Widows Fund Fushe Kosova

A surl is an instrument like a simple clarinet played across the Balkans. In Kosovo it’s an essential feature of celebrations, and Suzana’s 36 year-old husband, Isuf, used to play his surl at weddings and earn for his family of nine children and their mother.

‘We didn’t have much, but we were happy; our home was always joyful!’ says Suzana.

And then one day, Isuf had a fatal stroke.

‘It was all so sudden; he’d never been ill before’ – says Suzana of that day when the music stopped. She was left alone to look after their children, without any kind of income. Her eldest sons, then aged 12 and 9, dropped out of school and started trying to make a living for their family by rubbish picking.

The road where the family lives is lined with salvaged oil drums formed into walls like a visual representation of the scrap which is now the fabric of this family’s lives. But we know there is a way through such walls – with education.

The younger sons, Hajrullah and Mentor, were only toddlers when their father died. His death could have been the end of their chances of education, but with your support through the Widows Fund we’ve made sure that the boys have attended school. Our mediator, Hysni, helped Suzana through the process of registering them, and their education is an important part of the family’s vision for their future.

But Isuf also continues as an inspiration for the family, and the boys brighten at the memory of their father. ‘I want to become a musician, just like my dad was’ – says Hajrullah.

The death of a parent is always a tragedy. In a poor family where those left behind have no savings or marketable skills, it can mark the end of all hope. Suzana is grateful for the optimism that you’ve given her and her boys through the Widows Fund’s support.

‘May God bless them, may God help them as they help us; we are forever thankful!’ – she says when asked what message she has to the people helping her through our project.

And thank you from all of our team of staff and volunteers too. It’s a privilege for us to join up the generosity of people like you with those we know who live in need like Suzana and her children.

Besime is the mother of six children, three daughters and three sons. Six years ago her husband passed away, leaving her desperate.

‘My husband used to work as a courier for a private company, he managed to make enough money to provide for us’ – says Besime. ‘Though, ever since he passed away, we could barely manage to feed ourselves. Some days we would eat, but there were days that we didn’t have anything on our table.’

Besime’s daughters are all married now and she lives with her three sons. All three of them started waste picking after losing their father, it was the only way for them to provide for the family and bring food home. They all dropped out of school too.

But thanks to your support and your donations, through our Widows Fund project we are able to support women like Besime and their families, by providing them with groceries every month and wood for the cold winter days, which get as low as -20 degrees. We also provide these families with clothing, thanks to the donations of goods we receive from good- hearted people.

A condition for the widowed women to be a part of our project is that their children attend school. Since the boys dropped out of school a few years ago, they need to attend the ‘intensive classes’ to be able to catch up with their peers and then be able to attend regular classes at the public school. Due to what the municipality says is a lack of funds these classes were interrupted, but are set to start again very soon with our lobbying efforts and Emran, 17, and Hasan, 15, will be able to join. With a school diploma they’ll be in a better position to get a decent job and provide for their mother.

‘May God bless them for their help’ – says Besime to all of those who donate for this project. Indeed thank you, it is because of you that we can manage to bring hope in these families and help these women to get their children through education.