all very thankful for Dr. Anderson and could not express their gratitude enough for him.

There is a lot of work to be done.  This Summit was simply the initial step in a process that will, likely, take years to complete.  Each teacher said they were leaving with information and skills that would assist them in the coming school year.

PTP received a plethora of requests from teachers for school books and educational materials of all kinds.  We continue to receive requests on a regular basis.  Dr. Anderson and his organization have two warehouses full of educational materials and supplies ear marked for Kosovo.  PTP is working to find a method by which to move those items from the US to Kosovo for distribution via KFOR.

22 December 2005 - Leta Carruth receives Task Force Falcon coin from COL Robert Bloomquist. Was presented by COL Tom Loomis at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

17 January 2006 - Construction begins on Kllokot, Kosovo sewer project.

4 through 5 March, 2006 - Strategic Planning Board Meeting of PTP, Inc.