Tag Archives: Kosovo

A War Widow I’ll Never Forget

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Editor’s Note: A commitment to empower women is embedded in Heifer International’s core values for sustainable development. In honor of International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 8, this week we’re sharing the stories of Heifer participants who take the gifts of animals and training and run with them to extraordinary results for themselves and their communities. Through hard work and innovations, each woman secures her rightful place in the family, the marketplace and the world.
I’ll never forget Sadie Kameri. Never.
Sadie’s story affected me so deeply that I feared I’d never be able to adequately convey each emotion that I felt hearing her tell it. It’s so tragic, so haunting and yet so hopeful.
My hope is this video gives you an idea of how remarkable Sadie is—how remarkable all of the women of Kosovo are—and explains just why I’ll carry the war widows I met with me for the rest of my life.

For a fuller picture of Sadie’s life after the Kosovo war, read “Those Who Remain” in the Holiday 2009 edition of World Ark.

Heifer’s Heart: Ora Bytyci

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Name: Ora Bytyci

Title: Country Director, Heifer Kosovo

Location: Prishtina

How long have you worked for Heifer? since May 2002 (almost 10 years)

What attracted you to work for Heifer? When I returned to Kosovo from London in 2002, after the war, I learned about Heifer and really liked the fact that it was an organization that didn’t just give animals, but also hope.

What has been the most memorable experience you have had while working for Heifer?There are a lot of widows in Kosovo, women who lost their husbands in the war. I went to help start the War Widows Project in Krusha e Vogel and will never forget the looks on the women’s faces as I was speaking about things like the 12 Cornerstones. They looked at me as if I could not possibly understand what they had been through. When I left, I was filled with mixed emotions. I didn’t know whether I should be happy because we were helping, or sad because they had been through so much and we were expecting so much from them. Two years later, I returned to conduct Project Self-Review and Planning (PSRP), and there was a huge difference. They spoke more freely. I will never forget that moment. I love heifer because you can really feel the difference it makes. I was so proud.

My education includes: Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Information Technology from Prishtina University

My hobbies include: reading and playing with my two sons

My family consists of: my two sons: Leka, 8, and Granit, 11, and myself

Something about me that you might not know: I used to wait tables and could carry about five plates on one arm.

What is the best thing about working at Heifer Kosovo? With seven of us, my team is like a little family. We’ve all been at Heifer Kosovo for a long time. Kosovo is a poor country that has suffered a lot and needs a lot of help. I like to be a part of helping Kosovo get on the right track.