MAK Newsletter Autumn 2009 What's happened: * Summer trip * Launch of new look website * Welcome the trustees What's about to happen: * Peace One Day (Sun 20 Sept @ Yorkshire Sculpture Park) * Autumn trip (Wed 30 Sept - Sat 10 Oct, Kosovo) * Arts Cafe (Fri 2 Oct @ the Eden Project, Cornwall) Volunteer * Vacancies ___________________________________________________________________________________ >> Summer Trip 2009 11 MAK volunteers visited Podujevë between 8th an 21st August. It was a superb, very mixed working party which included two York physio undergraduates (one previously an engineer in the RAF) and a York Uni history student, two qualified and experienced teachers, two Oxford University students hooking up with MAK for the first time through Oxford Aid to the Balkans, (historian and a systems biologist), a youth and community worker/ student from Cornwall, a merchandise manager just off a major band European tour, an engineer with building experience and the MAK arts and community manager. Quite a mix! > Art We flew our 9 magnificent Orfeo flags (lead artists Lucy Birbeck) on the Manchester Peace Park and visited two local sculpture studios to discuss their foundry needs. > Construction of the Manchester Peace Park We began our catalogue of plants on the Park by photographing and plotting out of all the trees and shrubs planted in the Peace Garden in April 2008. We also met several times with our gardeners and security staff and got stuck in dead-heading the roses. > Promoting justice and equality With the upcoming event at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, we held meetings to introduce Peace One Day to Kosovo on September 20th / 21st. > Summer Schools Project We ran the Kids Summer Club attracting some 80 local children daily aged 6-16 years. The summer club was held for 7 full days in a local school and on the Manchester Peace Park in Podujevo. Activities included: dance, singing, games, art, craft, sport, jewellery making, a Tshirt design project, nature study and drawing from nature on the Peace Park, enormously popular group parachute games, woodland jogs, football and rounders. This all concluded with a garden party, exhibition, and sports day complete with a crazy hat competition which was kindly judged by Selatin Bogujevci and Enver Duriqi. The Peace Park is dedicated to Selatin and Enver’s families whose personal tragedies were the catalyst to the creation of the Peace Park. The group visited the Bogujevci family grave. > Ecology Education We linked with Ekovizioni and donated books on trees, wild flowers, butterflies and insects. > New IT Project We researched the computer needs for the whole Municipality of Podujevo (Mayor and Director of Education) and specifically those of Handikos (Director of Handikos). We interviewed Mayor of Podujevo for Oxford University student paper. > Great Kosovo Run 2009 Linked with Llapi Athletics Club leaders to resource and start to plan the 3rd Great Run on the Manchester Peace Park in the autumn. > Other important stuff we got up to With several new volunteers to Kosovo, we attended a group mines awareness lecture. We began to review options for development of: MAK building in Podujevë, sports facilities, and the completions of paths in the Peace Garden, including costings, with all relevant local leadership. > Doing the 'tourist thing' When we weren't working we explored Kosovo and - Held two birthday celebrations including a party in the hills! - Made three visits to Batlava Lake to swim, go boating and simply chill at the water’s edge - Some experienced Pristina’s night life Made group visits to: - Prizren to climb up to the ancient fortress and see this historic town and visit the League of Prizren museum - Skopje, capital of Macedonia, visiting both sides of the famous stone bridge - Bajgora in the Kosova hills - Peja including the monastery of the Patriarchate (sadly ethnic Albanians were refused entry) and the phenomenal Rugova gorge with refreshments taken so high in the mountains several of the party experienced breathing problems! - National Museum and the Ethnological Museum in Pristina > And finally... New friendships were forged, on old ones strengthened, a little Albanian was learnt by many, the MAKmobile held out, much fun was had and we all worked very hard, many enjoying the short journey from out modern apartments to the Peace Park on horse drawn wagons. We are at an exciting stage, the Park is looking good and MAK now has an expanding network which includes artists, musicians, computer specialists, young historians, physios, teachers and youth workers as well as many generous very practical people willing to turn their hand to anything. All the equipment for the summer school was donated by volunteers. Our special thanks as always go to our many interpreters especially Armend Bajgora and to MaK representative in Kosova Fazli Blakçori for his unstinting leadership and ‘can do’ mentality. ___________________________________________________________________________________ >> Launch of new look website Our website has had a bit of a tidy up. All of the original content is still there but it may not be where it once was. There is also lots of new stuff. There is a brand new Volunteer section where vacancies can be posted. There has always been a wide variety of ways people can donate to MAK but now these are clearly outlined in the Donate area of the website. Check out the website at http://www.makonline.org ___________________________________________________________________________________ >> Welcome the trustees At our AGM in May, MAK appointed the trustees for this year. They are well into their terms. For some this is the first term they have served as a MAK trustee. For others this is nothing new. For all trustees this year presents many new challenges. Please welcome the MAK trustees 2009/10: > Mike Anitt (Member - Creative Projects Co-ordinator) "I became involved with Manchester Aid to Kosovo in 2005 through Vernon Mill and exhibited with Kosovar artists at Stockport Art Gallery's UN Art for Peace exhibition. I had the opportunity to present my sculpture, 'Messenger' to the family of the late president of Kosovo Dr Ibrahim Rugova. I also worked with MAK to bring the highly successful exhibition 'Fragile State, Art from Kosovo' to Stockport Art Gallery. I am currently acting as an Artistic Director for the Manchester Peace Park in Kosovo, a MAK led initiative, and