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Charity worker in love with Kosovo

1:57pm Tuesday 15th July 2008

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A Christian charity worker is spending a year in Kosovo. She tells DAVID MILLS how she is helping the people of a country plagued by war.

KOSOVO is a country torn apart by years of conflict, gradually trying to piece itself back together after declaring itself independent in February.

Its more recent troubles stem from the break up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, but it is the conflict between Serbian and Albanian nationalisms that has ravaged the region, dating all the way back to the 19th century.

In 1999 Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic ordered the ethnic cleansing of Albanians living in Kosovo, which caused around 11,000 deaths and more than a million refugees.

Almost 10 years later Kosovars are trying to move on from their troubled past, with the help of Naomi Maxim from Lamorbey Close, Sidcup.

The 21-year-old is currently on her third visit to the country, where she is doing a gap year programme with Smile International, a missionary charity based in Rushett Road, Orpington.

She is working in Gjakove, where she teaches English to Kosovans as well as helping out at churches and children's clubs.

Naomi, who was a pupil at Coopers Technology College, Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, says she fell in love with the country on her first visit in 2006.

She said: "I first came to Kosovo with Smile International on a short term mission trip in 2006, I fell in love with the country and its people and had to come back.

"I came back for two weeks in August last year although when I returned to England I wasn't satisfied and had a big burden that I had to be back in Kosovo and for a longer period of time."

She added: "I teach English in Kosovo which is such a valid thing over here because being able to speak English can open so many doors in someone's future."

Kosovo has a population of 2.1m of which 92 per cent are Albanian and five per cent Serbs.

Although declaring independence earlier this year, countries including Serbia, Russia and China, refuse to recognise her.

Naomi says that given Kosovo's social problems, life over there is a world away from that in the UK.

She said: "You can't really compare Kosovo with the UK because they have completely different cultures.

"Although it does make you realise how grateful we need to be about living in a country like England with all the opportunities that are available to us, such as work.

"One of the biggest problems in Kosovo is that there are not enough jobs for people.

"More than 65 per cent of the people are unemployed and can't support their families and with very little government support many families live in poverty."

She added: "Kosovo is a beautiful country that has been torn apart by war but now after independence the people have hope and an identity and are proud to be Kosovars."

Naomi plans to return to the UK next month (August) but she said: "I know it is going to be so hard to say goodbye but I hope it will not be my last visit to Kosovo."

For information on Smile International and its gap year programmes visit smileinternational.org


Your Say YourThis Is Local London

Bes, Manchester says...
3:08pm Tue 15 Jul 08

This is a very true representation of life in Kosova. I have many English friends which have been once and now try and go back every year. Given the economic problems that Kosova has, it's definitely moving forward slowly, thanks to people like Naomi!

I work with MaK - Manchester aid to Kosova which is building a peace park in Kosova in Podujeva.

Where once dominated wars can now dominate development and EU future!

Serb, UK says...
5:00pm Tue 15 Jul 08

Typical, English, one-sided view of an illegal country and Albanians who ilegally took our Holy Land (the official name is not Kosovo, it's Kosovo and Metohija (Holy Land).

The Albanians already have a country, it's called Albania. Why do you let them take over ours? Because you're all the same...


Kosovar - American, America #1 says...
6:00pm Tue 15 Jul 08

The name is Kosova not "kosovo and metohija", make up your mind, kosovo/kim/kosmet you are just trying to manipulate people with fake names..the name is KOSOVA the end.

If Kosova is the "holy land" than why did you run from UCK in '99 instead of defended this holy land?

Go sell lies elsewhere, the world is seeing who is the won who has systematically cleansed (genocide) Bosnians and Kosovars, who is protecting INTERNATIONAL WANTED WAR CRIMINALS (Mladic, Karadzich, etc), who the one burning down embassies, etc.

dimal, USA says...
9:27pm Tue 15 Jul 08

I am so glad there are people like Naomi. You have to realize that there must be something good about the place since there is no work and poor country. It does show that Albanian people are very nice and they warm welcome anyone from any ethnic or religious background. We are just glad to have people like her among us. God bless

CT, USA says...
10:29pm Tue 15 Jul 08

You are both wrong. Kosova is Dardania. "Kosovo" is a serbian name that they changed it to.

I am not from there either but have been many times as well and love it!

Adam, NYC says...
6:24am Wed 16 Jul 08

lol, you are all wrong

The area now known as kosova/o was a TURKISH creation.

