The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74929

Peter P. Moschovis, Univ. of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Univ. of Ill at Chicago SPH, 1700 E. 56th St., #3010, Chicago, IL 60646, 773-575-4114, peterm@unchicago.edu

Krushë e Madhe and Krushë e Vogel, two adjacent villages near Prizren, Kosovo, were among those that suffered most during the 1999 war that ravaged the country. The trauma of war left deep scars—both physical and emotional—on those who survived the destruction, and as the international community has sought to restore what was lost, the project of healing victims of trauma has become a major priority.

Soon after the war, millions of dollars of aid poured into the region, and dozens of NGOs mounted high-profile relief efforts. Nearly four years have passed since then, and the work of rebuilding Kosovo continues. Among the few NGOs that remain are faith-based organizations, several of which have taken long-term approaches toward rebuilding the communities they serve. Over the past two years, I traveled three times to Kosovo, documenting the experiences of survivors as well as the work of several NGOs in Krushë e Madhe and Krushë e Vogel.

In this presentation, I outline the history of major issues that remain unresolved among trauma survivors in the two communities. Next, I present the strategies used by three faith-based NGOs, analyzing their respective strengths and weakness. Finally, I sketch a vision for the future of the two communities in light of the contributions of both secular and faith-based NGOs, drawing from the work of Dr. Stevan Weine, a psychiatrist whose work among survivors of war in Bosnia and Kosovo has laid the foundation for current scholarship on community mental health in the Balkans.

Learning Objectives:

After reviewing the poster presentation, observers will be able to:
• Identify the major psychosocial problems faced by war survivors in Kosovo
• Describe several strategies used by faith-based NGOs in rebuilding the lives of Kosovars
• Outline the advantages and disadvantages of faith-based NGOs with respect to their secular counterparts.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.