Many youths in Kosovo believe that limited access to power and social influence are restricting them. Kosovo is a partially recognized country in Southeast Europe that has faced many political challenges since the 1990s. It is also one of Europe’s poorest countries due to its limited resources, with 28% of its population comprising those younger than 15-years-old.
As of 2016, Kosovo’s unemployment rate is a high 34.8%. By 2022, the World Bank estimated 25.4%-30% of the 1.8 million people in Kosovo to be living in poverty and earning incomes below the poverty line. Many issues, including women’s rights and freedom of expression, plague the country, leaving many feeling powerless. However, Kosovo’s poverty rates declined by 2022 and the World Bank expects them to decline even further. From child welfare to employment opportunities, many Kosovars and volunteers have united to fight for a brighter future. Since the political atmosphere of the 1990s, humanitarian organizations have helped vulnerable Kosovars by providing the resources they need to build their economy. While many nonprofit organizations are making a difference, five charities operating in Kosovo are making notable strides in combating poverty and improving the quality of life.
5 Charities Operating in Kosovo
- Action for Mothers and Children/Akcioni per Nena dhe Femiji (AMC) – Since 2013, AMC has helped mothers have healthy pregnancies and save children’s lives. It has provided home services to improve children’s lives and strengthen family medicine. As one of the charities operating in Kosovo, AMC uses education to strengthen the trust between health care workers and families through training programs and engaging activities. Since Jan. 2014, AMC’s Women’s Health Information Center program has supported more than 10,000 pregnant women and their partners. On Nov. 2, 2016, many guests, including Valerie Rockefeller Wayne and Dua Lipa, supported a fundraiser that raised $44,360 to help lower child and maternal mortality rates in Kosovo.
- Caritas Kosova – In 1992, Caritas Kosova’s founders believed that the cultivation of solidarity and social entrepreneurship would increase economic independence, well-being and employment opportunities. It has empowered the youth and women with training, practical work, interpersonal skill development and grants. It has also improved rural agriculture through connecting farmers, exchanging knowledge and providing subsidies. By Oct. 2025, the YourJob program had provided 6,571 youths with career counseling. As stated by Don Viktor Sopi, director general of the charity, “young people are the most secure force of the future. We must continue to support young people in their aspirations.” Through charities operating in Kosovo, youths took advantage of opportunities to integrate into the labor market, build careers and shape their futures and communities.
- The Ideas Partnership (TIP) – TIP is a charity that has operated in Kosovo since 2009 and has worked to improve education, lobby the government, help youths enroll in school, mediate between families and schools and distribute clothes and supplies. It focused on bursaries, led micro-finance projects such as soap-making and recycling and helped families improve their homes. TIP has used funds and grants to empower people and preserve cultural heritage while protecting the environment. As with many other charities operating in Kosovo, it has always stood alongside children and adults. On May 14th, 2025, TIP celebrated its 16th anniversary by growing with teachers, social workers and professionals from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. Through commitment, they have offered long-term support rooted in empowerment and community solidarity.
- The Kosovar Organization for Talent and Education (TOKA) – TOKA has operated in Kosovo since 2015, focusing on education and development for disadvantaged children. It has aimed to unlock the youths’ full potential through innovative teaching methods and long-term volunteering opportunities. More than 20,000 participants have tested their programs and more than 30,000 children have benefited from them. Educational gaps between primary schoolchildren and peers in high-income countries continue to prevent youths from reaching their full potential. TOKA’s continuous efforts to improve life trajectories, bridge the gap and strengthen partnerships with the government and global allies have helped youth gain the skills, confidence and opportunities they need, ultimately contributing to improved living conditions in Kosovo.
- PL4Y International – In 1999, founders established PL4Y as Sport without Borders. While operating in Kosovo, the charity’s leaders promoted inclusive education, gender equality, inter-ethnic reconciliation and youth empowerment. Collaborating with youth networks, educational authorities and civil society, the programs of charities operating in Kosovo like PL4Y strengthen life skills, psychosocial tools and academic knowledge. For example, Mirela Hysenaj, a teacher at Dardania Primary School, shared how fun activities within the Playdagogy training program fostered an empathetic classroom environment. More than 80,000 children have participated in these programs, including more than 4,000 disabled children. PL4Y has expanded from classroom programs to community fields, using the universal language of play as a tool for learning and development.
The Bigger Picture
While seemingly unrelated to tackling the broader issue of poverty, these five charities operating in Kosovo have helped struggling people access resources to improve their social standing. Education, health care and social support can create long-term benefits, including economic growth and stronger global stability. Through continued efforts by charities like these, Kosovars can strengthen their ability to build a more secure and hopeful future.
– Cindy Nguyen
Cindy is based in Albuquerque, NM, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
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