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WPS Shows Kosovo Visitors What Makes a Community Work 

Visitors from Kosovo are going back to their home country with a new perspective on how to make their communities stronger by meeting the needs of its citizens. Organized through Rotary International and the Congressional Office for International Leadership Open World Program, the seven member delegation met with local leaders in Westminster to focus on effective governance. Discussions centered around how local governments can best come together to provide citizens with access to things like education and health care.


Chief Operating Officer Dr. James Duffy represented Westminster Public Schools and its community partners, discussing topics like parks and open spaces, the arts and parental involvement. He also shared an early Thanksgiving meal with the visitors served by the district’s culinary services team. Afterward they told Duffy it was the best meal they had been served during their visit. 


In a report to the Board of Education about the cultural exchange of ideas, Duffy said one of the most interesting discussions was about the unique school structure in Kosovo, where Albanian and Serbian students are taught in the same building but with different languages and standards. 


Kosovo, with a population of just less than two million people, is located in Southeast Europe south of Serbia. In 2008, the United States recognized Kosovo after its war of independence from Serbia. 


The Open World Program is available to Rotary clubs in the United States and provides an opportunity to build fellowship and friendship to strengthen international understanding by hosting emerging Eurasian leaders.