WHO WE ARE
The Serbian American Foundation for Kosovo (SAFKOS) is a charitable and apolitical organization founded by parishioners of the St. George Serbian Orthodox church in San Diego, CA. Our goal is to support projects that improve the living conditions and economic sustainability of Serbian communities in Kosovo. In this action we are inviting you to help build a dairy farm in Gračanica to support the soup kitchens in central Kosovo.
WHOM DO WE WANT TO HELP
Beneficiaries:
The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Ras and Prizren (owner of the farm)
Soup kitchens and their users in Gračanica and central Kosovo
Why are the church-operated soup kitchens important in Kosovo? Free meals served by the soup kitchens of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Ras and Prizren are the sole source of nutrition for more than 2,000 people in Serbian communities of central and eastern Kosovo (about 2% of the total Serbian population in Kosovo).
What problems do they face? For many years the soup kitchens depended entirely on charitable donations from the Serbian government agencies, humanitarian organizations, other orthodox dioceses, companies and private citizens. The dependency of their operations on outside entities makes them, however, very vulnerable in the current political and socio-economic environment. On one hand, the self-proclaimed Kosovo authorities may at any point arbitrarily curtail the inflow of aid from Serbia (as they did in the ongoing tariff war). On the other hand, the donors’ willingness and ability to help are continually challenged by impoverishment, corruption of the local elites, deficit of community activism among Serbs, and scarcity of information about life in Kosovo in the media. Despite the venerable efforts of institutional and individual donors, the soup kitchens have experienced numerous supply chain disruptions and shortages of food and materials.
How can the problems be alleviated? The Diocese of Ras and Prizren has undertaken efforts to increase sustainability of the soup kitchen system through construction of a network of farms and food processing facilities at church-owned properties around the Serbian settlements in Kosovo. Over the past four years several such objects have been erected in eastern Kosovo: an 80-acre vegetable farm near Klokot, a beef cattle farm (40 animals) and a hog farm (200 animals) in Novo Brdo, and a 200-animal goat farm with a small dairy plant in Prekovce. These facilities now provide sufficient amounts of meat and vegetables to the soup kitchens, and employ dozens of local Serbs. It is the plan and desire of the Diocese of Ras and Prizren is to build upon these successes and expand the network of food production and processing facilities to central Kosovo.
Why is the location in Gračanica selected? The Diocese of Ras and Prizren owns about 200 acres of farmland at the outskirts of the village of Gračanica. Currently, this vast land is utilized at a subsistence level, i.e. wheat and corn are dry-cultivated for sale as grain (at a meager price), and the small revenue serves to support activities in the monastery of Gračanica. The envisioned farm complex is planned to include a dairy farm (20 cows), a sheep farm (500 animals), grain mills, silos, and an animal-feed production line. The construction began in spring of 2019, and has so far encompassed erection of a fence around the entire estate, and construction of the office building, two auxiliary objects (for the mill and animal-feed production), four silos and a storage space for hay bales. The construction of the dairy and sheep farms and installation of the animal-feed production line is expected in 2020. Upon completion, the facilities in Gračanica will permanently engage about 10 people, and produce ample quantities of meat and milk for use in the soup kitchens and for sale in the local markets.
HOW DO WE INTEND TO HELP
What is our specific aim? The funds we raise will finance construction of the dairy farm on the complex. The object is sized for 20 adult cows, with a total indoor area of 247m2 and an adjacent corral of 220m2. The farm’s annual output is estimated at 130,000 liters of milk, or about 1 glass per diem for each of the soup kitchens’ 2,000 beneficiaries in Kosovo. The total cost (labor + materials) has been estimated at approximately $55,000.
How much money do we want to raise: Due to the sequential nature of construction works, the path to the total amount will be broken into 1 base and 3 incremental goals. At minimum, we aim to raise $25,000, which fully covers the cost of the terrain and foundation works. The next $10,000 (if raised) enables completion of all inner and outer walls. An additional $10,000 allows for construction of the roof and installation of all windows. The final $10,000 would bring about the full completion of the building.
Can this be accomplished? YES – if we all join forces.
- 250 donors x $100 à minimum goal reached
- 100 donors for each successive increment goaL
How exactly will the funds be spent? The exact costs for each phase of the work will be obtained from the construction company (selected by the Diocese of Ras and Prizren), and reviewed and approved by us prior to the initiation of the work. The approved funds will be transferred to Kosovo upon verified completion of specified tasks. We will continue paying for the construction works sequentially until we have run out of funds or the building has been completed. Any funds raised in excess of $55,000 will be used towards purchase of animals for the farm.
CONTACTS
Fr.Bratso Kršić 619-316-2362 frbratso@sbcglobal.net
Djordje Popović 323-318-4606 popovic@usc.edu
Maja Topalović 760-666-0248 maja.topalovic@yahoo.com