Table of Contents
Contents Introduction ...... 3
Issue ...... 4
Clean Water Initiative (CWI) ...... 5
Geographical Area Analysis ...... 6
Economic Analysis ...... 8
Economic Analysis II ...... 11
Political System ...... 16
Trade Laws ...... 18
Population...... 20
Diet and Nutrition ...... 24
Housing ...... 27
Transportation ...... 29
Labor ...... 31
Education ...... 32
Clothing ...... 34
Recreation and Leisure ...... 35
Language ...... 37
Religion ...... 39
Introduction The country of Kosovo, located in southeastern Europe, has a short and tragic history. Following the armed conflicts of the 1990’s, Kosovo was given independence in 2008. While Kosovo has begun the process of rebuilding, there is still much work that needs to be done in order to bring the country up to western standards. Specifically, over half of the Kosovar population lives without clean, running water. The Clean Water Initiative, or CWI, has set its sights on helping those Kosovar people in need.
Kosovo is a small, landlocked country located just less than 75 miles from the Greek border. Kosovo is largely flat with mountain ranges on the western and southern borders. The nation’s capital, Prishtina, is located in central Kosovo, along with most of the other Kosovar cities. It is because of Kosovo’s interesting geographical features that Kosovo has some of the largest coal deposits in the world. The two biggest industries, mining and energy, employ nearly a fifth of every working man in Kosovo. It is these two industries that are driving the economy and recovery within Kosovo.
The majority of Kosovo’s citizens live in rural population centers. This means most people live in small villages surrounded by mountains, or in small houses surrounded by mountains. Before the 21st century, when Kosovo was a part of Serbia, Kosovar people largely lived without running water and many lived without electricity. Today, millions of dollars have been put into creating the infrastructure necessary for supplying water to Kosovar people inside large population centers (major cities, capital, etc.). The CWI wishes to fix this.
Fortunately, Kosovo is in the beginning stages of becoming a member of the European Union as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This means that Kosovo is a safe place to travel to and from, unlike some other countries south of the Mediterranean. Kosovo also has a very well established network of roads, airports and railways, creating multiple means of transporting necessary goods cheaply and reliably into the country. Because Kosovo has so quickly embraced 1st world living and western influences, American travelers are welcomed with warm hands.
More than 90% of the Kosovar population practices Islam. Interestingly, Kosovo has excellent diplomatic ties to more Christian nations such as the United States, Britain and Germany. Kosovo also has an excellent relationship with Israel, a rarity among Islamic countries. It is the culmination of these factors that create a scenario in which Americans can freely and safely work within Kosovo to help solve a problem that is killing thousands of people every year.
Issue Over 1 million people in the country of Kosovo, 61% of the population, do not have access to potable water (usaid.gov). While the country has made notable steps in order to bring clean water to its citizens, there are still thousands of cases every year that would be easily preventable had they been drinking uncontaminated water. Kosovo has a serious problem with getting clean water to its citizens. Located in mostly rural Kosovo, families often drink from wells in the ground that have been around for generations. These wells are often infested with water borne illnesses and unregulated by the government. This standard of drinking water is simply unacceptable.
Non-potable water is defined as water that is not deemed safe for direct drinking (oilgae.com). While it may be boiled or cooked in, it will often have too much bacteria and impurities to be safe to drink. Furthermore, only 28% of Kosovo has access to a sewage system (usaid.gov). This is mainly in urbanized areas, meaning that in rural Kosovo, sewage is often mixed in with well water, creating even more complications and potential for water-borne illnesses. Government funding for water treatment facilities is sparse, leaving those who are outside of the wealthiest areas without water. Plans are regularly put forth for action but the corruption of the Kosovan government and the external pressure of addressing other issues is often enough to cancel a clean-water project. This is troubling, because the rate at which people are getting sick and dying is astounding.
Acute Diarrhea, the most common illness, affected more than 50,000 people in 2008 alone (researchgate.net). A study conducted by the US National Library of Medicine found that 0.56% of all watery diarrhea cases resulted in death, while 16.21% of cases resulted in a more serious condition (dysentery, jaundice, etc.)(ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). While statistics alone are not enough to draw conclusions, one does not have to look far to see that the Kosovan people are struggling.
Clean Water Initiative (CWI) Mission Statement:
Supplying clean water
What We Do:
Every living man, woman, and child needs to drink water in order to survive. Quenching a thirst is one of our most basic survival instincts, and without it, we would perish within days. Marcus Samuelsson once said, “For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like without it.” The Clean Water Initiative (CWI) aims to assist those who are not fortunate to drink water whenever they please.
