Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.
I am raising funds for the passion of my life, the completion of the 22 acre Manchester Peace Park in Kosova.
The Park is well on the way and beginning to look fantastic. It serves a community of 130,000 and is constantly full of life: kids playing, elderly people walking in the cool early hours, runners, football clubs training, and people going for quiet reflection and some peace, quiet and privacy. Most of the inhabitants in the region (where there is 80% unemployment) don't have gardens. This park is the first of its kind in Kosova. The Peace Park was designed for MaK by Jane Knight, landscape architect at the Eden Project, with the community. Jane describes it as 'a story of dedication and hope... the best and most significant project I have ever been involved in.' (Eden. The Magazine, Issue 01Summer 08)
The Manchester Peace Park was the request of 5 young cousins from Kosova. They were medically evacuated to Manchester in 1999 with multiple injuries sustained in the massacre of 16 women and children in a hidden, walled garden, at the height of the Balkans ethnic cleansing programme. Eight members of their immediate family and their close friends were killed. The children, who are making a great recovery, now help to lead MaK and all are committed to work for peace and justice.
They believe their recovery was helped by the parks and gardens of Manchester. They chose the park's name and want the Manchester Peace Park to be a symbol of love and hope received in the UK.
They have remembered the victims by planting the flowers their family loved.
Through generous support of volunteers and donations, both money and in kind, we have got a very long way in 8 years. We now have young trainee staff, a manager and 4 young volunteer directors of Art in the Park. Women's groups, teenage boys, artists and young ecologists are involved in the project. Now we want to really develop our work with schools in Kosova and make the fullest possible use of the Peace Park, honouring its purpose as a place of remembrance, learning, sport, creativity, relaxation, play and fun!
Please consider sponsoring me. Donations of any size will really help and go 100% towards the completion of the Manchester Peace Park.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Manchester Aid to Kosovo gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid is added to your donation.
www.makonline.org
