Sustainable Agricultural Project for the Roma of Kosovo

Paul Polansky will be returning this November to Kosovo to implement the 'Sustainable Agricultural Project for the Roma of Kosovo'. The project will provide dairy goats for some of the poorest Romani families, and will be a reliable and increasing source of protein for the Romani communities. When Paul arrives in Kosovo, he will be overseeing the purchase of 40 more goats to be delivered to Romani families in small villages. Voice of Roma intends to expand the project in the coming two years to include breeding goats, increase the number of goats, and to begin to help Roma in setting up facilities for the production of yogurt and cheese.

The Romani Women's Cottage Industry Project

The 'Romani Women's Cottage Industry Project', modeled after the E.S.I. project, will become an ongoing business for Romani women in Kosovo. The women will make traditional crocheted tablecloths and other items to sell in the United States and other countries, The money made from the sales will be used to purchase new materials, thus creating a self-sustaining, ongoing project which will provide financial relief for Romani families, and will boost the self-esteem and spirits of the women participating in the project. The project will attempt to link the purchasers of the crocheted items with the woman who made the tablecloths, by enclosing details of her family and the circumstances of her life along with her photo when the item is purchased. Paul Polansky launched this project in August, 2001, by using VOR funds to purchase the cotton for ten women to make tablecloths. The continuation of the project in November, 2001, will see the purchase of more cotton for the women to make crocheted items over the winter months in Kosovo.