Young Balkan 'Kids for Peace' leader among 1,000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
By Rita Llulla & Rebecca Lyman, World Vision - Fatmire Feka, a 17-year-old Muslim Albanian girl from Mitrovica, Kosovo and initiator of World Vision's Kids for Peace project, is among the 1,000 'peace women' nominated to collectively receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, representing the millions of women who work daily to promote peace. The names of the 1,000 'peace women' have been submitted to, and accepted by the Norwegian Nobel Committee as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005. If the group is chosen in October 2005, Fatmire will share the prize with the 999 other women.
Undaunted by the ethnic division and violence that has ravaged the municipality of Mitrovica, Fatmire's pursuit of peace has been a source of inspiration for World Vision staff and the 350 children who are now actively involved in 14 Kids for Peace clubs in five municipalities across Kosovo, of which Fatmire is President. "As a Kids for Peace member I feel myself part of this prize. Together with Fatmire we will continue to work for a better future for all", says Fitore Rudari of Rubovc village. Fatmire, an energetic and bright young woman dreams to help create a world where children will live in safety, protected from the scourges of war- from the destruction and loss she experienced when she lost both her brother and sister in the 1999 Kosovo war and saw her family home set alight. We should not have to experience what we did. We cannot allow certain people to erase our dreams "When people ask me why I am working for peace, I say the reason is so clear: the children of Kosovo need to move away from the constant violence. We should not have to experience what we did. We cannot allow certain people to erase our dreams. We will do what it takes to bring peace to our communities. We are the future, and the future is in our hands," says Fatmire. Relocated to a World Vision "transit shelter" for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Mitrovica where the Feka family lived for seven months, the then 11-year-old Fatmire watched quietly as World Vision staff implemented a number of peacebuilding projects. Until one day she gathered the courage to ask, "How can I help you make peace in Kosovo?" How can I help you make peace in Kosovo? In 2002 Fatmire answered her own question by starting up a Kids for Peace club in her community, Koshtova, supported by World Vision, to positively impact the children of Kosovo by promoting peace and understanding among elementary school children. The same year World Vision Canada chose her as an "Angel of Hope", as she "brought hope to others and made a difference in her community". She has since organised multi-ethnic summer peace camps and is an active member of the World Vision-supported Mitrovica Council for Peace and Tolerance. "Fatmire did a lot for children of our school to overcome the tragedy that happened in our village during the March 2004 riots. I think that she is following Mother Theresa's journey," says Çabër school teacher, Sadri Hasani. "The nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2005 was another miracle for me. But everyone should understand that I have not worked to win a prize, but simply to contribute to a peaceful Kosovo. I do this for the future of the children, no matter what ethnicity they are," emphasises Fatmire. I think that she is following Mother Theresa's journey If the 1,000 'peace women' receive the Nobel Prize, the prize money will be used for their peace projects. Their thousand strategies for constructive conflict management will also contribute to conflict research and peace policies. New peace networks will be established and existing networks will be strengthened. A book demonstrating the work, visions, life and achievements of the 1,000 women, including Fatmire, will be launched towards the end of 2005.