Ways You Can Help:
1. Charitable Donation a. Attend a fundraising event b. Direct donation of $10, enough to provide one person with water 2. Purchase CWI Apparel a. Purchase CWI clothing or accessories and have the profit go directly towards clean-water efforts in Kosovo. 3. Volunteer Your Time a. Volunteer at the local office b. Go on an excursion to Kosovo to directly help those in need
Partnerships:
United Nations Sustainable Development:
The United Nations is one of the largest, if not greatest organizations aimed at making the world a better place. Every year, they allocate millions of dollars towards building wells and providing cleaning systems for dirty water. These goals match what the CWI wishes to accomplish.
Clear Water Initiative
While the name is similar, the Clear Water Initiative is a nonprofit organization that focuses on building wells in rural Africa. Their expertise in managing a similar nonprofit operation would be of enormous help to CWI.
MIYA
MIYA specializes in reducing water waste often found in commercial and industrial applications. While this doesn’t directly apply to what CWI is trying to accomplish, their deep knowledge in the optimization of water systems would help CWI in its goal to produce cheap and clean water.
Geographical Area Analysis
Located in war-torn Southeastern Europe, Kosovo is a small nation that is home to frigid mountains and hot plains. Kosovo provides innumerous business opportunities for a nonprofit such as A Long Company. In Kosovo, one finds an arid climate, which is relatively flat. Kosovo is also surrounded by several mountain ranges, located on the neighboring borders next to Serbia and Macedonia. Because Kosovo is also located next to the Mediterranean Sea, the climate in Kosovo is consistently dry and hot. This all culminates into a potentially lucrative business environment. Kosovo is a landlocked country, located about 50 miles east of the Adriatic Sea. Between Kosovo and the sea, is the nation of Albania. Fortunately, diplomatic relations between Kosovo and Albania are excellent, allowing Kosovan ships to travel its waterways and trucks to pass through quickly and easily. Because Kosovo is located so close to the Adriatic Sea, it is also close to the Mediterranean Sea, the busiest waterway in the entire world (NYTimes.com). The world’s Navy’s and commercial ships cross through the Mediterranean daily, giving Kosovo easy access to the rest of the world. (Wikipedia.org)
Because Kosovo is surrounded by mountains, it has some unusual geographic features. For example, the middle of the country, a relatively populated and flat landscape, experiences around 600 mm of rainfall per year. However, the surrounding areas of the west, south, and east, experience and average of 1700mm of rainfall (gbtimes.com). Also, these mountain ranges surrounding the country greatly affect the average temperature. The capital of Pristina, experiences much higher temperatures due to the great elevation changes. The average temperature in the month of July was 20.0 Celsius. The city of Prizen, located in the center of Kosovo, experienced an average temperature of 22.8 Celsius (weather.com). Together, this gives Kosovo a relatively stable climate. Extreme temperatures (<0 Celsius or >25 Celsius) are rarely recorded and transportation is seldom halted. Kosovo’s major population centers are located, at least mostly, in the central regions of Kosovo. This is due to the mountainous regions that surround the borders of the country. The plains in the center of the country are around 400m above sea level, while most mountain ranges are around 1000m above sea level (Kosovo-mining.org). While this is could cause potential complications with transportation, Kosovo’s mild and undramatic climate are usually enough to halt and major problems. These mountains are also responsible for a major source of the Kosovan economy, mining. The vast majority of exports and revenue come from ore and precious metal mines from within these mountains (cia.gov). Kosovo, geographically speaking, can largely be considered as undramatic. Its mild climate and rolling plains make for a nation that is easily and safely traveled. The climate in Kosovo is also mild, with ordinary temperatures and precipitation rates that are anything but exciting. Kosovo is also near the Adriatic Sea, a highway to the world’s busiest and most lucrative water ways, making for easy importing and exporting of material. While Kosovo is not a perfect country, the opportunities it presents, geographically, are ones that cannot be ignored.
Easy and safe access to the Mediterranean Sea Cool and mild climate year-round Mountainous regions surrounding the heart of the country that provide the majority of the nation’s revenue. Warm temperatures in the summer, providing reliable and fast transportation in and out of the country. Economic Analysis Kosovo is largely considered a “transition economy,” meaning that Kosovo is transitioning from a controlled, socialist economy to a free-trade system (object.cato.org). Because Kosovo was once part of the Soviet Union, the country ran and controlled all trade and industry. Over the past couple decades, Kosovo has begun to integrate into the European Union, which means a transition to a more capitalistic model of economy.
Economic Statistics and Activity
Kosovo has a long history of being controlled by other powers. First it was the Romans, then the Byzantines, and then it was the Communists. This has left the Kosovan economy and government in disarray (srpska-mreza.com). The unemployment rate is incredibly high and the standard of living is the worst in Europe.
Resources
Coal Lignite is mined directly out of Kosovo, and is responsible for a large portion of the Kosovan economy. It is burnt at coal plants in order to generate electricity. Hydroelectric Kosovo uses several rivers to power four different hydroelectric stations, which are responsible for a relatively large portion of the country’s energy needs. Wind There are several areas spread out through the country that are adequate for wind power, however, only one station has been built. Solar There are currently no solar power stations in Kosovo. Plans have been put forth, but the lack of funding has been detrimental to the building of these stations. Natural Gas Kosovo has banned the consumption and production of natural gas, making it a world leader in lowest levels of natural gas consumed. Gasoline Gasoline is used to power the vehicles and some sub stations throughout the nation of Kosovo. It is so popular, that it is the nation’s second energy source, just after Lignite.
Industries
Mineral Mining o Nearly all of the money that flows through Kosovo is because of the mining industry. Coal, quartz, and nickel are the most popular minerals, but dozens of others are pulled out of the ground. o The Directorate for Mines and Minerals and the World Bank estimates that there is around 13.5 Billion Euros of material that is pulled out of Kosovo every year. (kosovareport.blogspot.com) o The Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is the sole owner and operator of all energy operations within Kosovo. Automotive Components o A quirk of the Kosovan economy is the production of automotive parts for brands all over the world. The two most well-known, car seats and shock absorbers, are manufactured in the millions every year. o Last year, the two biggest companies produced 3.3 million units. (eciks.org) . Shock Absorber Factory Prishtina . Ramiz Sadiku Textiles o The textile industry is the second largest industry in the nation of Kosovo. Production is primarily composed of cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, and various apparel. o The combined assets of the top companies in Kosovo come to a total of 40 million Euros. (invest-ks.org) . JATEX . Unikat . REMATEKS . Semtex . KosovaTex . Land Holding . Prishtina
The Gross National Product (GNP) of Kosovo was 16.57 Billion PPP dollars in 2013 Comparing the GNP of Kosovo to other Nations 60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0 Kosovo Pakistan India Jamaica Egpyt United States
GNP Per Capita GNP in Billions of Dollars
Kosovo as compared to other countries of similar economic prowess as well familiar economic superpowers.
Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 Kosovo Pakistan India Jamaica Egypt United States
Series 1
Kosovo’s rate of growth with respect to GDP as compared to other similar economic and familiar economic superpowers. Economic Analysis II In order to understand Kosovo’s role in the international economy, one must understand these statistics.
List of Exports by Quantity o Manufactured Goods o Crude Materials o Food and Live Animals o Mineral Fuels o Machinery and Transport Equipment
Kosovo is a country that exports far less than it imports. Most of what the country exports falls under manufactured goods (tools and car parts), crude materials (nickel, iron, and silver), and food and live animals.
Top 5 Exports of Kosovo
Manufactured Goods Crude Materials Food and Live Animals Mineral Fuels Machinery and Transport Equipment
List of Top Export Partners by % 30
25
20
15
10
5
0 Italy Albania Macedonia China Germany Switzerland Turkey
Series 1
List of Imports by Quantity o Manufactured Goods o Food and Live Animals o Mineral Fuels o Machinery and Transport Equipment o Chemicals
Kosovo is a country that exports far less than it imports. Most of the things the country imports are manufactured goods (iPhones, computers, kitchen utensils, etc.) The country of Kosovo also imports raw materials, food, and fuel. (balkaneu.com) Top 5 Imports of Kosovo
Manufactured Goods Food and Live Animals Mineral Fuels Machinery and Transport Equipment Chemicals
(balkaneu.com)
List of Top Import Partners by % 14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0 Germany Macedonia Serbia Turkey Italy China Albania
Series 1
(balkaneu.com)
Problems of Scarcity
There could be an argument made for scarcity in the country of Kosovo. However, that argument fails to take into account the fact that Kosovo is a country that is just now developing. Kosovo’s economy is currently rapidly growing and importing lots of raw material is a necessity for building infrastructure and other things that countries need to be successful. In short, yes, Kosovo is experiencing scarcity with the amount of resources that they are importing vs. exporting. Despite this, Kosovo does not a have a problem; they are a developing country that is well on its way to becoming an international economic contender.
Kosovo imports 6.5 times more than it exports (cia.gov)
Trade Balance
There is no denying that Kosovo has a huge trade deficit. It imports considerably more material than it exports, but this is not as huge of a problem as it seems. Kosovo is a developing country, and one that has experienced many external conflicts and economic hardships. Kosovo is in an economic upswings, and it financial partners with many economic superpowers (Italy, Germany, China, etc.)(cia.gov). Furthermore, Kosovo has excellent diplomatic relations with its neighboring countries (Albania, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, etc.), meaning Kosovo is safe from conflict and has many economic crutches it can lean on.
Exchange Rates
Although Kosovo is not technically a member of the Eurozone, it officially adopted the Euro as its currency in 2002. This is excellent for the Kosovan economic situation because many of its trade partners also use the Euro, making trading easy and (relatively) straightforward. Also, countries that do not use the Euro (China, United Kingdom, United States, etc.) trade with Euro-using nations daily, making the currency with Kosovo a familiar process. Currently, one USD is worth .88 Euros (xe.com). Inflation in Kosovo by Year (%) 9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 2007 2010 2011 2013 2016
Series 1
(xe.com)
Because Kosovo is such a small country, its inflation rate has been rather wild. Compared to the United States’ 0.9%, Kosovo is inflating rather quickly.
