Site Profiles: Interviewee Areas of Kosovo

Southwestern Pristina Municipality- Gracanica, Preoce, Livadje, Laplje Selo & Caglavica
Site Profiles: Gracanica | Preoce | Livadje

Southwestern Pristina Municipality- Preoce

Preoce is the poorest interviewee area in southwestern Pristina municipality. They have much less freedom of movement and economic/ educational opportunity than other residents of the area due to their location. Preoce lies on the other side of the Pristina-Skopje �highway.� Preoce lies roughly 9 KM south of Pristina. Security & Transportation Preoce�s freedom of movement is limited to the Serb/ Roma areas of Bresje and Ugljare (Kosovo Polje) via the KFOR road. Preoce residents can access Čaglavica, Laplje Selo and Gracanica by crossing the main Pristina-Skopje �highway,� but the road continues to act as a psychological barrier, as well as an economic one. Preoce�s residents must access Gracanica for further travel options.

Economy & Infrastructure

Preoce�s farmers can access most of their agricultural land. A few corrugated metal shacks function as shops that are overpriced in comparison to Gracanica. They are little-used. Preoce�s electricity is intermittent at best due to the age of the transformer unit.  Preoce�s phone lines are disabled.

Preoce is 98% unemployed. A few families receive social assistance from UNMIK. There is little NGO activity.  

Education

Preoce has one primary school- a satellite school of Gracanica �s Kralj Milutin School . Children must attend secondary school in either Gracanica or Laplje Selo; UNMIK provides transportation.

Roma

Preoce�s Roma Mahala is on the northern end of the village, at the edge of arable land. The Mahala streets are unpaved; there is no functioning sewage system.

Preoce�s Roma, compared to undue attention focused on other, more visible Kosovo Mahalas, are neglected by the international community. Preoce�s Roma benefit from little NGO activity, with the exception of ineffective cultural celebrations that last a day or two and then end.  The now-defunct NGO Children�s Aid Direct delivered food in Preoce as implementers to UNHCR and the UN�s World Food Program, but these deliveries have since been discontinued.

Preoce�s Roma