М. Т. Gologanov 54 1/7, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

Kosovo Youth for Democracy and Peacebuilding

Since January 2010, CCG has been implementing the project called Kosovo Youth for Democracy and Peacebuilding. Its overall goal is to create awareness and consolidate knowledge of basic principles of democracy and human rights achieving greater social cohesion and community dialog among Kosovo civil society and young people.

The action targets young people and youth NGOs in Kosovo to reinforce and build on their capacities to engage in society. This project is implemented in partnership with YMCA Kosovo and funded by the European Commission and managed by the European Commission Liaison Office in Kosovo (ECLO). This project is implemented in partnership with YMCA funded by European Commission and managed by the European Commission Liaison Office in Kosovo (ECLO) and French Embassy in Kosovo.
“Kosovo Youth for Democracy and Peacebuilding” seeks to increase the ability of youth in Kosovo to participate actively in society and engage their communities. It also aims to facilitate integration and understanding among Kosovo youth from different ethnicities and backgrounds, promote dialogue, and facilitate reaching common ground solutions to problems facing youth. Focusing oncommonalities is a way to build unity around a common message and pursue a common goal, enriched and not obstructed by differences of background.
YMCA in Kosovo is a values-based organization formed of volunteers that seeks to share the ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation. It is a non-profit, apolitical, nongovernmental, nonreligious and inclusive youth association which aims to provide more opportunities and actively to interact with the youth in it’s local community. Inspired by the worldwide mission of YMCA as a viable answer to the needs of Kosovo, a National Office was established in August 2003, focusing on social responsibility, social inclusion and youth development. Afterwards programs in Prishtina and Peja started, and activities in Mitrovica, Ferizaj and Gjakova. Nowadays, YMCA Kosovo, as a national association, has 6 operating branches: Prishtina, Peja, Gjakova, Mitrovica, Y Media Club, and Y International. YMCA Kosovo also established organization programs such as Kosovo Special Olympics and Basketball Academy.

Small action projects

 

“Just Dance”

Location:
Kosovo, country-wide
Purpose:
To encourage all youth, no matter their nationality or religion, to live together in one country as equal citizens in every respect.
Team members:
Dastidë Hajdari, Arbër Selmani, Genc Mehmetaj, Hana Xhemajli, Vukman Manić.
Target Audience:
All citizens of Kosovo.
Description:
The “Just Dance” project’s main intention was to make a video clip which would show that the youth of Kosovo want to continue living in peace and harmony with other ethnicities. This project was implemented by a multi-ethnic youth team from Pristina and Gracanica. The video included many ethnicities living in Kosovo: Albanians, Serbians, Roma, Ashkali, Bosnians, and Turks. The voiceover in the video clip is speaking in three languages: Albanian, English, and Serbian, and the spot was produced in the same three languages. Produced by the well-known company “Entermedia”, the video was posted on the website “YouTube”- we expect to have lots of viewers!
In addition, the video will be transmitted through national TV channels RTK, KTV, TV21, and KLAN Kosova and on the local TV stations in Peja,  Gracanica, and Mitrovica.

 

 

“Multi-Ethnic Youth”

Location:
Mitrovica
Purpose:
To create links across ethnic divides between the Albanian and Serbian communities who live separately in Mitrovica and advance young people’s knowledge in peace and conflict transformation through trainings, courses, and activities.
Team Members:
Gëzim Shala, Ferdi Kadriu,Kastriot Leku,Visar Kasa
Target Audience:
Young people of Mitrovica and music lovers everywhere.
Description:
This project had several implementation phases. The first was a 4 day-long training on “Concepts of Peace, Prevention, and Negotiation of Conflicts” led
by professional trainer Professor Fisnik Kumnova that included 15 young people of Albanian and Serbian heritage. The atmosphere at the training was friendly and cooperative. The second phase was a one day cultural tour around Kosovo to visit historic monuments, and the third involved recording a song named “Peace” in Serbian, Albanian, and English with youth from the rock school in Mitrovica. This school lent a lot of support for these young people in order to produce the song, which was an excellent example of the work that these young people did – and the work of all youth in Mitrovica. “Peace” was played on local radio stations such as Radio Mitrovica and Radio KFOR and also published on the YouTube and Facebook websites.

Lyrics of the song “Peace”:
We’re stuck in a cloudy day;
We’re looking for some freedom
To shine upon us like the sun.
We’re going to find a way,
Left or right,
We’re searching for that day.

