Irish soldiers have raised thousands of euro to complete more than 70 humanitarian projects to help the people of Kosovo.
On top of the schemes backed by Irish Aid, over the last eight years troops have donated time and money to improve schools, homes and health centres.
The projects are as basic as providing running water, flush toilets and electricity.
Kosovo's population of 2 million, which is 90 per cent ethnic Albanian and 10 per cent Serb, was devastated by civil war in the late 1990s and an uneasy peace is guarded by thousands of United Nations peacekeepers.
Colonel Matt Murray, commander of the Irish contingent, said the humanitarian work ensures his troops are accepted by both sides.
"It is generally speaking a lot of good will," Col Murray said. "We try to make them community based projects so the whole community will benefit from them, such as the health centres and schools."
During each tour, which lasts around six months, units identify five projects in towns and villages and set about securing the funding from Irish Aid.
Col Murray said extra money is also brought in from troops who hold fundraisers while on leave through raffles and sponsorship.
All the work, which is done outside of daily peacekeeping duty, is approved by local officials.
Even though Irish soldiers patrol in armoured vehicles, they are greeted by smiling youngsters and friendly locals when the enter villages, regardless if they are Serb or Albanian.
United Nations peacekeepers were brought in under the KFOR campaign in 1999.
Brigadier General Gerry Hegarty is currently in command of Kosovo's central sector and 2,000 soldiers from Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Latvia.