Kosovo communities join for carnival
Return to normality
The "Carnival of Communities", an example of such initiatives, took place early summer in the town of Ferizaj /Urosevac. During two days of celebration, Albanian, Ashkali and Roma communities gathered on the streets to rejoice together and perfom traditional folklore dances and songs.
"The hardest thing to do was to overcome our fears after the war," says Shaban, a middle-aged Roma who, like many others, has joined the festivities.
Though he and his family never had any problems in town, Shaban confesses he "couldn't enjoy life any more," because of the pervasive sense of fear which made his day-to-day life as a member of a minority community in Kosovo extremely difficult.
A place of harmony
During the opening ceremony, local community leaders and international speakers welcomed the carnival as a way of bringing all communities together around common interests and activities, and promote inter-ethnic dialogue and reconciliation.
"People have understood that the past is a heavy burden to carry into the future," Shaban explains. "They remember that the city was once a place of tolerance and harmony."
Only the Serb community was missing, reflecting the fact that safety and freedom of movement are still a concern for this community in areas of Kosovo where it is in the minority.
Feeling at home
In line with its mandate, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo works closely with community leaders to develop confidence- and institution-building and encourage members of smaller communities to stay in Kosovo.
Initiatives such as the "Carnival of Communities" are needed to help all minorities in Kosovo to begin to better understand each other, build reconciliation and help create a safer Kosovo where everyone is able to feel at home.
"Things are improving," says Shaban before returning home. "The carnival lasted for two days and there was not a single incident!"
The "Carnival of Communities", an example of such initiatives, took place early summer in the town of Ferizaj /Urosevac. During two days of celebration, Albanian, Ashkali and Roma communities gathered on the streets to rejoice together and perfom traditional folklore dances and songs.
"The hardest thing to do was to overcome our fears after the war," says Shaban, a middle-aged Roma who, like many others, has joined the festivities.
Though he and his family never had any problems in town, Shaban confesses he "couldn't enjoy life any more," because of the pervasive sense of fear which made his day-to-day life as a member of a minority community in Kosovo extremely difficult.
A place of harmony
During the opening ceremony, local community leaders and international speakers welcomed the carnival as a way of bringing all communities together around common interests and activities, and promote inter-ethnic dialogue and reconciliation.
"People have understood that the past is a heavy burden to carry into the future," Shaban explains. "They remember that the city was once a place of tolerance and harmony."
Only the Serb community was missing, reflecting the fact that safety and freedom of movement are still a concern for this community in areas of Kosovo where it is in the minority.
Feeling at home
In line with its mandate, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo works closely with community leaders to develop confidence- and institution-building and encourage members of smaller communities to stay in Kosovo.
Initiatives such as the "Carnival of Communities" are needed to help all minorities in Kosovo to begin to better understand each other, build reconciliation and help create a safer Kosovo where everyone is able to feel at home.
"Things are improving," says Shaban before returning home. "The carnival lasted for two days and there was not a single incident!"