Unemployment Rate 2016 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Series 1
(xe.com) Kosovo has had a long and crippling past of unemployment. Despite this, the unemployment rate does not show the large number of unofficial jobs, and it is on the decline.
Political System The country of Kosovo is a disputed territory located in Southeast Europe. The government is considered a Republic. It is a relatively new government, with the Constitution being officially adopted in 2008. Despite the nation’s bloody and chaotic past, it is now a relatively stable state that has functioning executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Kosovo is considered a free market economy, meaning there is little regulation and most industries are controlled by a small number of companies. Although the country was once in shambles, it is now recovering and heading towards a successful and stable future.
Kosovo is officially a republic after adopting a constitution in 2008 (globaledge.msu). Very similar to the United States government, Kosovo has three branches; executive, judicial, and legislative. The executive branch is primarily composed of two different people, the prime minister and the president. The prime minister is in charge of day-to-day activities while the president is a representation of the people. The judicial branch is the highest court in the country and is the group that decides on issues regarding the constitution. The legislative branch of the government is primarily responsible for passing laws and ratifying treaties. Together, they form a stable governmental system that has many different checks and balances to ensure a stable and successful leadership.
Political Parties
Democratic Party of Kosovo o Holds 32% of parliamentary seats o Initially a socialist party before the breakup of the KLA, they are now a progressive democratic party. Democratic League of Kosovo o Holds 25% of parliamentary seats o A more conservative liberal party, the DLK is the second largest party in Kosovo, and it combines democratic and republican ideas. Self-Determination o Holds 13% of parliamentary seats o Self-Determination is a radical party that holds nationalistic views about blocking any and all involvement from other countries. Alliance for the Future of Kosovo o Holds 11% of parliamentary seats o Just slightly to the right of the political spectrum, they are one of Kosovo’s largest political parties.
Leadership
President o Atifete Jahjaga Prime Minister o Isa Mustafa
Stability of Government
The near future of Kosovo is uncertain. In the late 1990’s, Kosovo was involved in a violent conflict with many other countries in Eastern Europe. Lasting over a year, this conflict resulted in a “systematic campaign of terror, including murders, rapes arsons and severe maltreatments.” (news.bbc.co.uk) Because of this, the country of Kosovo has been slow to recover, with many side effects of the conflict still lingering.
Legal System
Kosovo utilizes a standardized law system known as the Continental European Law System.
Suffrage
In Kosovo, people over the age of 18 are legally allowed to vote in elections.
Flag
(images.google.com)
Trade Laws Introduction
Kosovo is a newly-created capitalistic republic. Because of this, trade is largely unregulated and market-based. However, there is still much political and economic turmoil in the country of Kosovo. There are very high tax rates that target the wealthy and extensive importing laws and regulations that prevents people from brining in things like jewelry and pornography. Kosovo has come a long ways since the Bosnian conflict, but the country of Kosovo still has its own problems.
Tariffs and Taxes
Kosovo relies on many different avenues when it comes to taxing the economy, but Kosovo receives most of its revenue sales tax. In 2015, the tax rate for all goods and services in Kosovo was 16%. Corporations also face a corporate income tax at 10%. While there are other forms of taxation (Property, social security, income, etc.) they are, for the most part, unsubstantial (doiongbusiness.org). Kosovo also has a 10% tax on all goods imported into the country. Despite this, there are some exceptions. For example, gasoline and other petroleum products are not taxed. Wheat and corn products also face a lessened tax burden at 5% (rks- gov.net).
Trade Laws
Prohibited and Restricted Imports
While Kosovo is a relatively unregulated country, there are certain items that are banned from being imported by individuals and corporations. Here is list of restricted items:
Works of Art Carpets Antiques and Jewelry Appliances and Electronics Alcohol Tobacco
Now, here is list of items that are prohibited from entering the country with no exceptions.
Narcotics Pornography Subversive Material Explosives Ammunition Weapons of any kind
Embargoes
Due to the recent conflicts in Kosovo, the United Nations has imposed arms embargoes on the nation of Kosovo (pbs.org). Part of UN Security Council Resolution 1160, this embargo prevents Kosovo (Formally Yugoslavia) from importing weapons, ammunition, and explosives of any kind. The goal of this resolution was to help resolve the terrorist acts that the Kosovo Liberation Army was conducting.
Trade Agreements
Kosovo is currently involved in only one trade agreement, the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). The CEFTA is a trade agreement between European countries that are not currently members of the European Union. While Kosovo is in the very beginning steps of joining the EU, it is still part of the CEFTA and enjoys its benefits. The primary use of the CEFTA is to ensure open trading markets across all of the countries outside of the EU.
Population Total Population
There are currently 1.824 million people living in the country of Kosovo.
Growth Rates
Population in Millions 3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Kosovo Albania Macedonia
(pbs.org)
As with most Eastern European nations, there was a lot of political turmoil in the 1990’s, which is abundantly evident in this population graph. Birth Rates
Crude Birth Rate per 1000 People 35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Kosovo Albania Macedonia
(pbs.org)
Evidently, the birth rate in these Eastern European countries are falling. Beginning somewhere in the late 1980’s, the birth rates begin to fall. This around the time that the Soviet Union began to disintegrate, allowing for revolutions, civil wars and other conflicts to arise.
Life Expectancy Rates
Life Expectancy Rate in Years 78
76
74
72
70
68
66
64
62
60 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Kosovo Albania Macedonia
(cia.gov)
Fortunately for the citizens of Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia, life expectancy rates are at an all-time high and show no signs of slowing down. A good point to bring up is the dip in growth in the 1990’s. This is most likely because of the severe conflicts going on in Europe around this time.
Distribution of Population
Population Distribution by Age 450000
400000
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0 0-14 15-24 25-54 55-64 65+
Men Women
(cia.gov)
This chart shows the population distribution between men and women throughout all ages of life. It is not hard to gleam the Kosovo is largely made up of younger, working-age people. This is excellent because most of these people are either children or are of the age to have children. These two demographics are the two strongest influences in CWI’s goal to bring clean water to Kosovo.
Most Populated Cities
Five Largest Kosovan Cities by Population 160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0 Prishtina Prizen Gjilan Peje Mitrovica
City
(cia.gov)
Due to the geographical nature of Kosovo, all of its largest cities reside in the central/eastern regions of the country. Prishtina, the capital, is by far it largest city and is home to Kosovo’s financial elite. The CWI does not wish to target those with financial resources in a metropolis. Instead, CWI intends to reach out into rural Kosovo, the central and western regions, in order to help bring water to those in need.
Diet and Nutrition Typical Meals
Kosovo, as a nation, is not one of great interest from a cookery standpoint. For breakfast, Kosovan people eat a small and simple meal of breads, cheeses and milk. In Kosovo, lunch and dinner are regarded equally in terms of importance, size and type of food eaten. The most popular dishes are peppers and sausage. Kosovo is also renowned for its pies as well as its wines.
Meat Consumption per Capita
Meat Consumption per Capita in Kilograms 140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0 Kosovo Albania Macedonia Serbia Bosnia United States
Country
(cia.gov)
Gleaming data from this chart shows that Kosovo is not unique in how much meat in consumes, especially when compared to similar countries in Eastern Europe. However, compared to the United States, one finds that Kosovan people eat only a fraction of what the average American consumes every year.
Percent of Population Obese
Population Obesity Rates by Country 35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 Kosovo Albania Macedonia Serbia United States
Country
(cia.gov)
Obesity rates, much like the meat consumption per capita graph, are very much similar to the neighboring countries of Kosovo (cia.gov). Furthermore, the United States once again tops the list, and comes in at #17 when compared to obesity rates across the globe (cia.gov)
Daily Calorie Intake per Capita
Daily Calorie Intake per Capita 4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0 Kosovo Albania Macedonia Bosnia United States
Country
(cia.gov)
The country of Kosovo ranks relatively low when concerned with caloric intake (chartsbin.com). In fact, Kosovo ranks low when compared to similar countries in Eastern Europe. The United States, once again, dominates that chart with nearly 4,000 calories a day.
Housing Introduction
While Kosovo may be seen as the “ugly” part of Europe, the country itself has many of the traits that some of the other countries in the western world. Most of the country’s population lives in relatively large houses and typically have access to many of the things Americans have become accustomed to. This may include internet access, a subscription to a mobile telephone service or simply turning on the television. Kosovo has a lot of catching up to do in terms of being equal with the superpowers of Europe, but they are on the right track.
Typical Housing Structures
During the Kosovar conflict with Armenia, Bosnia and other neighboring countries, more than 80% of the existing housing structures were destroyed (unesco.org). The consequential instability of the ruling government also had a helping hand in the lack of infrastructural maintenance throughout the nation. Because of this, there is really only one type of housing structure- the Kulla (unesco.org). A Kulla is usually a two or three story structure that typically has a square floor plan. The Kulla reflects the more traditional housing situation that was found in Kosovo before the was plunged into conflict.
Housing Statistics
Average Number of Persons per Household 6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Kosovo Serbia Moldova United States
(nationmaster.com) Average Number of Rooms per Household 6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Kosovo Albania Serbia United States
(nationmaster.com)
Communications
There is no secret that Kosovo is behind in terms of living conditions and infrastructural standards when compared to the rest of Europe. Despite this, the telephone communication systems in Kosovo are quite good. Nearly 74% of the Kosovar population is subscribed to a mobile phone service (usaid.gov). Internet service, however, is still low at 35.02% of all households (art-ks.org). Television and radio services, too, are far from perfect. The government of Kosovo funds and regulates all forms of media that reach the public through television and radio. While Kosovo is certainly far from third-world standards, Kosovo is catching up to the rest of the western world.
Transportation Due to geographic size of Kosovo, the nation’s transportation system is relatively straightforward and simple. There is plenty of paved roads as well as a well-established rail system that flows throughout the country. Interestingly, Kosovo is so small that there is only one major motorway (Similar to an Interstate in the United States). Miles of Road 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Paved Roads Unpaved Roads
Miles of Road
(cia.gov)
It is evident in Kosovo that there are far more paved roads than not. This is ideal because as a landlocked nation, it will be easy to ship goods in and out of Kosovo using the existing roadway system.
Number of Kilometeres of Railways and Waterways 350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0 Railway Waterway
Travel Path
(cia.gov) Because Kosovo is a relatively new country, it has not had much time to develop its infrastructure in terms of railways. This could potentially raise prices of goods being imported into the country because the railways are only going to travel through the largest Kosovar cities. Furthermore, the country is landlocked, meaning there is absolutely no way to get goods in and out of the country via ship.
Number of Airports 3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0 Paved Runways Unpaved Runways
Airports
(cia.gov)
While the data above may not seem very impressive, the size of the country relative to the number of airports is quite promising. Having six different airports brings a lot of flexibility should there be an emergency where the CWI needs to bring in or move out anything in an emergency type situation.
Labor Job Market and Availability
In Kosovo, anyone can apply for a job and work. However, many of these jobs that people typically work (government office jobs, lignite mining jobs and automotive manufacturing jobs) don’t pay well and benefits are often extremely rare (indeed.com). The national minimum wage in Kosovo is 170£ per month, or around $190 in USD. The official working age in Kosovo is 18 years-old (rks-gov.net). However, this rule is largely unenforced in the rural parts of Kosovo where many minors work on farms or in mines.
Industries
Kosovo is largely considered a “blue-collard” economy, meaning, the largest sectors of employment are industries that do not require or even recommend a higher education. The largest sector of employment in Kosovo is that of the mining industry. Kosovo has billions of dollars of lignite (coal) deposits in western Kosovo. The second largest sector in Kosovo is, unsurprisingly, the energy industry. Kosovo is energized by just two different power plants, both of which are highly-polluting lignite burners. These two industries comprise a large portion of the Kosovar workforce.
Workday
A typical working day or week in Kosovo is nearly identical to those of the United States. For example, the standard work week is 40 hours, usually from 9am-5pm. However, there are some benefits that Kosovar workers get. The minimum length for paid maternity leave in Kosovo is 270 days. There is also a law that states a worker cannot work for more than six days in one working week. It is also mandated that Kosovar workers must wait at least 12 hours between working shifts. Despite the low wages, Kosovo offers many benefits and protections for its working population. (doingbusiness.org)
Education Because Kosovo is a new and developing nation, the education system has relatively low standards when compared to the rest of the world (rks-gov.net). Something else that affects the education system in Kosovo is that most of the desirable jobs in Kosovo (i.e. mining, transportation and factory technician) are low skilled jobs that do not require an education. Because of this, education is only required up until the age of 15. This means that a secondary education, or known as high school in the United States, is optional. Literacy Rate 102
100
98
96
94
92
90
88
86 Kosovo United States Germany China
Literacy Rate
(doingbusiness.org)
As is evident from the graph above, Kosovo is lacking behind some of the economic super powers. However, Kosovo is still developing its educational system, and the literacy rate is still above 90%.
120
100
80
60
40
20
0 Kosovo United States
Secondary Education Enrollment Rate Post-Secondary Education Enrollment Rate
(doingbusiness.org) Clearly, Kosovo is not a place of particularly well-educated individuals. Compared to the United States, Kosovo only educates a fraction of its citizens. This graph illustrates the need for reform in the Kosovar government as well as an opportunity for the CWI to make a difference.
Clothing Business Attire
Business dress in Kosovo is very similar to the United States as well as many of the other western countries in Europe. Men typically wear business suits while women wear an equivalent. It is usually formal to wear slacks, a pressed shirt, tie and blazer. Smoking cigarettes is still quite popular in Kosovo as well as many Kosovar business settings, so it is a good idea to bring cigarettes and a lighter to any sort of business encounter (Kosovo Country Study Guide)
Traditional clothing in Kosovo often comes from ethnic history and nationality. Most of the traditional costumes in Kosovo come from Serbian or Albanian origins. Men would typically wear a white dress shirt with some sort of colorful vest to match. It was also common for the men to wear a colorful turban with their dress. Women wore a similar dress of bright colors. Women typically wore a fabric shirt that way cut off at the elbows and tipped with white lace. There is also usually an accompanying hat that is big, round and fitted with gold lace (thelovelyplanet.com).
