By Rinë Fetahu, YES 2013-2014, Kosovo, hosted by American Councils in Baton Rouge, LA

It was a combination of the two things I love the most: desserts and contributing to the community, all thanks to Andi Jashari, Ena Cekic, and Rona Peteni, alumni of the newly returned 2016 YES generation.

These three new, inspiring alumni organized a bake sale from August 28-29, 2016 to raise funds to support the education of children from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in Kosovo. Andi, Ena, and Rona worked with a team of volunteers to make homemade cookies and desserts, which they then sold at a stand in Mother Theresa square in Prishtina. They coined their booth, "The Sweet Tooth Booth.”

The first day of the project was a Sunday and the square was filled with the weekend spirit of enjoying walks and coffee in the amazing weather. Many citizens came to talk to us about the project and we got the chance to share the importance of helping all children receive a proper education. They donated, praised us for our work, and got a homemade dessert to have with coffee. Thanks to strong promotion of the event on social media, some community members not only came to buy goods and offer donations, but also to contribute their own homemade desserts for selling.

Monday marked the beginning of the work week, and the square was filled with people who were walking to work, off to their lunch breaks, or simply out and about living their daily routine. Still, many stopped by the Sweet Tooth Booth and contributed to the fundraising.

At the end of the two-day event, 245.65 Euros, or approximately 274 USD, had been collected. These funds will be used to buy school bags and other essential materials for the children. In addition to the funds, the event also cultivated interest in this cause, and brought attention to the importance of education.