17 March 2022

Association of Centers for Social Work Kosovo and Department of Social Work, University of Prishtina with the support of Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection – KOMF, Terre des hommes Kosovo, SOS Children’s Villages in Kosovo, Organization for Children without Parental Care – OFAP, UNICEF Kosovo Office and Save the Children Kosovo, held the national conference “Social Work and Social Policies in Kosovo”.

The opening of the conference was made by Blerim Shabani, Head of the Association of Centers for Social Work and Prof. Ass. Dr. Njomza Llullaku Head of the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Prishtina.

During the conference, keynote speeches were given by Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Tomáš Szunyog, Head of the EU Office in Kosovo / EU Special Representative, Ulrika Richardson, UN Development Office, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Dashamir Bërxulli, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”.

Donjeta Kelmendi from KOMF within the first panel “Social Work and Social Policies in Kosovo”, spoke about the importance of non-governmental organizations in advancing social services. Currently non-governmental organizations are very important providers of services for vulnerable children and their families which provide quality specialized services every day for children and citizens in need. Kelmendi also spoke about the challenges and the need to adopt the new Law on Social and Family Services and the Law on Local Government Finance which foreseen the creation of a specific grant for social services in order to expand the range and increase the quality of social services.

This conference aimed to mark and promote Social Work in the Republic of Kosovo.