It would not be difficult to make a case for interesting fashion within Kosovo and its large cities. The people of Kosovo often borrow many different fashion styles and influences from western countries such as Britain, France and the United States (tripadvisor.com). The way they borrow this fashion, however, is quite different from the way westerners are used to seeing. For example, there is a store in Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, named Hillary because the entire store is stocked with replicas of outfits that Hillary Clinton has been seen wearing (vice.com).
Recreation and Leisure While the nation of Kosovo is not of great geological size or population, it still offers many forms of entertainment familiar to those in the West. Football (not the American kind) is among many sports such as basketball and wrestling that are played on the professional level in Kosovo. Kosovo also has a bustling media presence with large film festivals and popular pop artists originating in Kosovo. Football, however, it at the heart of Kosovar pride.
Football is by far the most popular sport in Kosovo (korneri.net). The first documented game of football dates back to 1914, when Kosovo was still a part of Serbia (korneri.net). Football is most commonly played between children. However, Kosovo does have its own professional football league of which there are 12 teams. It was only this year that FIFA, the organization behind the World Cup, recognized the Kosovo National Football Team (KNFT) (thenational.com). Kosovar people also like to enjoy some more solitary activities. Despite its size, Kosovo has a relatively large movie production industry. Most Kosovar films are produced by Kosovafilm, a state-run corporation that is in charge of producing media for the country- similar to BBC (imdb.com). Kosovo also has several annual film festivals. The largest of these film festivals, Dokufest, is a three day event that attracts filmmakers from around the country, as well as around the world (dokufest.com). Dokufest is renowned for its size, as well as the variety of media that is presented during the event.
Music is another popular form of entertain in Kosovo. Because the majority of the Kosovar population is Albanian, the vast majority of music that is listened to is of Albanian origin (telegrafi.com). Many popular Albanian artists will tour Kosovo due to its large fan base. Rita Orca, an international pop artist, was born in Kosovo and found her way to fame through Albanian music found throughout Southeastern Europe.
Due to the friendly diplomatic relations between the United States of America and Kosovo, no American citizen needs a visa to enter Kosovo. The only requirement is that the individual traveling has a valid American passport (mfa-ks.org).
Language National or Official Language
The official languages of the nation of Kosovo are Albanian and Serbian (cia.gov)
Dialects of Minor Languages
Serbian o The second largest ethnic group in Kosovo is that of the Serbs. This ethnic group belongs to Serbia and can trace its roots back to Russia. Bosnian o Because of the Bosnian war, many people were displaced and those Bosnian people who were found in Kosovo during Kosovo’s declaration of Independence remained there. Turkish o Because Turkey is another largely Muslim country in Europe, many people travel between the two nations and, consequently, some stay. (cia.gov)
World Languages
Language Spoken by Millions of People 2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0 Albanian Bosnian Serbian Turkish Roma Unspecified
(infoplease.com)
Most spoken languages in Kosovo Albanian o 92.9% Bosnian o 1.7% Serbian o 1.6% Turkish o 1.1% Roma o 0.9% Unspecified o .1%
Top 10 most influential languages
1. Hindustani 2. Japanese 3. German 4. Portuguese 5. Russian 6. Mandarin 7. Arabic 8. Spanish a. While not quite as spectacular as French and English, Spanish is still an exceptionally popular second language that can be found pretty much anywhere in the western hemisphere. 9. French a. Internationally recognized, French is the official language of more than 25 countries around the globe. 10. English a. The most spoken language in the world. There are more than 500 million native speakers and almost 2 billion use English to communicate on a daily basis.
(list25.com)
Religion General Description
The country of Kosovo is one of great religious diversity. The three largest and most popular religions, Islam, Orthodoxy and Catholicism, live together in harmony. By far, the most popular religion in Kosovo is Islam (crisisgroup.org). Nearly 87% of all Kosovan people regularly practice Islam. Orthodoxy and Catholicism, however, only make up another % of the Kosovan population (city-journal.org).
Types of Religions
Different Religions in Kosovo by % of Population
Muslim Orthodox Catholic Athiest/Agnostic
(city-jounral.org) Because Kosovo is primarily composed of Albanian people, the former Serbian country is largely Muslim. This happened because Kosovo is far away from the Vatican, and closer to more Islamic influences such as the middle-east.
Effects of Religions
Kosovo is an oddity in the European continent. Because the majority of the Kosovan population, one would think that relationships between non-Muslim countries would be strained, but the opposite is true (city-journal.org). Kosovo is overwhelmingly pro-American, and it has an excellent relationship with Israel. Unlike most Islamic countries, Kosovo does not rely on the Islamic faith to feel a sense of identity. Instead, Islam is simply a means of worshipping god.
