To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: David Humphries, Communications Manager, CHF International, +1-301-563-1891, dhumphries@chfinternational.org

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by CHF International:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080930/CHFLOGO )

The Challenge for Kosovo

-- Newly independent Kosovo has a burgeoning population - the percentage of the population that is school-age is twice that of any other south European country.

-- For many years during and since the Balkan conflicts, Kosovo's infrastructure has suffered from neglect and poor maintenance.

-- Kosovo has experienced a recent increase in migration from rural to urban areas

Together, this has led Kosovo's schools to experience significant overcrowding. In order to cope, nationally, 6.8% of schools have three or four shifts a day, and in some regions the proportion of schools running dense shifts can be as high as 15%. Overall, 30% of existing schools in Kosovo are in need of repair work.

The CHF International Response

USAID is providing CHF International with $5 million in funding to undertake the Small Infrastructure for Education in Kosovo (SIEK) - a substantial program of school repairs and improvements running until 2011. CHF will work with the Kosovo Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST)and municipal governments to help reduce school shifts from three or four to a maximum of two. Leveraging local funding and using local labor, the impacts projected are:

-- $1 million injected into the local economy -- 44,790 students benefiting from 94 completed projects -- 15,240 days of employment generated -- 17, 250 additional classroom hours per day

Dr. Judith Hermanson, Senior Vice President of CHF International comments, "SIEK is part of an endeavor to help independent Kosovo achieve economic development and a better quality of life for its people. CHF International works closely with communities and municipal governments so that their priorities are followed, and that they are invested in the repairs. Through this approach we aim to create the most favorable conditions for sustainable improvements that will benefit Kosovo in the long-run."

SOURCE CHF International

-0-

• Email Story
• IM Story
• Printable View
• Yahoo! Buzz

Politics News

• Obama says people want solutions, not attacksAP
• Officials: FBI investigates ACORN for voter fraudAP
• McCain says Joe the Plumber was debate's winnerAP
• Obama moves into GOP states after final debateAP
• GWU poll: Obama solidifying leadPolitico

Most Viewed - Politics

• Obama warns against overconfidenceReuters
• 'Joe the Plumber' says he has no plumbing licenseAP
• Joe the Plumber won't say who will get his voteReuters
• Obama moves into GOP states after final debateAP
• Social Security benefits taking big jumpAP

  Add comment

Name:
E-Mail:
Comment:
Enter code: