Rita has always felt a deep connection to nature and its healing properties. Her dream was to harness the power of medical and aromatic plants to benefit both her community’s well-being and her own livelihood. However, it wasn’t until she received the financial support from CARE, that her dream began to flourish.
The received grant allowed Rita to invest in essential infrastructure, including the greenhouse and sustainable farming equipment. She established a small greenhouse to nurture delicate plant species and extend her growing season. With this grant, she gained economic stability, additional knowledge, personal activation that improved her health and a better prospective for the future.
Through her hard work and the support of the CARE grant, Rita not only realized her dream but also became a respected figure in the field of botany and in her community.
Rita quoted: “I am a farmer; I plant and cultivate medicinal and aromatic plants. In addition to loving this job, I have initiated it to raise the family income. I took part in the training organized by CARE project, received the greenhouse and equipment, and initiated the business. Together with my family members, I have made long-term plans for the development of our agribusiness. The major benefit from this project is that firstly, I now know that I have a job, a safe job. I can work from home, earn a living, and take secure steps to expand my business.”
Rita was supported by the IWKA project with an in-kind grant of 10,000 EUR which included a greenhouse of 200m2, agriculture machinery to prepare the land, and solar systems to become self-sustainable. She now cultivates Medical and Aromatic Plants and harvests wild forest products in Kishnica, Graçanica/Gračanica Municipality.
The project “Inclusion of Women in Kosovo Agribusiness – IWKA” is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Cooperation and Economic Development (BMZ) through Engagement Global gGmbH, and implemented by CARE International and local partner organizations: Kosovo-Women 4 Women (K-W4W) and the Civil Right Program Kosovo (CRP/K).
