Let’s Dance marks 10 years of support for mothers and children in Kosovo

Action for Mothers and Children (AMC) marked a decade of Let’s Dance on Wednesday, bringing together hundreds of supporters for an evening of music, dancing and a united community.

The evening highlighted some of the work AMC has carried out over the last 10 years to improve the health and well-being of families across Kosovo. More than 40,000 euros were raised through this edition, which will support AMC’s programmes to create better health opportunities and conditions for more women, mothers, children and families.

“Our philanthropic evening, which for years has united and mobilised the community to improve the health of women, mothers and children, is celebrating its tenth anniversary tonight. Our Let’s Dance, too, like a long dance, began with small steps, just like AMC’s work. But the rhythm has quickened with the implementation of many projects. For a decade, the same mission has united us,” said AMC’s Executive Director, Rina Demiri Spahija.

This year’s jubilee edition brought live music from String String and other special performances. Guests were welcomed to the event by cellist Arzie Jusufi.

The official programme opened with two songs performed by singer Dalina Haxhiu and pianist Elsa Gashi, who joined Let’s Dance 10 through AMC’s cooperation with Chopin Piano Fest Prishtina. DJ Adrian Berisha kept the festive atmosphere going throughout the night.

The evening also recalled the beginnings of Let’s Dance and honoured the contribution of Michael Gold, Linda Baleta and Zana Aqifi, who helped create the event a decade ago. All three were honoured with the Let’s Dance Founders’ Award, in gratitude for their vision and for creating a tradition that continues to bring people together in support of mothers and children in Kosovo.

Those present also heard the story of Blerina Çibukçiu, who shared her experience with her son, Darsi, who was born prematurely and was treated with surfactant and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment provided through AMC’s medical aid programme.

“When a child is born this early, as a parent you don’t know what awaits you. You face fear, uncertainty and many questions. But above all, you hope that this great challenge with which his life has begun will one day turn into a victory. And that is exactly where my story with AMC began, even though I didn’t know it at the time.

During my time in hospital, the doctors would tell me: ‘Darsi is lucky. Right in this period we have surfactant that arrived as a donation from America.’

From that moment I felt an extraordinary gratitude, without knowing who had brought that donation, without knowing the people behind it, and without knowing that one day I would have the chance to meet them and thank them personally,” said Blerina Çibukçiu.

For 10 years, Let’s Dance has brought together individuals, businesses, partners and friends of AMC around a common goal: to help ensure that mothers and children in Kosovo have access to the healthcare and support they need.

The funds raised through Let’s Dance support AMC’s work in the fields of medical aid, education, advocacy and research.

With the support of important partners such as Americares, AMC has distributed millions of dollars in essential medicines and equipment to public health institutions across Kosovo. Among them is surfactant, a medicine that has helped thousands of prematurely born babies to breathe.

AMC’s James Strickler Fellowship, launched earlier this year, connects health professionals in Kosovo with medical experts from the United States, with the aim of strengthening specialised care and building local capacities.

The first beneficiary of the fellowship, Dr. Robert Gensure, a paediatric endocrinologist from Dartmouth, stayed in Pristina to work directly with local health professionals and continues to offer virtual consultations.

The Mothers’ Classes programme offers pregnant women and new parents evidence-based information and guidance, covering topics from preparing for childbirth to early childhood care and development.

In health institutions, these sessions are held by trained nurses and midwives, through the Health Education and Promotion Rooms, in 17 municipalities. The programme is supported by AMC.

Programmes like these are made possible, in part, thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses and partners who come together every year for Let’s Dance.

The success of Let’s Dance 10 was made possible thanks to the support of the sponsors:

Platinum: Crimson Capital

Gold: Banka Ekonomike, Mentor & Michelle Ahmeti, Albi Fashion, Alexander Chapman,

Silver: Agjencioni për Financim në Kosovë, Coca-Cola HBC, Dukagjini RTV, FINCA Kosovo, Sigal Insurance Group Kosova

Bronze: ACIBADEM, BBros, Besa Pharm and Besa Security, BPB, Distrikti Rotarian 2485 Shqipëri-Kosovë, Endrit Çela, Katror Media, KEP Trust, KRK, Limak Kosovo International Airport J.S.C., Meridian Express and SPAR Kosova, MKY Treuhandpartner GmbH, Ndërtuesi, NLB Banka, Paysera Kosova, SCAMPA, Theranda Wine.

AMC also wishes to thank the many businesses and individuals who offered support: Birra Peja, Chocolate Corner, VM3, Gekos, Meridian Corporation, Radio Urban FM, Telegrafi, 3CIS, Ujë Rugove, Gjirafa.com, KosovaJob.

Special thanks also go to String String, Elsa Gashi, Dalina Haxhiu, Arzie Jusufi and Adrian Berisha, for their artistic contribution to the evening, and to photographer Rexhep Gashi for documenting the event.