April 1999
The response to this letter was overwhelming: Nearly $200,000 was raised from throughout the world.
Dear Friends:
With the TV, newspapers and radio full of the war over Kosova, I'd like
to share one way we as individuals can help the ethnic Albanians.
The war has particular immediacy for me because of my friendship with Igballe (Igo) Rogova. I met Igo almost a year and a half ago at a Global Fund for Women lunch at which she and her partner, Rachel Wareham, talked about their work in Kosova. I'd like to tell you a little about her story.
Igo is an ethnic Albanian who used to do technical work at a TV station. When Milosevich came to power in Serbia, she and her sister, Safete Rogova, a well-known actress, were among the many ethnic Albanians who lost their jobs. Under Milosovich's rule, ethnic Albanians were systematically stripped of their rights to language, education, culture, and freedom of movement and speech. (Igo was stripped of her passport for four years at one time.)
Despite these hardships and the Serbian police monitoring their movements, Igo and Safete founded Motrat Qiriazi, a non-govermental organization, that works to rebuild civil society and preserve Albanian culture. They have focused their efforts on educating and empowering women and children living in rural villages in Kosova. Drawing on their talents and understanding of the culture, the two sisters have succeeded winning the support of entire villages without alienating the male leaders.
Igo and Safete were two of the winners of the 1998 Resourceful Women Awards. Last October, I traveled to the Balkans to spend a week with Igo. While deepening our relationship, I was also able to witness Igo at work with ethnic Albanians and Roma women. She is a brilliant communicator, a careful listener, and operates from the largest well of generosity I have ever seen.
Two weeks ago, Igo and 31 family members gathered in her mother's house in Pristina, the capital of Kosova. Once NATO bombing began,the Serbs brutally retaliated against the ethnic Albanians, killing people, cutting off food supplies, and dropping their bombs on the city.
They now join the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanian refugees stranded in neighboring countries, not knowing when, if, or under what circumstances they will be allowed to return to their homes. The conditions at the borders are horrific but, true to character, Igo chose to stay longer in the Neutral Zone to help other people rather than cross the border to friends, food and a warm shower.
As we know from past experience, projects that support women and children are the last to be funded in times of crisis. Igo will not wait until this war is over to go to work. She will soon return to her life's work of helping women and their families improve their lives. Motrat Qiriazi has close working connections with American Friends Service Committee and UNICEF. Other Kosovar women activists (Igo has trained over 20 herself) will join with Igo and women activists from surrounding Balkan countries to continue the work. Because of the new circumstances, however, they will need more help than ever before.
I have established the Heart and Hand Fund that can fund internationally. I am asking you to join me in supporting the future work of Igo Rogova and other like minded activists. Please give at whatever level you can manage. Contributions are tax deductible and all monies donated will go directly to women activists. Stock transfers are also possible.
Feel free to share this letter.
Please make out your check to the Agape Foundation. Add a note that the money is for the Heart and Hand Fund/Kosova and mail to:
The Agape Foundation/Heart and Hand Fund
1095 Market Street #304
San Francisco, Ca 94103
Thank you.
Peace
Marta Drury