Project Overview

Thousands of houses in Kosovo were destroyed during the 1996-1999 conflict. Many Kosovan refugees returned to the province after the war to find their homes looted and burned to the ground.

The Orphans Housing Loans project provides orphans and their families with small housing loans so that they can rebuild their homes. The project works in the Drenica region of central Kosova in the districts of Drenas, Skenderaj and Malisheya.

Project Background

The Drenica region in Kosova was one of the main sites of Serbian aggression during the conflict. Seven years after the war ended, many families are still living in houses that were damaged during the conflict. These houses are in desperate need of repair and are not sufficient protection from the harsh Balkan winters. During the colder months all family members are at risk from health problems, but children are particularly vulnerable.

Over 80% of the orphans involved in Islamic Relief’s Orphans Sponsorship programme are living in houses that have been damaged by the conflict.

Project Objectives

To improve the living conditions of orphans and their families by providing them with the means to reconstruct their homes.

Project Activities
Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) provides small housing loans to orphans and their families. These interest-free loans will be used to repair and reconstruct houses that have been damaged during conflict.

Beneficiaries
Since the project began in 2005, IRW has distributed over 100 loans, worth €102,300, to more than 680 beneficiaries.