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ON THIS PAGE: Dental surgery
/ Purchase of adjoining
land /
Volunteers
needed
In Spring 2003, Smile was invited by the then
Mayor of Gjakove to build a centre in the town. A large plot of
land (565 sq metres) was purchased in May 2003 on the edge of
Gjakove, on a hill overlooking the town (which is only a
10-minute walk away). Construction began in September 2003 and
the final fitting out and furnishing was completed in May 2005.
The building has an exterior layer of thermal cladding to improve heat retention. Local builders and craftsmen were employed for
the construction, providing jobs for approximately 40 workers,
and many Smile team members went out for extended periods to
help with the internal decoration.
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We are using the Centre for:
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Aid storage and distribution by Smile
volunteers |
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Teams Smile ministry teams (short,
medium & long term) and gap years |
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Conference centre Christian
conferences and retreats; sabbaticals |
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The Theological library
is being used by local church leaders |
We
are working towards using the Centre for:
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Education
Job training in IT and English language; base for full-time
Christian schools workers; Christian pre-school for needy
children |
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Evangelism Training for pastors and
church leaders; prayer and healing;
Christian radio station |
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Medical Palliative care; base
for mobile village clinic; counselling for those still
suffering with trauma or bereavement after the war |
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Pictures of the Centre
being built in the
Photo
Gallery |
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The Centre has been funded entirely
by voluntary donations from Smile’s supporters in the UK. It is already helping
to facilitate our humanitarian activities much more efficiently and economically
but our desire is to provide additional services for the local people and
especially medical and training services.
CENTRE MANAGERSWe are delighted with the appointment of Paul and Angela
Maxfield from Glasgow as our Centre Managers. They took up the post on 9 June
2008.
We would like to thank our supporters who have overseen
the running of the Centre for us since its opening and enabled us to put many of
our planned projects into action during that time. We greatly appreciate their
commitment of time and energy for the Lord's work in the Balkans through the
ministry of Smile.
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Paul and Angela bringing shoeboxes to children in Rahavec |
Paul and Angela visiting Roma families – Distributing aid
MEETINGS AT THE CENTRE:
LUK Churches Together Kosova – Clive with team on terrace –
Evening worship
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PURCHASE OF
ADJOINING LAND
Smile has purchased a further 1400 sq metres adjacent to the
Smile Centre, which greatly improves access to the road which
leads from the town. We have constructed a illuminated secure perimeter wall
around the whole site, a driveway and hard standing to provide adequate
parking. We plan to use the new space to build a day care centre
for the disabled and those with learning difficulties, respite care
facilities and a hospice for the terminally ill. At present there are no
facilities like this available in the Balkans. We will also be making a
garden for relaxation and other outdoor activities, and a
vegetable plot.
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Peter Ball starting the Smile
garden alongside the driveway |
IT Training –
Peter Ball holding an agricultural seminar for widows
VOLUNTEERS
Christian volunteers are needed in the following
areas. We would appreciate any length of time you can offer, from 1 week
to 3 months or even a year. If you have any other skills that may be
helpful to our work, we would be delighted to hear from you.
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Librarian to
catalogue the books in the Theological Library and enter them onto a
computer system (1-3 months)
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IT teachers
to teach basic computer skills, Pentium 3 & 4 (1-3 months or longer)
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English teachers
preferably TEFL trained (1-3 months or longer)
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Youth workers
to help run a children’s club
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Medical workers
to help set up the medical clinic at the Smile Centre
and visit families in remote villages who need treatment: doctors,
nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists,
counsellors. We particularly need cardiac, eye and paediatric
specialists.
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Medical staff
to care for those who are physically or mentally disabled, or have
learning difficulties, establish projects at the Smile Centre and
visit them in their homes. There are very limited resources in the
country to help people with such needs, who are often stigmatised
and hidden away.
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Maintenance
person/driver, to help maintain the building and drive our
minibuses. A knowledge of plumbing, electrics and building work
would be advantageous.
Children's meeting – Team
with widows and children – Children receiving shoeboxes |
