With unwavering commitment, the Organization for Integration and Social Development – Follow UP has spent four years supporting women and girls who have experienced domestic violence, helping them reintegrate into society. At the same time, it aims not only to support women and girls in this process but also to advocate and educate, spreading its message as widely as possible.

The work with these women and girls is multifaceted, offering support and assistance in various forms tailored to their needs throughout the process.

“We have helped women who had never worked before, including women with disabilities, by assisting with basic needs like obtaining an ID card and helping them find jobs,” says Ermira Tafarshiku from Follow UP.

Follow UP also provides institutional support to relevant stakeholders, strengthening the capacities of officials involved in supporting survivors of domestic violence, both directly and indirectly.

To ensure sustainability and long-term cooperation, communication with these women continues even after they have secured housing or employment. They stay in touch with the organization, sharing their successes and achievements.

According to Ermira, who works closely and dedicatedly with these women and girls, the ongoing communication and their achievements bring a sense of fulfillment to the organization’s team. “We don’t just help them once; the goal is to continue following their progress,” she says.

After leaving the shelters, Follow UP assists them in finding work and securing housing. While these processes are challenging, the organization has established sustainable partnerships with reliable partners.

“The women we assist face many challenges. For example, we often encounter businesses that are hesitant to hire them, believing they will bring various problems,” says Ermira.

In addition to working directly with victims of domestic violence, particularly women and girls, Follow UP seeks to prevent further violence by educating and advocating for younger generations on sexual education issues.

In 2023, the Follow UP organization published an analysis on the inclusion of sexual education topics in the school curriculum. The research highlighted the need for changes in the Civic Education subject for grades 10 and 11, as well as the Sociology subject for grade 12. The analysis also served as the foundation for a more in-depth study of the Civic Education subject and the issue of school infrastructure.

“Previous research was needed to identify the textbooks used in high schools, examine their shortcomings, and determine what needs improvement,” says Kaltrina Zhushi, a researcher involved in this year’s initiative.

In this year’s research, it was decided to observe five high schools in Prishtina, with one teacher per school, during Civic Education classes, with two lessons per teacher. During the observations, classroom dynamics were assessed to determine whether they favored girls or boys and to what extent the gender perspective could be integrated into the lessons.

According to Kaltrina Zhushi, the researcher who conducted the observations, the findings were disappointing. There is a lack of opportunity and capacity among teachers to integrate gender perspectives. Additionally, the topics covered in these classes do not provide space for making such connections.

The emphasis on gender issues in the Civic Education curriculum varies depending on the school type: high schools with a social orientation address these topics more, while vocational schools focus primarily on vocational subjects, often neglecting social issues.

During the observations, the schools’ infrastructure was also analyzed to assess whether the institutions and facilities provide opportunities for inclusion. “We found that most schools, particularly new facilities, tend to have better infrastructure. However, there are still gaps in making the schools accessible to people with disabilities,” says Kaltrina.

The main finding of the research is that teachers have limited opportunities to integrate a gender perspective due to a lack of adequate training.

This initiative is supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund with a grant of €9,930.75, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).