Brigham Young University-Hawaii Interns Bring Aloha to Kosovo!
Aug 10, 2013
BYU Hawaii Interns Arrive at Kosovo Airport
By Chantel Hunt, 2013 BYUH Kosovo Intern
Our Peace and Conflict Resolution program at BYU-H loves Liz’s Music Program ever since she came as a guest speaker. Since that first time, Liz has returned several times to our tiny campus in the Pacific to hold week-long intensive trainings with our students (and hopefully find a way to squeeze in some beach time). When Liz isn’t around we have weekly meetings with our Peace Through Music Club to keep practicing our skills. We learned how to play the Kosovo folk song, “Ani Mori Nuse” and our club performed it at a campus cross-cultural music event.
Last summer was the first time Liz brought BYUH interns to Kosovo, and this year, we are happy to be able to follow suit. We each have our own goals of what we would like to learn and accomplish while we are here. We are excited to work with the children, the Kosovar youth volunteers, and of course, work directly with the heart and soul of the program–Liz Shropshire. Three out of four of us flew into the Pristina Airport July 31st with some of us traveling as long as 36 hours from our original destination. Liz and Burim greeted us with big smiles and hugs and our first of many 1.5 Liter water bottles. We quickly loaded our bags and headed through the Kosovo countryside to Gjakovë for some food and much-needed rest.
Alec Trying to Speak Albanian to Local Children
Alec has enjoyed learning the language and trying to use his limited Albanian to talk to people. Sarah and I both loved meeting the children at Brekoc school. I loved their excitement and energy and Sarah feels the trip was definitely worth it to meet them. Because of passport issues, our fourth intern, Yury joined us just last Tuesday. She loves Gjakovë so far and is really looking forward to trying some baklava sometime soon.
Sara With Roma Children We Teach in Brekoc
Another highlight of the program so far is the youth volunteers. Many of the current volunteers lived in the refugee camps and since learning music with Liz, have stepped up to help bring it to the younger generations. We admire them for the time they dedicate to being positive and active role models when they could be doing other things.
We look forward to more interaction with the students and volunteers and hope we can add value to Liz’s program and to the lives of those we meet.