Ukshin Schaefer from Gjakovë/ Đakovica is a young ambitious man whose dream was to finish his education and build a career. But he had to leave those dreams aside and, due to financial struggles, seek employment.

Mr. Schafer, a member of the Egyptian community living in Kosovo, was repatriated from Germany last year.  Mr. Schaefer is a beneficiary of the Self-Employment Programme which helped him in his efforts to establish a fast food business in Gjakovë/ Đakovica, at the beginning of 2020.

Despite the difficulties along the way, Ukshin quickly became a role model for his community, in his tireless efforts to be part of the labor market. He encourages his community and other vulnerable groups to pursue vocational trainings and to use the labour market advantages available to them, as he did himself.

For more than a decade and a half, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo, through the Active Labour Market Programmes (ALMP 2) has offered continuous support to vulnerable groups, with the aim of providing equal training and employment opportunities for all.

In the upcoming weeks, UNDP/ALMP 2 in cooperation with the Kosovo Employment Agency (KEA), will enhance its support to jobseekers in Kosovo, also members of the vulnerable groups, through different active labour market schemes that are soon to be announced. The increased support comes especially during the difficult times of battling with COVID-19 pandemic, as an attempt to provide more opportunities for jobseekers, to support families in Kosovo and also to support labour market institutions’ work during these difficult times.