Serbian and Albanian kids come together to solve problems

For the first time the community of Kraishta village in Kosovo has traffic signs in three main streets. These will provide safer walking for pedestrians, especially for children who come and go to and from school every day. 

A recent questionnaire answered by 42 residents revealed that the lack of traffic signs was the highest problem risking children’s lives as they travelled to school every day. To conduct the questionnaire, 22 Albanians of Kosovo members of the Kids for Peace club worked togather with 11 more Serbians of Kosovo from Suvi Do, Kids for Peace club. Questions were related to the safety in school, traffic safety, cleanness in their village, cultural and sports activities, and the protection of land and forests.

[Working to put traffic signs in three main streets of Kraishta]

One of the residents of Kraishta village, Mr. Bajram Dedushi said, “There have been many cases when children were hit by cars [that were] passing by very fast because children have to cross the road to get access to the school, and the lack of traffic signs [was] making it even harder.”

“We thought that the questionnaire will bring up the real concern of the community to the respective municipality and by this we will know where to take action as we want to know what the community and particularly children think,” said Altina, 14, one member from the Kids for Peace club. “This is a great opportunity to act where [it] is really needed.”

With the help of World Vision children of Kids for Peace did several awareness campaigns by delivering leaflets regarding this issue and then meeting up with the respective municipality director.

[Children handing out leaflets to the passerby]

Through children’s awareness raising, the municipality agreed to take action and set up the traffic signs. World Vision also helped covering a part of the expenses. As a result three main streets which are very frequented by children and community are now equipped with a part of the traffic signs.  

 A lot of people from the community shared their excitement that this missing facility was finally happening thanks to the children.

Agim Lacaj, 48, one of the residents said, “This is the best action ever taken in the village as it is good for our children’s safety. I used to be a traffic police [officer] in the past and I know how important the signs are and how fast cars go in this area. I have asked many times from the municipality, but they did not take any action, I am very happy to see that children from Albanian and Serbian communities are helping each other to do something that will serve the whole village,” he said admiring the children for what they did together.

[Traffic signs already settled]

Petrit, 14, who is a  member of Kids for Peace, said happily, “We are really excited and we have learned a lot during the whole process of the initiative from the beginning to the end. We have never thought that we could go and advocate for a problem to the municipality because the municipality would not take us seriously and not listen to us. This is an experience that will serve us a lot in the future,” he concluded.

Ends