135 Communities and 16 Municipalities Honored for Participation in Returns Project
The successful completion of 135 infrastructure projects to support returns and reintegration of minorities in Kosovo and to help local municipalities and communities improve living conditions for all citizens was celebrated with a closing ceremony on September 23, 2008, in Pristina.
USAID's Municipal Integration and Support Initiative (MISI) concluded its five years of work by bringing together representatives from the 16 participating municipalities and 135 communities. Mayors, deputy mayors, officials and community representatives, who participated in MISI, received certificates and offered remarks on the five years of cooperation between the project and Kosovo communities. The project was implemented by Mercy Corps.
"This program, which was designed to improve conditions for returns and ethnic integration in Kosovo, particularly in small, mixed ethnic communities, has sponsored projects in half the municipalities of Kosovo and has improved the lives of over 400,000 people," said Tina Kaidanow, U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo. "These projects are also remarkable in that they encourage local communities and their representatives to be active partners in the improvement of their living conditions, together with municipal authorities and the international community."
MISI helped municipalities improve infrastructure needed to facilitate the process of returns and reintegration of minorities. Very often, explained Cathy Rothenberger, Director of Mercy Corps, the work done on these projects provided the first opportunity for people from different ethnic groups to meet and work together.
"These projects not only reinforced a multi-ethnic perspective, they also actively engaged young people, giving them an opportunity to represent their views along with others in the community," Rothenberger said. Projects included the rehabilitation of roads, schools, sports fields and health and community centers, as well as water and sanitation projects.
![Patricia Rader, USAID/Kosovo Mission Director [right], issued Certificates of Appreciation to partner municipalities and communities.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081107152840im_/http://www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/images/success/2008-11-06.jpg) |
| Patricia Rader, USAID/Kosovo Mission Director [right], issued Certificates of Appreciation to partner municipalities and communities. |
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