Kemi ngecur në një kohë pa diell,
po kërkojmë liri.
Por ne do të gjejmë rrugën tonë,
në paqe dhe lumturi.

Заглављени смо у облачан дан;
и тражимо слободу
да сија над нама као сунце.
Ми ћемо да нађемо начин,
лево или десно,
у потрази смо за тај дан.

 

 

“Together it’s Possible”

Location:
Mitrovica
Purpose:
To sensitize youth about the multicultural values and traditions of Kosovo by creating an opportunity for youth from various background to understand, learn and experience the cultural heritage and beauty of their country together.
Target audience:
Youth from different background from Mitrovica
Team Members:
Agron Ademi, Edona Selmani, Arbër Kyqyku
Description:
A group of 40 young people of different backgrounds (Albanian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Turkish) from Mitrovica visited various cities in Kosovo. In the company of one another, they saw the cultural monuments and natural beauty of Mitrovica, Vushtrri, Pristina, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Peja, Decan, Gjakova, Prizren, and Brezovica. Kosovo’s vast diversity of ethnic heritage sites was represented among the many places visited by the group. As a result, these youth were able to see different cultures and break the boundaries that previously seemed unbreakable for some of them. Participants established strong social contacts, continuing to stay in touch through the social network “Facebook”. The photos that group members took during the 4 day excursion are now displayed on the walls of schools in Mitrovica as an example of social cooperation. Through these activities, the quote “Together It’s Possible” was brought to life.

 

 

“See the World through My Eyes”

Location:
Prizren
Purpose:
To promote culture and raise consciousness on the cultural values and beauties of Prizren and to contribute to the development of tourism in the city.
Team Members:
Fatlum Kryeziu, Lavdim Morina, Donika Spahiu, Rrona Simitçiu.
Target Audience:
All citizens of Kosovo.
Description:
To achieve the goals of promoting Prizren’s culture and tourist industry, the “See the World through my Eyes” team was trained in photography by professional painter and photographer Hasan Thaçi. The 10 young people who participated represented Prizren’s cultural diversity, as they came from Roma, Turkish, Albanian, and other backgrounds. The team, together with their trainer, traveled for 3 weeks through the region of Prizren to take more than 150 photos, 80 of which were then developed and shown at an exhibit organized by the team members. The photo exhibition, held in the city’s Hamam-Turkish baths dating to Ottoman times-attracted a crowd of supporters. This initiative was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports and art critics. Photographs depicted Prizren’s cultural heritage and diverse architecture and landscape.

 

 

“Educating and Raising the Awareness of Consumers in Kosovo”

Location:
Gjakova/Mitrovica/Peja/Pristina/Prizren
Purpose:
Using the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day (March 15th) to raise awareness and to inform Kosovo citizens about their rights and duties as consumers
Team members:
Shkumbin Asllani, Agnesa Fejzullahu, Lum Hoxha.
Target Audience:
All citizens of Kosovo.
Description:
Members of this team from Pristina promoted the Law defending consumers’ rights and informed people of the importance of this field as a step towards Kosovo’s integration into Europe. The project educated consumers on:
1) the law on consumers’ rights in Kosovo;
2) European Union guidelines; and
3) where customers should go to have their problems addressed.
Youth team members worked with many high school students, as they believe that they can spread the information to others in order to improve the knowledge people have about the products they buy. In each of the 5 cities where the team implemented the project, the group visited at least one school (visiting 3 in Mitrovica) to inform students and teachers directly about the problems, challenges, and rights of each of us as costumers. Advancing this knowledge was achieved by distributing 7,500 flyers about the relevant Kosovo laws and the EU Directive on Consumer Rights. The team also interviewed 500 people on the street about their experience with faulty or expired products, knowledge of laws to protect consumers, and the processes available to them to notify  authorities of potentially hazardous products. Team members then presented the statistical findings of the surveys to their peers. In each city, team members were assisted by 15 volunteers to conduct interviews and hand out flyers.

 

 

“Youth for a Clean Environment”

Location:
Rahovec
Purpose:
To raise awareness among young people, as well as citizens in general, on how important it is to care about the environment.
Target Audience:
Students in the Rahovec area, as well as the wider community in Rahovec
Team Members:
Irvin Jaha, Birken Kadriu, Djellza Thaçi, Ramadan Sokoli
Description:
The “Youth for a Clean Environment” team worked towards the goal that in the future there will be no degradation of nature, something people in Kosovo currently witness on a daily basis. Throughout the municipality of Rahovec, this diverse group of young people chose locations for planting tree, flower, and plant seedlings based on where young people hang out and relax, such as the town’s central park. The official opening of the activity was celebrated during the International Earth Day (April 22nd) and advertised over the radio. The students that participated in the project learned how to improve their habits and develop awareness about saving the environment. Activities took place in the villages of Krusha e Madhe , Hoqa e Madhe , Ratkoc and Xerxe, at the schools “ Isa Boletini”, “Mihail Grameno”, “7 Shtatori”, “Ardhmeria”, “Xhelal Hajde– Toni”, and ”Xhelal Hajda– Toni”. Thus, all the school of the municipality profited from the project.