working on a memorial and several key projects for the park. Best of all, through working with MAK in Podujevo, I met my wife, MAK interpreter Bleta Kabashi." > Kelly Bucher (Member – Events and Fundraising Calendar Secretary) “My friend Mike, whom I met on a charity fundraising trek in Peru, told me about MAK several years ago and his involvement. I immediately organised a small fundraising gig and a small silent auction of signed memorabilia. Later, I gave some profits from my Burlesque night to MAK. I have been to Kosovo twice now and hope to go again to help with workshops and organising gigs and events. I work quite closely with Urban FM there. I am currently collecting items for our second large auction, the first in December last year raised £3000. I will be handing out water at the run in a few weeks as well and look forward to seeing everyone at the BBQ afterwards. I want to raise money through various events as well as music events and auctions and get involved more with MAK. I think the work is important but I also enjoy working with the people involved as everyone is amazing in their own way and I have made some great friends. > Pam Dawes (Treasurer) “I turned up in Urmston (April 1999) with black bin liners of clothes and blankets when MAK formed, and never left! I am involved in the development of MAK’s work especially music projects, family support, and the creation and funding of the Manchester Peace Park in Kosovo. I have been particularly responsible for supporting recovery through community liaison and the development of the Peace Park using fundraising, arts and music projects. My background is art, social work (social worker in employment rehabilitation centres for 8 years), and pre-MAK I obtained a BD at Manchester University. I live in South Manchester.” > Tom Griffin (Secretary) “I have been involved with MAK for around 6 years and have worked on the construction of the Peace Park in Podujevo over the course of many visits. I am jointly responsible for the MAK website and have been heavily involved in the recent process of evaluating MAK's structure and procedures, particularly the proposed new constitution. I graduated from The University of Manchester in 2006 with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science. I live in South Oxfordshire where I work for the Science and Technology Facilities Council as a software engineer and project manager.” > Paul Guest (Chair) “I started out helping with the original aid appeal in 1999, sorting out clothes for the Kosovar refugees in Albania. As a paramedic, I subsequently travelled with the convoy as part of the medical support team. I have held the position of trustee since the charity was registered and I am currently project managing the construction of the Peace Park in Podujevo. At present I hold the position of Chair person.” > Louis Harris (Member – Membership Secretary) “My involvement with MAK came about as a result of working at the school which accepted the Kosovo refugees when they first came to England. Since then I have visited Kosovo four times and try to make a contribution to all aspects of the work of the charity whenever available. At various times this has taken the form of physical labour, attending meetings, taking part in sponsored events and contributing to the planning. As a Trustee I see my main functions would be to ensure that those actively promoting the charity by managing individual events, receive the support and resources they need, and to work with the other trustees in ensuring the charity meets its obligations and fulfils its mission.” ___________________________________________________________________________________ >> Peace One Day MAK is leading the 'Peace One Day' event at Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Sunday 20th September. The event is free and we would love to see you there! For more information contact pam@makonline.org >> Autumn Trip 2009 There are still places on our Autumn Trip to Kosovo. If you would like to join us please email hannah@makonline.org ASAP We look forward to hearing from you! >> Eden Arts Cafe Arts Cafe @ the Eden Project, Cornwall, presents Party for the Park! Supporting the work of MAK (Manchester Aid to Kosovo) and the Manchester Peace Park in Kosovo. With Manchester's The Travelling Band and residents Jelly Jazz. Keep Friday 2 October, 7pm - 12.30am free if you don't want to miss out. At just £7 GBP, this event promises to be just as big and exciting as previous events Eden has hosted for MAK. Get your tickets now from https://www.edenbookings.com/events/edencafe/ ___________________________________________________________________________________ >> Volunteer MAK loves volunteers! Please donate your time to make a huge difference and experience things you'll never want to forget... We need some dedicated volunteers to help us with the day-to-day operating of the charity: - Newsletter Editor - Donations Secretary - Collection Box Secretary - Publicity Support Secretary - Travel Secretary - Travel Guide Editor - Project Manager for Mosaic Project Please email secretary@makonline.org if you would like to help or would just like to know more. We always need fantastic volunteers to help with all of our projects and at our fundraising events. > Brand New Project We are looking into equipping all schools in Podujevo and HandiKos with computing equipment and are in the preliminary stages of setting up this project. If you can help please email itproject@makonline.org > Contact us If you want to volunteer on any of our projects or help at an upcoming fundraising event please get in touch. Even if you don't know exactly where you would like to get involved just say hello anyway and we'll be sure to find you a role that you love and that makes a real difference. Email volunteer@makonline.org to say hello and make some cool new friends. ___________________________________________________________________________________ >> THANKS This issue was written by Pam and Hannah. Please send your comments and stuff for the next issue to newsletter@makonline.org We need a Newsletter Editor! If you would like to compile our next newsletter please email secretary@makonline.org www.makonline.org MAK is a registered charity in England and Wales (Registered Charity No.1087178) MAK is the working name of Manchester Aid to Kosovo If you no longer wish to receive emails from MAK please contact secretary@makonline.org