We do not have a ‘dreamy’ vision of future because of its sheer impossibility to face the extensive crisis of today that confronts us with the collapse of the planet and human societies. Nevertheless, our aim is to work towards systematic change in society, which, eventually might enable us to have a vision of sustainable life of humanity in peaceful coexistence with all forms of life on this planet in the closer future. We are joining the global movement for regenerating society from its roots, acting locally in Kosovo and Balkan region.
GAIA’s Mission
GAIA’s mission is to work towards peace, social and environmental justice by being an example for alternative and regenerative ways of living.
GAIA’s Objectives
We want to work towards peace through engaging in reconciliation by creating spaces and opportunities where people from various backgrounds can meet, talk, listen to and develop understanding for each other. We envision to restore and create new relationships not only between people but also between people and nature.
We want to achieve social justice by making injustice and systematic discrimination visible, through empowering vulnerable and marginalized communities and providing equitable opportunities.
We are working on a local, grassroot level to restore communities based on earth care, people care and fair share.
GAIA’s activities
GAIA is carrying on the following types of activities:
- community based programs
- international workcamps
- LTV – long term volunteering projects
- local actions and campaigns
- youth exchanges and youth gatherings
- non-formal education
- small festivals, storytelling events, presentations
- publications and movie production
GAIA was founded in 2010 in Plemetina, Kosovo. GAIA Kosovo is the official branch of Service Civil International (SCI), one of the world’s largest international volunteering organizations founded in 1920 dedicated to promoting a culture of peace through the organization and coordination of voluntary projects all over the world. The organization consists of over 40 branches and groups and an ever-growing number of partner organizations.
Our experience
Helena Poučki
Co-founder and Program Coordinator
Member of GAIA since it was founded in 2010. Currently involved in Climate 4 Change project and Bozevce permaculture program. Member of Coordination team and also responsible for general coordination of the organization.
Has certain knowledge about nature conservation, permaculture, climate change and project management. In the last 15 years, she has lived in between Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo, volunteering for peace and nature organization, but in the last 4 years, she got trapped in Kosovo. She strongly believes that human relations with bears and wolves are just a reflection of everything that is wrong with the world.
Mevlude Skuroshi
Mitrovica program coordinator
Mevlude Skuroshi, or just Mev, likes to believe that she comes from the Moon. Somehow she ended up in Mitrovica in the year 2000 CE. She grew up in the south part of Ibar always intrigued by the mystic north. It took her 4 years of living in Prishtina and a bit of volunteering in Edinburgh to come back to her first settlement where she now coordinates GAIA’s program (in Mitrovica).
She is fascinated by the power of words and that’s why she hasn’t graduated from the Department of Philology at the University of Prishtina, yet. She thinks that we have to use innovative technology and tools to reconnect people, something like storytelling.
Izabela is a graphic designer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her first work with GAIA is related to BREFest project in 2017
We are looking for new volunteer members
We are open to receive applications for volunteering in different programs of GAIA.
If you are from Kosovo and you would like:
- to take part in workcamps, please send an e-mail to [email protected]
- to take part in one of our community based programs in Mitrovica, Gracanica or Bozevce, please send an e-mail to [email protected]
If you are not from Kosovo, but you would like to get involved in GAIA as long term volunteer, please send an e-mail to [email protected]
Send us your CV!
Our Partners and Donors
Creating educational and empowering programs like ours requires a lot of resources. A significant part of the support that allows our work to happen comes from diverse donor organizations. Thank you especially to our strategic donors, who help us develop innovative programs for Kosovo people.