KOSOVo

Kosovo is a small land-locked country in the center of the Southeastern Europe. Kosovo was once apart of Yugoslavia and gained independence in 2008, making it Europe’s newest country. Kosovo borders Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania. The Albanian people are the main ethnicity living there, but Kosovo also has a small Turkish, Bosnian and Serbian population.

Kosovo‘s history is deep, complex and tumultuous. It was ruled for centuries by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires. In the beginning of the 20th century it was incorporated into Yugoslavia. In the 1990s, conflict broke out as the majority-Albanian population pushed for more freedom. In 1998-1999 the conflict came to a head when the UN stepped in and helped bring Kosovo to independence.

Today, it’s a young country still finding its footing. Many people are rebuilding their lives, and there’s a strong need for hope, healing, and community. With a majority Muslim population and a growing number of young people, it’s a place where the love of Jesus can shine brightly.

OUR FOCUS IN KOSOVO

For nearly twenty years, our work in Kosovo centered around supporting Humedica—a German aid organization—in running a small daycare in the village of Krushë e Vogël, just outside Prizren. Prizren is a town of about 150,000 in southern Kosovo and Krushë e Vogël is a village of 900 people.

This village experienced deep tragedy and loss during the war, and the daycare became a place of healing and care for local children. Today, it continues to thrive under the leadership of New City with Alban and Jehona Bytyqi.

In 2022, we launched a church campus in Krushë e Vogël and have since expanded our ministry to reach young adults and families in the city of Prizren—sharing the hope of the gospel and building meaningful relationships in both communities. Although Islam is the official religion of Kosovo, only a small population are practicing.