By GoBike

In September 2021, “The Ideas Partnership” (TIP) non-governmental organization based in Kosovo used GoBike sewing machines to deliver training to women from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities of Janjevo and Fushë Kosova. The aim of this project, “Women and youth for community development and cultural heritage”, is the empowerment of women and youth from marginalized communities through skill building activities promoting cultural heritage and diversity.

After 3 months, a group of 20 women and girls from the Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, and other communities of Janjevo and Fushë Kosova have completed the skills development training on tailoring and handicrafts. During their training, the women learned how to use sewing machines, to work with materials, to sketch and sew, including learning handiwork with simple motifs and embroidery (bags, table covers, etc.). In addition, they have also created a network where they feel productive and are more confident that one day they will own a business or find employment. The sharing of space for mutual support, connection, and learning has shown them that no matter where they are from or what language they speak, it is cultural diversity that unites them more than ever, that they are all the same, and can make a difference in Kosovar society. This training was led by 5 women trainers of the Social Enterprise “Sa-Punë“, who share the same experience with participants and now are making a living of their own.

After this training, the TIP organization will continue to make use of GoBike sewing machines to train future cohorts of women and girls interested to learn a new skill and to socialize with one another. While in the past, TIP used to buy sewing machines in Albania, the GoBike partnership with P4P has enabled a much easier access to good quality sewing machines without the need to import from another country.

We hope that GoBike can continue to cooperate with similar organizations and noteworthy projects to put sewing machines to good use in empowering and improving the lives of many Kosovar women and girls.

The TIP project is part of the financial grant issued by “Cultural Heritage as a Driver for Intercommunity Dialogue and Social Cohesion” project that is funded by the European Union’s Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and implemented by UNDP Kosovo.