Overnight With a Former Kosovo Youth Volunteer in Switzerland
Jun 02, 2010
Shqiprim with Son Rilon
I just had a wonderful day and night in Zurich, Switzerland. One of my former volunteers, Shiprim, lives in Zurich with his wife Shqipe and his beautiful son Rilon. Shqiprim was one of the very first children I taught in Kosovo—he lived in the IDP camp called “Brickcamp” because it was a brick factory that people moved into after returning to Kosovo and finding their homes destroyed and villages uninhabitable due to land mines.
Shqiprim was a wild child—as were all of the Brickcamp children due to their living conditions and war experiences–but very smart, and very musical. I met his mother, Florije, separately in an English class I was teaching to the women of the camp. She quickly became my best friend in Kosovo, and remains so to this day. Unlike most of the other widows living at the Brickcamp, Florije was able to restore a semblance of order in the lives of her 3 children, and because of this they were able to settle down and focus in our music classes, and to do well when the schools were reopened.
Brickcamp Boy's Harmonica Class, 1999. Shqiprim is on the far right.
After a few years the Brickcamp was closed and Shqiprim’s family was moved to another camp, called “Slovene Village” because it consisted of small 1-room family living quarters made from storage units donated by the country of Slovenia. “Slovene Village” wasn’t very nice—toilets were still outside, and it was extremely cramped. But it was a huge improvement over the Brickcamp, and the family was happy to be moved there. I wish I could say that they only lived in this camp for a few years—but the truth is that they are still living there. Well, Florije and her daughter are still living there.
All of Florije’s children, 2 boys and 1 girl, were students in our program from the second day I entered Kosovo in 1999. And they all 3 became youth volunteers. Florije’s daughter, Vlora, is attending Teacher’s College in Gjakove, and while doing this she is also one of our Kosovo Program Directors. I honestly don’t know what I would do without her. She is amazing and helps Burim and I so much.
Shqiprim's Wife, Shqipe, with Son Rilon
Shiprim had a wonderful bit of good fortune, which has helped his family immensely. His aunt arranged for him to meet Shqipe, a Kosovar girl whose family lives in Switzerland, and Shqiprim and Shqipe quickly fell in love. They married and now live right outside of Zurich. They have a 1-year old baby boy, Rilon. And Shiprim and Shqipe help Florije and Vlora as much as they can. It has especially been good for Florije, who lives with them in Switzerland twice each year for 3 months each time and eventually will qualify to live there permanently.
Liz and Florije at Shqiprim's Home in Zurich
I’m so proud of Shqiprim. There are so many Kosovars, including his brother, who have left Kosovo and live and work illegally in other countries. I honestly didn’t think that any of my youth volunteers would ever do this, and when Shqiprim’s brother and 2 of my other youth volunteers ran away to live and work illegally in New York, it completely broke my heart. And to be honest, I haven’t recovered yet. But Shqiprim has done everything honestly and legally, and although he is not as wealthy as some, he is providing a beautiful life for himself and his wife, and he has provided a miracle for his mother. She now has hope for her future, and a safe place to live 6 months of every year. I have always loved Shqiprim and seeing the man he has become makes me more proud than I knew I could be.