 

 

“Through Sports We Build Peace and Tolerance”

Location:
Shtërpce
Purpose:
To contribute to building the peace and tolerance by involving young people from both communities that live together in Shterpce: Serbians and Albanians.
Team Members:
Besart Bajrami, Bektesh Bajrami, Bojan Stefanović
Target Audience:
Athletic youth from all communities in Shterpce.
Description:
The project “Through Sports We Build Peace and Tolerance” sought to bring together young people from different ethnic backgrounds to demonstrate that the residents of Shterpce can do anything together- live, work, play, and live in peace. This was realized by organizing a football tournament, a sporting event that brought together youth from the Albanian and Serbian communities. To announce the team application and registration processes, “Through Sports We Build Peace and Tolerance” group members created posters and radio advertisements in Serbian and Albanian, thus ensuring that all youth knew about the tournament and could participate. Young people formed 8 football teams to compete in the contest. Games were played 3 weekends in a row, drawing an estimated audience of more than 150 people over the course of the tournament. Each week, the result of the match narrowed down the participating teams until the final match, at which the winning team was determined.

 

 

“Basketball Peace Tournament”

Location:
Bardhosh and the municipality of Pristina
Purpose:
To use sports as a tool of bringing together young people from different ethnic backgrounds.
Target Audience:
Youth interested in sports from diverse backgrounds in Bardhosh, Pristina, and nearby towns.
Team Members:
Blendrit Elezaj, Rinor Musliu, Liridona Elezi, Albert Ramadani, Sabri Dragusha.
Description:
This project was organized by a group of young people from Pristina who thought of doing something in the village of Bardhosh because of the importance of this village as a multi-cultural zone.
They organized a basketball tournament with multi-ethnic teams from Bardhosh, Pristina and the surrounding villages. To attract a wide range of youth, team members created and pasted posters around Bardhosh, Pristina, and other villages. Sixteen teams, comprised of youth of Roma, Serbian, Albanian, and Turkish heritage, participated. In breaks between games, the audience watched a karate demonstration by Roma youth, a documentary film on HIV/AIDS, and listened to music. More than 200 people attended the event.

 

 

“Green School”

Location:
Gračanica
Purpose:
To raise awareness about the environment and promote living in an environmentally friendly manner.
Team Members:
Marina Jovanović, Milan M. Jovanović, Danijela Ničić
Target Audience:
Citizens of Gracanica, students in particular.
Description:
“Green School” sought to create an “eco-culture” by educating young people in Gracanica about the environment. The goal was that through education, these messages can be passed by youth to the children, and through them, to their families and the community. The project was implemented in two phases: first, group members, along with 6 other volunteers, gave a training session for youth aged 16-23 on saving the local environment by using education, led by a qualified trainer Jugoslav Mitić, a professional biologist. The second phase included fieldwork- working with students from local schools and other citizens and distributing 700 flyers that promoted saving the environment as well as 700 eco-bags (reusable bags) to anyone present during the activity.

 

 

“The Earth Revolves around Youth”

Location:
Mitrovica
Purpose:
To help young people express their talents and creativity through painting and to use art to raise funds for community members in need.
Target Audience:
students in Mitrovica North area
Team Members:
Gordana Jeličić, Predrag Petković, Irena Otasević, Slobodan Otasević, Vesna Tanić
Description:
The winning team from the northern part of Mitrovica organized workshops and provided art supplies in order to increase interest in the arts among youth in their community. Every weekend for a month, they held gatherings at the French Cultural Center where students of primary and secondary school age came to paint works of art. Young musicians provided guitar music at these sessions.
The artists produced 28 paintings, 21 of which were presented in a formal exhibition of the work attended by local municipality representatives as well as the participating young art enthusiasts. The artwork was auctioned off, and proceeds were designated for charitable purposes- to help community members in need by providing them with needed supplies that they could not afford. Team members established a website: “Slikarskaradionica.t15.org”, where you can find all the 21 paintings and other information about the workshops.