Shkelqim Bytyqi, Kosovo Correspondent
Besmir Yvejsi of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Kosovo reports that the Inter-Municipal Association of the Blind in Prishtina, which operates with a membership of over 600 persons – including the municipalities of Podujevo, Fushë Kosovë, Obiliq, Lipjan and Skënderaj – recently made several requests to the municipality and the ministry to be equipped with a Braille writing printer.
The municipality of Prishtina, in collaboration with Germany’s branch of Humanity First, sought and found such a printer that would meet the needs of this community. This type of printer is indispensable for the normal operation of this association as printing in the Braille alphabet helps to make it easier to integrate into society.
In addition to Braille printing, this printer also enables the printing of drawing and graphic art. With the grace of Allah, on 23 December 2019, the Braille printer arrived at the association and at the function of this donation made by Humanity First, representatives and volunteers of this organisation, the Coordinator for Projects and Activities from the Department for Social Welfare of the Municipality of Prishtina Mr Premtim Fazliu, Director of Association Mr Ujup Rashica and some other members of this association attended.
According to the director of this Association:
“In countries of the region, such as Montenegro and Albania, there is a lack of this type of printer, and we in Kosovo only have one old printer in Peja that does not meet our requirements. Thanks to your donation, this printer will meet our longterm needs”.
An important member of the Community of the Blind, Mr Asllan Canolli, who is also a literacy coach at Braille, was highly appreciative. He said:
“The printer brought to us today by Humanity First Germany, through the Department of Social Welfare of the Municipality of Prishtina, is very well-targeted and timely as it is a complete opportunity for the Blind to read in Braille. This donation was missing for many years but it’s never too late. This donation will benefit a large number of members of the association … I would like to thank the Municipality of Prishtina who has mediated as well as the donor and all those who have contributed to this.”
The Coordinator for Projects and Activities from the Department for Social Welfare of the Municipality of Prishtina, Mr Premtim Fazliu said:
“From the very beginning of our contact with Humanity First, we have seen opportunities and marvelous success with the first project by delivering of assistance to families with poor conditions. With this success and the good cooperation, we have continued analysing other options we can collaborate and at the same time we can create and operate with other further programmes. Thus, in further contacts with representatives of Humanity First, we have visited the Inter-Municipal Association of the Blind here in Prishtina, where we have also seen the miserable conditions in which they are working.
“Considering, that here, they are not enjoying very good conditions, either in their inventory but also as a building, and the concern of the Blind Association representatives was a lack of a Braille alphabet printer, representatives of Humanity First have taken this responsibility and made the order to purchase it in Germany. The printer was brought to Kosovo and today, 23 December 2019, we accept the Braille printer, which will not only increase the well-being of the Community of the Blind, but will also make their process of integration into the society easier.”
For this help, the Director of the Department of Social Welfare in the Volunteer from Humanity First, director of the Association of the Blind and coordinator for projects and activities from the Department of Social Welfare of the Municipality of Prishtina Municipality of Prishtina, Mr Dren Kukaj, said:
“I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the Municipality of Prishtina to the organisation of Humanity First. This is not the first time that they have helped us. I hope that it will not be the last. This time, they have hepled a very specific community; the Community of Blind and Poor Eyesight.”
In addition, for this donation of Humanity First Germany, the Mayor of Municipality of Prishtina, Mr Shpend Ahmeti, as well as the Deputy Mayor of this Municipality, Mr. Selim Pacolli also extended their gratitude.