Dear Media and organisational colleagues!

I'm writing you because ESIB - The National Unions of Students in Europe - is organising a project for students in Prishtina. Initially the project was intended to take place in Camp Radusa, Macedonia. Since this camp is now empty the project will take place four days in Skopje (17-20 july) and 3 days in Prishtina (21-23 july).

ESIB is therefore in search of Kosova student organisations or students in Prishtina or Skopje. Because of the situation in Kosova over the last three months ESIB has lost contact with all earlier student contacts. We hope that you either through your media access or organisational links will be able to spread information on the project to students from Kosova.

Attached is a file with the description of the project. ESIB would be very grateful if you would in any way be able to help us distribute this information or maybe give us information on how to contact the students.

Yours Sincerely

Peter Sondergaard,
peters@sr.au.dk
ESIB
Mobile +4520228960

ESIB - The National Unions of Students in Europe
Liechtensteinstrasse 13
A-1090 Vienna
Austrai
tel. + 43 1 310 888 048
fax. + 43 1 310 888 012/036
email. esib@oeh.ac.at
web. www.sora.student.kuleuven.ac.be/esib

The National Unions of Students in Europe
Liechtensteinstrasse 13, 1090 Wien. Austria.
Tel: +43/1/310 888 048 Fax: +43/1/310 888 012 or 036
e-mail esib@oeh.ac.at , www.sora.student.kuleuven.ac.be/esib July 5, 1999

" Looking to the future"

- Regeneration project for students from Kosova to take place in Skopje and partly Prishtina from July 17- July 24, 1999. The project is organised by The National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB) in cooperation with the National Student Union of Macedonia (NSUM).

The crisis in Kosova has not been caused by the students, however it has devastating effects on their future. Students have in history played an important role in shaping and developing societies. Especially values of democracy and human rights have been at center of their aims. The rebuilding of the Kosova society should be done on these exact values. The European students feel obliged to help our Kosova colleagues in these hard times. This feeling of shared responsibility is the basic motivation for ESIB and NSUM committing themselves to the success of the project.

With aim to assist students from Kosova in organizing themselves and taking an active role in rebuilding the higher educational system and the society a week-long the project has been prepared. In order to initiate cooperation and dialogue between European students and students from Kosova following discussions in workshops will take place

- the former educational system in Kosova; - the rebuilding of the educational system in Kosova; - chances of continuing studies abroad for Kosovan students; - the role of students in society; - student self-government and participation; - future educational projects in Kosova; - international cooperation of Kosova students.

- 4 days (July 17-20) workshops for students stationed with families in Skopje, Tetovo and surrounding: 30 students from Kosova, 7 students facilitators from abroad: Slovenia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway and about 10 students from Macedonia. The workshops will take place in the university building, (according to discussions with prof. Savo Cvetanovski, Vice Rector for International Cooperation) all participants will be accommodated in the dormitories.

- 3-days workshops for students in Pristina: 30 students from Pristina, 7 students facilitators from abroad. The workshop will (according to discussions with rector of University in Pristina dr. Kelmendi) take place in the university, the facilitators will be driving every day from Skopje. ESIB representatives will also take part in the meeting organised by CRE which is taking place from July 21-23 in Pristina on Support for Higher Educational System in Kosova. We are hoping that some participants of the meeting will be able to spend some time also with students in our workshops.

Additionally to the workshops mentioned above, we are preparing information on short-term study possibilities in other European countries which is provided to us by student organizations and rectors/associations. Also, we are bringing a student journalist from Trinity News from Ireland to be preparing daily press releases, articles, interviews and finally report of the event to be submitted to all relevant organizations and institutions as well as media.
Since our expenditures with this new version of the project much differentiate we are in need for looking for additional (matching) funds to the received grant .

In long term ESIB will try to find support for organised student groups in Kosovo to set up an office which would:
- collect and further distribute information on projects running for students in Kosovo, possibilities of short-term study abroad, need for student help in work at the university, etc.;
- plan and organise projects for students in Kosova as well as international student event for students from the region and elsewhere;
- be a contact body to university officials as well as other insitution when needing student input, activities, etc.

For further imformation please contact Manja Klemencic or Uros Vaigl on phone +43 310 888 048 or +43 664 358 8514 or on e-mails Klemencic.Manja@oeh.ac.at or uros.vajgl@uni-lj.si.

Yours Sincerely
Manja Klemencic