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A BARN FOR LESKOC HOUSE

It is 1999 and some young Italian volunteers, coordinated by Caritas Italy, leave for Macedonia to help the Kosovar refugees fleeing from Milošević’s ethnic cleansing. Among them are Massimo Mazzali and Cristina Giovanelli who decide to stay in these tortured territories after the war to help the Kosovar people with the reconstruction.

A specific event transformed their temporary experience into a lifestyle choice. One day Massimo and Cristina meet a half-abandoned toddler in a dog’s bed. They immediately decide to take him with them and to stay in Kosivo to create a facility dedicated to welcoming minors

The facility has grown ever larger, and in 2014 it became a real home, still managed by Massimo and Cristina, who live there with their family.  A house that was also strongly desired by Valter Baldaccini, who contributed to its construction, although he was, unfortunately, not present at its inauguration. 

Today the House of Leskoc is a permanent home for more than twenty minors, and over 100 poor families are also monitored and supported. The whole project is possible thanks to the Regional Delegation of Umbria Caritas, and to many organizations and friends who have supported this extraordinary experience.  

The Foundation, The House, and CSZ

This was not the first project with Leskoc House for the Valter Baldaccini Foundation. In fact, in 2016, thanks to the On the job training and development in Kosovo project and the generosity of many friends, we managed to donate ten dairy cows, a milking machine and a pasteurizer to the organization. These items are essential for starting economic activities linked to milk processing, an activity that offers young Kosovars associated with the House to train and have a job. 

In fact, Massimo and Cristina established the NGO Shoqata and Agrikultur Sociale Alakuqan (CSZ) in 2003 to create concrete job opportunities for the orphaned children (now adults) living at the House and for the Kosovar people living in conditions of extreme poverty. This organization manages the land and a farm that allows these people to work and support themselves by cultivating barley, corn, and peas, raising cattle, doing light carpentry, and making bread, sweets, and dairy products. 

The new barn project

Based on CSZ’s experience and a careful analysis of the needs of the territory, it was determined that, at present, Kosovo’s cattle production only minimally covers the needs of the country and, therefore, meat is mainly imported. This is a sector of the Kosovar economy that needs to be strengthened in order to create concrete job opportunities.

Hence the project for the construction of a new barn. The building next to the existing barn will be renovated and a structure will be created to raise forty calves
A barn means work for many young people, in fact 10 people will be involved in the renovation work and when it is active, 8 young people will be hired to raise livestock.

Find out how the work is progressing

Help us achieve a new project dedicated to women: a bakery that guarantees each of them work, autonomy, dignity and independence. Please, donate now

VIEW ALL THE PROJECT UPDATES SEE ALL NEWS
21 August 2020

New calves in response to COVID’s impact in Kosovo

These are not easy times in Kosovo. On 16 July our ministry added it to the list of countries most a...

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16 December 2019

A special Christmas gift for women in Kosovo

Since 2016, the Valter Baldaccini Foundation, through dedicated projects and thanks to the help and...

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31 October 2019

On Leskoc's farm with Giuseppe

It was Massimo’s idea to build a farm. He arrived in Kosovo twenty years ago along with Italian sold...

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28 October 2019

Francesca’s Feelings About Kosovo

“The important thing is not to find solutions to every problem, but to create connections and discov...

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21 October 2019

Victor's story from Kosovo

"I had already been to Kenya, so I wasn’t as shocked by the conditions in Kosovo. Leskoc House is be...

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17 October 2019

Volunteering in Kosovo, Michele’s Story

"It was a long journey before arriving, about 250 km from Tirana.  We followed a continuous mountain...

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15 October 2019

The Foundation volunteers in Kosovo

For a week the volunteers Victor, Michele, Francesca and Giuseppe, accompanied by Paola, were in Kos...

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19 July 2019

From Massimo’s diary (2): the barn takes shape

“With the beautiful summer days and the enthusiasm, we have for this new project, the work is rapidl...

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01 July 2019

Aida e Antoneta: dal Kosovo per la Business Week

International Business Week Umbria, organized by UMBRAGROUP and now in its fourth edition, is a week...

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21 June 2019

Massimo’s Diary:  The work has begun on the barn in Leskoc

“The reconstruction work on the barn began in early May.  Three young men work on it every day, and...

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