Heart and Hand Fund

Letter from Marta, November 2007

Overshadowing the news from the Balkans is the December 10 deadline that will determine the status of Kosovo. Early this year the United Nations envoy presented a plan that would grant Kosovo limited independence leading to statehood. Kosovo would continue under international supervision, and the ethnic Serbian minority would receive protection and a degree of autonomy. Serbia, backed by Russia, however, fiercely opposes the plan and has threatened reprisals that could destabilize the region.

The Kosovars have demanded independence from Serbia since the end of the war, and they are fed up waiting for others to give them what they believe is theirs. The buildup of emotion is reflected in the Kosovan media. Every television station has a ticking box in the corner of the screen showing the countdown to December 10 in days, hours, and minutes.

Once again, the fragile peace in the Balkans hangs in the balance. Should Kosovo be granted independence or declare it unilaterally, the Kosovars may enjoy only a brief euphoria before Serbia carries out its threats. Should Kosovo not get independence, the frustration and rage of the people will likely erupt in violence.

Against this potentially explosive background, our stalwart grantees continue to amaze me with their creativity, bravery, and determination. This past October I visited Kosovo, Serbia, and Croatia. Usually I spend most of my time meeting with grantees in the cities.

On this trip I wanted to visit two grantees located in rural areas, and I was finally ready to tackle driving on the country roads. The Balkan signage system is confusing to American drivers, so I set two rules for myself: no driving at night or in big cities. Nonetheless, I managed to get ticketed in the middle of nowhere by a Croatian cop. My violation? Driving without headlights in the middle of the day. He fined me 300 Kuna ($60) and ordered me to pay him on the spot. Returning my international driver’s license he said, “You’re from California. That’s in Canada, isn’t it?”

Letter from Marta, November 2006

I spent three weeks in the Balkans this past month visiting Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosova and, for the first time, Albania. I had heard many stories about the devastation of Albania under the 35-year rule of its insane dictator, Enver Hoxha. To my surprise I discovered a country of great natural beauty with tall mountains, white-sand beaches and a capital city, Tirana, ablaze with brightly painted multicolored buildings. (Just as surprising was discovering that my cell phone worked perfectly in the Albanian countryside when I can’t get reception at home in Half Moon Bay.)

Albania is still desperately poor, but awakening from its long, imposed slumber. The eagerness to build a democratic society was evident in my meeting with 13 women’s groups in Tirana, held back only by scarce funding. I left the meeting more determined than ever to expand Heart and Hand’s funding base to include women’s groups in Albania and to increase support to grantees in Croatia.

In previous newsletters I’ve mentioned that international donors have been leaving the Balkans, despite the need for continued funding. Now, the spigot is all but turned off. To be fair, generous donors poured billions into the Balkans, much of it in large, one-time grants. Regrettably, a lot of the money did not benefit organizations that benefit women and children – those most affected by the years at war.

Heart and Hand is proud of its funding record in the Balkans. We give general operating grants to groups we know well and to activists whose intelligence, judgment, and hearts we trust, and we marvel at what they accomplish with minimal financial resources. We know they could do so much more if adequately funded. Grantees everywhere exist at the whim of what donors find trendy.

Heart and Hand remains steadfast in its long-term commitment to supporting women’s groups in the Balkans. Please help us ensure that they receive the steady stream of funding they need to build sturdy and vital organizations.

One hundred percent of your tax-deductible donation to Heart and Hand goes directly to grantees. Write checks today to The Agape Foundation with a note that it is for the Heart and Hand Fund. Mail to: Marta Drury, Box 3070, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.

Yours,

Marta Drury