The war ends when classes begin in Macedonia

Getting back to studies was the first step to normal life. At first, the classes were held in a tent provided by UNHCR. Later, as part of a group of students, age 6-10, Liridona started to attend a school in an adjacent village of Gosince, 6 km away from Lukare. Their daily journey on foot lasted for an hour each way, in all weather conditions. It was hard but Liridona liked to study; maths was her favorite subject. It saddened her to know though that in a year time, when she would turn 11, she might not continue her schooling. The local tradition would not allow teen girls to walk long distances away from their homes, on their own.

Recently, and fortunately, Liridona’s life has changed for better. The International aid community has taken an interest in her village of Lukare. Repairs to residential houses are being taken care of by the International Management Group (IMG). Liridona’s primary school is being re-paired by World Vision. Comprised of 2 buildings to accommodate children from 6 to 14 years old, the rehabilitated school will provide better learning opportunities for its children; now it has indoors toilets as well.
Liridona will have her former school back and even more: the prospects of completing her primary education up to the age of 14. She is one of 60 primary school students in the village to benefit from WV school rehabilitation project.

When World Vision first entered Lukare village in northern Macedonia, it lay ruptured by the inter-ethnic conflict of the spring and summer of 2001. Its population fled en masse for their lives, and 95% of all village buildings were destroyed. Liridona’s school had turned into rubble; only the base and outside walls survived. As a result of evaluation of its destruction level, Lukare school was prioritized by UNICEF for rehabilitation. World Vision took over the responsibilities of bringing it back to life.

Lukare is one of 6 schools being rehabilitated by World Vision in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia since October 2002. These are both Albanian and Macedonian schools located in villages affected by either armed conflicts or sever lack of state funding characteristic of the transitional economy. Funded by the Government of the Netherlands, the WV school rehabilitation project will be completed by the end of April 2003 and, in effect, will grant about 1300 children an opportunity to continue primary education in safer and more comfortable conditions.

For more information please contact World Vision Macedonia Program Manager
Julian Srodecki at julian_srodecki@wvi.org or +389 70 358 338.