The Area was indeed part of Dardania...but Dardania was Huge and comprised much, much more area than todays kosova...and that territory encompassed much of the modern state of serbia (though you will be hard pressed to find mention of this is serbian history..theyd quite rather forget at that point in time they had not yet immigrated)

kosova's territory today is roughly that as it was created under ottoman control and administration (it was actually a bit larger)

Much to the chagrin of serbs... neither naming nor the territory it represents was of there making or choice.

hence the dual term used by serbs "kosovo and Metohija" it allows them (in their minds at least) to co-opt the meaning of the area to fit there small place in its very LONG history.

@CT: yes, they are albanians, and it was Dardania but they have a particular history within kosova and faced a very particular struggle within it. Kosova is how they want it to be know.

@Serb, UK : no, serbs where christianized long before entering kosova..and the serb church existed long before kosova. Kosova is not mentioned in the Bible... You are confusing Mythology and Nationalism for religion.

Also..yes there is a country of Albania, and now a country of Kosova... racially they are albanians. so what?

Please spare us your racist mindset. Youre ethnicity may be serb..but racially you are a Slav... find a map and you will be able to point out the half dozen or so other slav countries (ie: all the former..and Fellow Slav neighbors of the former yugoslavia)


Maureen Martin, Sidcup, Kent England says...
8:54am Wed 16 Jul 08

Naomi is dedicated to her work in Kosovo, and brings hope of a brighter future to those who suffer. We as her friends are very proud of her. So much war in the world today, ravaged and torn to shreds. Only God can make the difference.

Amy Ford, Devon says...
10:05am Wed 16 Jul 08

I'm with Maureen! All of us who have been part of Naomi's life as she has grown up honour the dedicated, hard working lady that she has become. God bless you Naomi and the important work you are doing.

Mike, Sidcup says...
10:21am Wed 16 Jul 08

I wish the world was full of more Naomi's

sarah, sidcup says...
7:02pm Thu 17 Jul 08

I am proud of Naomi I worked with her before she went to Kosova, she has done a grand Job, I know her mother and sister went out to see her for her 21st in May while they were there they heard the devastating news about Rob Na was heartbroken. Maybe we could encourage more kids to be like her learning about others in the world maybe acts of voilence against others would not be as frequent, she felt as all others Robs death was not fair.

Ann maxim, sidcup says...
7:22pm Thu 17 Jul 08

As Naomi's family we would like to say that we are happy she has spent this last year living in a different culture its really not that easy. The arguments at the start appear to be unecessary most of the kosovan people I have met yes have Albanian background but they are still proud to be called Kosovans. The country in places has been ruined by war but now the people have their own independance surely we as a rich nation should support and help where we can.
I admire folk that go out with Charities like Smile and Place for hope they go in and support the widows, children, also Kosovas Disabled the forgotten folk.
Can't we applaud them all.

Bora, London says...
7:01am Fri 18 Jul 08

My support to any humanitarian work by young British woman however it is hard to understand lack of support in the U.K. for the return of more then 200 thousand internally displaced Kosovo Serbs to their homes in Kosovo. Albanians obviously got what they wanted using every possible publicity stunt available. Even torching dozens of Serbian churches in March 2004 didn't stop the West to "recognize" it as a "country". Horrible reality and very hypocritical indeed. There will be hardly any multi ethnicity in years to come with his sick, one sided, biased approach to the Kosovo problem.

ilvana, sidcup says...
11:58am Sat 19 Jul 08

I feel the last comment is very shallow I have worked in both Albania and Kosova and have visited serbia. The tradedgy behind all of this is the evil and horrible things people do to one another yes maybe the kosovans and Albanians burned churches but so to did the Serbians to the kosovans killing whole villages of males and leaving many behind. Please pray that we can forgive and maybe not forget nut move on please please I beg.

Fran, New Zealand says...
5:29pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Before I came out we knew Naomi very well, I am so impressed with how she is conducting her life with the equine studies she did and the hours she worked. I am grateful thatn she can use her time effort and energy to improving lives no matter who
Keep it up girl

Armed, Wales says...
8:29pm Wed 23 Jul 08

I love my country dearly I came here to escape the memories of the tragic killing of most of my family.
The news over the last 2 days about the evil serbian leader must say something. I do try every day with Gods help to forgive the people that killed my family they were after all following orders.

Drita B.A., USA says...
11:56pm Tue 12 Aug 08

I want to tell all the Serbs this:Please, stop lying and deceiving the rest of the world.You all know the way you guys came in Kosova.When king of yours took all the land from Albanians and you got it for free and this is the time you have changed the name of the place.Get over it, and go back to the carpati and live there.This is the place where you fit better.You can not handle a civilized land and cannot live with the humans.And it is about time for you to shut up.It's over.Kosova is back into Albanians' hands and it belongs to the Illirik people and not to the bastards.Death for all the bastards that cannot live with the humans.

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