The Municipal officials in Klinë/a handed
over the keys of the newly built houses to 20 families in the village of
Videjë/Vidanje, in a project financed by the Government of Kosovo and managed
by UNDP 'Government Assistance to Returns' (GAR) Project, on Wednesday,
14 of September.
The 20 families which have been assisted
within Phase II of this project include 15 K-Serb returnee families, and
4 K-Albanian and one Roma family - vulnerable members of the receiving
community.
The overall return to Videjë/Vidanje, Klinë/a Municipality is aimed at ensuring the sustainable return and reintegration of up to 40 K-Serb IDP families . 25 K-Serb families were beneficiaries of Phase I, and 15 families are receiving ongoing assistance in Phase II.
During the whole process 9 K-Albanian vulnerable members of the receiving community benefited from housing reconstruction assistance . Both Phase I and Phase II of the support to return in Videjë/Vidanje village, Klinë/a Municipality have been implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
Alongside housing reconstruction assistance, returnees also received income generation support and infrastructural support. The entire community including K-Serb returnees and K-Albanians and K-RAE also benefited from community development projects and tolerance building activities, including the provision of a Community Centre and the establishment of a Milk-Collection point and Agricultural Association.
The local NGO Haxhi Zeka, funded through DRC under the GAR project, also has formed youth groups and plans to promote and organize activities for youth in the area.
The Government Assistance to Returns Project is also part-financing the completion of 5.6 km of the road in the area which will promote freedom of movement for the Videje / Vidanje residents. In total 3624 inhabitants of all of the surrounding villages will benefit from this road rehabilitation including over 975 minorities K-Serb or K-RAE. The Municipality of Klinë/e will contribute towards this project and directly implement it, with a significant contribution from the residents of the area and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The Return to Videjë/Vidanje, Municipality of Klinë/a is one of 42 Sub projects funded under the Government Assistance to Returns (GAR) Project whereby the Government of Kosovo has allocated €13,689,589 to support minority return to Kosovo.