ECONOMY-CANDLE
FACTORY
27.06.2003
(Hysni
Recica)
Hello and welcome to UNMIK on air with Sputnik
Kilambi and Mary Ferreira.
Production is what
economy is all about, they say, and it seems that more and more people are
realizing it. Ervina Regjematovic, head of the Bosniak NGO “Hana” from Arberesh
(Vitomirica), a village in the outskirts of
Peja, is a perfect example. She could read the market needs and came up
with a literally bright idea; making decorative and aromatic candles.
Helping minorities and creating
job opportunities was convincing enough for “SAH Kosova” a Swiss Agency for Aid
and Development to donate Ervina 30.000 Euros, to start the business.
Ervina: The aim
of this project is economic development, this project is primarily for women of
Bosniak minority. These women are mostly from families in need, and no one else
is working in their families. This is the only income for them. I think that it is very important for one
village to employ 6-7 women and to help those families in some way.
Ervina:It means a
lot to me, not only financially, but also because you can get out of the home
for a while. We are socializing here
and time is going fast. In some ways you feel different when you are working
and you have a job. If only sales were
better, we would have better and regular salaries. When sale are not so good, salaries are low also. But, we hope
that it will be better
Though these women did not have any experience in the business, they
were keen to learn what it takes, with some help from two trainers from Turkey.
Having a job means a lot to them, and they’re deeply involved in the little
factory: after all, its fate is closely bound to theirs. Even so, Feride
Begulica, who has been working since March, wonders if the product is the right
one.
Feride Begulica: I
think that the sale and income, in some way, of this luxury item is not going
so well. If it were some alimentary
product or something similar, it would be better. But still, I am
satisfied. It is interesting to work
here but the income is quite low for now.
We depend on this income. I love this job, it is interesting, and it
would be better if sales were better.
And indeed in this climate of unemployment and poverty, it is not easy
to find people looking for decorative candles. Ervina
Ervina: For now,
finding a market is very difficult, Kosovo is the only market we have,
therefore our biggest customers are KFOR soldiers. I think that the project is
a very good one but having in mind circumstances it is not going that well, I
think that the economic situation is in question.
Every beginning is difficult, says Ervina, and hopes things will change
for the better. Currently they are producing around 300 candles of various
forms and sizes each day.
Ervina: We hope and
we will try to increase production, but for the moment we lack the necessary candle
frames. I think the prices are real, at first we weren’t sure whether people
would buy them, and the prices were a bit lower, now we have a steady price,
which is only covering our expenses and it cannot be lower. Our plans for the
future are to further improve, and eventually to find a market outside Kosovo.
So light up a candle, and help the
resourceful women of Arberesh. That’s all for today, thanks for listening and
stay tuned for more.