Kosovo Vocational Training

04.02.11

As a response to the crisis in Kosovo, in 1999 World ORT teamed up with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide training to the people of Kosovo. Since the beginning of the activities, several thousand people in Kosovo have benefited from the joint efforts of JDC and ORT. As a response to the crisis in Kosovo, in 1999 World ORT teamed up with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide training to the people of Kosovo. Since the beginning of the activities, several thousand people in Kosovo have benefited from the joint efforts of JDC and ORT. To date about 2,000 people have registered to learn English and so far 600 people have completed elementary and intermediate English courses. Basic English is fundamental to any development in Kosovo. The United Nations mission in Kosovo has given priority to IT which means the Kosovars need to learn English to use computer packages. On his return from a recent trip to the project in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Nedjar, Head of the London office of International Cooperation said ‘I was extremely impressed with the progress made by the people in learning English, especially so as some of these people are not so young’. JDC/ORT is currently operating English courses in 10 different schools in the capital, Pristina and also in Prizren. Over the next 3 months World ORT is planning to start training more people in the Elementary programme. 5 computer labs have also been set up in both Pristina and Prizren which are used provide computer training to both students and also more mature candidates in the afternoons. Each lab is equipped with about 15 computers that are training students in basic computer skills such as Windows, Word 2000 and Excel 2000. Following their basic computer training, students who wish to can continue on to learn accountancy management at the Artizanati centre in Prizren. To date 155 students have received an ORT diploma on completion of their computer courses. Students at the Artizanati Centre with their diplomas for Computers, Accounting and Sewing During the month of November 2000, a total of 747 Kosovars received ORT diplomas in 6 different graduation ceremonies: 455 people received an ORT diploma in English students received an ORT diploma in computer courses 90 students received diplomas in sewing 47 students have received ORT diplomas in metal work training; 27 from Pristina and 20 from Podjeve At the Artizanati centre in Prizren, 60 girls attended classes in sewing and a further 30 girls attended a cutting class. At present 15 students are being trained in cutting and sewing. Metalwork training in Pristina