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Dragnich, Alex N. "THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO." How Yugoslav Communists Tried to Solve Kosovo Problem. N.p., Apr. 1995. Web. 19 May 2016. Dumanlı, Ahu Gümrah, and Alan H. Windle. "Carbon Fibres from Cellulosic Precursors: A Review." J Mater Sci Journal of Materials Science47.10 (2012): 4236-250. Scrip.org. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 24 Aug. 2012. Web. 20 May 2016. "Electrical Energy in Kosovo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Mar. 2016. Web. 19 May 2016.
"EUR per 1 USD - Past 24 Hrs." XE: (USD/EUR) US Dollar to Euro Rate. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2016. Feinth, Edgar L. PERESTROIKA AND RUBLE CONVERTIBILITY (n.d.): n. pag. Objecto. Web. 19 May 2016.
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Country Study Guide Strategic Information and Developments, 2013. Web. 20 May 2016. "Kosovo Energy Stats: NationMaster.com." NationMaster.com. NationMaster, n.d. Web. 19 May 2016. "Kosovo." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 20 May 2016. "Kosovo Natural Gas - Consumption." - Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2016. "Kosovo Profile - Leaders." BBC News. BBC, 16 July 2015. Web. 19 May 2016. "Kosovo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 May 2016. "Labor Market Regulation in Kosovo - Doing Business - World Bank Group." Labor Market Regulation in Kosovo - Doing Business - World Bank Group. World Bank Group, 2016. Web. 20
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Recipes
Llokuma are relatively easy to prepare, with ingredients you’re likely to have to hand in your kitchen, but served to make a day feel special; for example a perfect Sunday breakfast.
Served with the yoghurt and garlic dip they are also the perfect hangover cure.
In traditional Kosovan weddings when the bridegroom’s party of male friends (minus the groom) has set off to collect the bride from her home, superstition says that they must return a different way from the route they took to her house. On their journey, they stop off at a friends who will serve them llokuma.
Llokuma are also made when a baby is born.
Last time I counted, the recipe made 32 pieces.
Beat two eggs in a bowl.
Add a cup of yoghurt.
Add half a cup of sparkling water.
Add 1.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda.
In a larger bowl, mix 450g of plain flour with a tablespoon of baking powder and a palmful of salt.
Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and fold together.
Add more flour if the mixture is too wet – it shouldn’t stick to your fingers – and then decant from the bowl and lightly roll in flour on a surface.
Press out to 0.5 cm thick.
Cut into rectangles 3cm x 5cm.
Put into smoking vegetable oil (at a depth of a little more than 0.5 cm).
The llokuma should puff up to four times their thickness in the oil. Turn them as soon as they start to brown. Eat immediately. Etiquette Information
1. Greetings a. Always warm and heartfelt b. Starts and ends with a handshake c. Always a handshake after a meeting has concluded d. Ask about the host’s family e. Greet in native language (Albanian) 2. Meetings a. Usually held in offices, cafes or restaurants b. Usually smoke cigarettes c. Always bring a lighter or a pack of cigarettes d. Business hours are from 800-1700 e. While formal, personal relationships are important 3. Names a. Always call a superior by their professional title b. Do not ask for someone else’s name c. If you need a name, ask a superior to introduce the two of you 4. Gifts a. Expected to give gifts during business transactions b. Recommended to give gifts during personal interactions c. Expect to receive gifts, but not from inferiors 5. Dress a. Expected to dress less formally b. Okay to talk about personal life c. Jeans and shirt are OK
Country Selection Letter
A Long Company Memo
To: Mike Rogan, Jeremy Sinks
From: Austin Long
cc: Mike Rogan, Jeremy Sinks
Date: [Date]
Re: Non-Profit
There is no better way to advocate a point, or to alleviate societal problems, than to start a nonprofit. After much deliberation, I have assembled a few different plans that take place in countries around the world. By using resources such as the CSBeast spreadsheet and CIA database, I have constructed plans that could make real differences for those in need. Cambodia – Elementary Schools Because the people of Cambodia are relatively poor, education in Cambodia is few and far between. Nobody deserves to be robbed of an education, so I have put plans together to build elementary schools to help educate those in need. Kosovo – Water Well The country of Kosovo, located in Eastern Europe, is in dire need of clean water. Because the country is constantly in conflict, its infrastructure is crumbling, leaving thousands without clean, running water. Laos – Drug Rehabilitation Center The country of Laos is currently facing a crippling methamphetamine problem. In order to combat this, a drug rehabilitation center that provided affordable treatment while supporting anonymity for the patients would be an immense help to the people of Laos. There are people all over the world who are in need. We are in the fortunate position to help some of those people and the option listed above would all be effective choices. Thank you for your time and Consideration.