Lipjan prison inmates tell how they celebrate New Year's Eve

Far from any social entertainment, convicted of various criminal acts, they are ensuring that on the night of the changing of the weather, they will be given a reception and dance.

For four years E.D., it has been standing within the four walls of the Youth Correcting Centre in Lipjan. And even this 20-year-old party is waiting for him away from the family.

“Festa here is not good, away from the family's most basic condition... It's not the good parties here... It's hard to wait here for a party away from the family, but since we're not close to the family, we try to celebrate a little as a society that we are, I had a little bit of fun, says he.

Music, dancing, food, phone calls with family, so awaits the New Year at the Lipjan Correcting Center. And since it's a party, unlike other days, they can stay together until 2: 00 a.m., after-mnight. So they're trying to forget everything once a year and have fun by morning.

Even for the other minor, 17-year-old holiday within four walls is difficult. He tells of Kosova priss, for the second time he is waiting for the New Year, in this prison.

It's a little more exciting than we're away from families, it's kind of the most special emotion. We're trying to spend some time with company, staffed here. We're trying to play the party a little bit more fun, to get a better start, he says.

They also have messages for their peers.

With a life ahead of us, and looking at things that they think are irrelevant, they are most important to know the value of the people they have, the conditions they have”, he declares.

At the Women's Correcting Centre in Lipjan, over 40 women are being held for various criminal acts. Many are also in custody. One of them tells about Kosova Prees, how difficult it is to stay on holiday behind bars and away from family, and she's been held here for a year and a few months.

As far as family is concerned, it's obviously hard to experience. But what do we do? As far as punishment is concerned, I don't know, I'm not grounded, in session”, she relates.

Some of the convicts are on break. While over 80 minors and women at the Lipjan Corresponding Centre, far from the family the first wishes for New Year's Eve will be able to trade for other inmates in the room.

Otherwise, in all Kosovo Correcting Centres, there are about 1800 prisoners for various works.