Widows, the most vulnerable victims of the war, were given priority in this housing reconstruction ministry. Helping Widows in Their Time of Need World Relief and church volunteers partnered to meet the immediate physical and emotional needs of some 700 grieving widows and family members. Albanian-speaking Christian women visited the widows every few days, developing friendships and distributing toiletries, cooking supplies and bedding. In June 2000, World Relief began offering loans to help families restart their businesses and jump-start Kosovo's devastated economy. While bank members revive the local economy, they encourage and hold each other accountable for loan repayments.
Participants are able to support their families while building relationships of trust with others.
In the next year, World Relief's loan program will benefit about 12,000 people, providing loans beyond Pristina and assisting female entrepreneurs. This life-changing ministry is providing a unique Christian witness in a predominantly Muslim nation. Helping Kosovars in the United States World Relief's ministry to Kosovar families extended into the United States. In 1999, more than 1,000 church volunteers welcomed almost 1,000 Kosovar refugees into their U.S. communities. World Relief and church partners in 13 locations helped families locate housing, learn English and find jobs, providing them with needed friendships as they struggled to rebuild their lives in a new land.