The story so far...

[ In the Balkans (this page) ] - and - [ Our work In Ukraine (Chernobyl) ]

In April 1999, a small group of people had been watching all the horrific news reports from Kosova for as long as they could bear. They had conversation which ran: "We've got to do something!" - and that sentiment exploded into action.

We made lots of contacts with existing aid organisations very quickly, as we tried to avoid re-inventing the wheel, but were determined to be driven and directed by real, local people and to avoid all the waste and red tape which scares people about charities.

We've had a fantastic response. Experienced aid workers have been quick to give advice, and we have been able to see the realities, on the ground, of how different sized organisations are all essential, complementary parts of the picture. We make real friendships between the UK and foreign communities, and we are certain our aid goes where it is intended. More importantly, the relationships we have forged bring hope and great prospects for development.

Other charities running aid convoys have shared their stories (and we've sent vehicles with them) and above all, the people of Britain have amazed us with their generosity and support.

None of us have ever worked on a project which has so captured everybody's imagination.

Our first convoy delivered it's aid to Kosovan refugees in Albania in April 1999.

We were ecstatic. Since then we've delivered to refugee camps and villages in Macedonia, and volunteers have spent several weeks in Kosova itself, meeting with (and delivering aid with) families, Trades Unions, the students of Prishtine University, doctors and nurses at Gjlane hospital, and politicians from the provisional Kosovan government. We have been stunned by the generosity of the welcome we have received - as real people travelling with eyes and minds open. We are also indebted to the people of the International Medical Corps in Mitrovice, who have been able to distribute our aid after our departure.

Given the ethnic divisions, it is important to note that we do not only deliver aid to Albanian communities. With no hesitation, where there are still Serbian people living [in Kosovo] - who have suffered from the war as much as anyone else - we work with them too, of course. For example in the enclave in Gjlane, and in the outlying villages in the mountains in the north. Everybody has a political opinion, but that is never what our work is about.

What's next?

There is so much still to be done. We intend to keep on working to help the people of the region, and work with them after the fighting to help them rebuild their lives. Make no mistake - over ten years of apartheid and systematic rape and murder have been perpetrated against these people. Our volunteers have heard chilling stories, and seen the evidence in grim detail. In many villages every home was burnt. Every town has hundreds of orphans. Children of rape victims require special attention and care. Schools and Universities are re-stocking libraries for the first time in ten years.

K-FOR and NATO are not there to prosecute war criminals, and we have met civilians too scared to assist the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. Our volunteers - ordinary people from the UK - have found bodies which nobody is equipped to bury. We are in for a long haul of dealing with traumatised civilians.

Please help us to deliver food, clothes, toys, tools, and to buy building materials and assist in rebuilding and recreating jobs.

How? Try this: whatever you do for fun - keep doing it, but get it sponsored! It's the easiest way to make a huge contribution!

We've had supermarket sweeps; pub crawls with 10p on the pint, thanks to a string of local pubs; a cake sale & raffle. In the summer of 2001 we set in place a plan for a sponsored walk of the length of Britain! Sports events are planned too. Bands have played benefit nights; there was even a play at the Edinburgh Festival which donated one night's takings. And we are very grateful for a very generous donation from a school in Hong Kong, which used some of our photographs to explain to it's pupils what was going on.

Get in touch and help us to work directly with real people like you.