By Edlira Dibrani, Young European Ambassador from Kosovo

This World Environment Day, I find myself reflecting on one of the most rewarding and energizing journeys I’ve taken as a Young European Ambassador – a journey that began with a conversation in Prishtina and grew into a cross-border environmental movement uniting youth across Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

It started when I first met Zlatka Kuvendjieska from North Macedonia. We connected instantly over our shared passion for the environment and our desire to create change that reaches beyond national borders. Together, we launched the Green Bridge Initiative – a campaign designed to connect countries, communities, and young changemakers across the region.

Soon after, we were joined by Marija Burgieva (North Macedonia), Vuk Stanojev (Serbia), and later by other passionate youth from our YEA community. The campaign quickly evolved into a collaborative force for good — showing that youth cooperation can become a strong foundation for environmental action in the Western Balkans.

Connecting Through Action

In Kosovo, I organized a 7-Day Eco Challenge, where each day I focused on small but meaningful environmental actions — walking in nature, organizing litter clean-ups, planting trees, and reducing single-use plastics. We also celebrated World Health Day with a special “Talk and Walk” activity in Germia Park, where we brought together teens for conversations on health, sustainability, and the importance of reconnecting with nature.

Zlatka carried this spirit of action into North Macedonia, where she visited Eko-svest in Vevchani to learn about biodiversity protection and environmental education. Her efforts culminated in a large-scale clean-up at Lake Ohrid in Radožda, organized in collaboration with local diving clubs Norkac and Ezerski Puls. The event brought together over 100 volunteers from across Struga, Ohrid, Serbia, and Albania, showcasing the incredible impact of cross-border solidarity.

Meanwhile, Marija and Vuk focused their efforts on raising awareness around zero-waste principles and sustainable waste management in Novi Sad and Skopje. Through community engagement, research, and blog writing, they explored the challenges of public waste systems and the possibilities for a circular economy in our region. Their blog on the subject offered insights into how even individual actions can make a difference – a key value of our initiative.

But they didn’t stop at learning – they acted. Both Vuk and Marija took part in hands-on clean-up efforts in Novi Sad and Skopje, where they mobilized their communities to care for shared public spaces. These events were powerful examples of how theory and action can go hand-in-hand, and how collaboration can transform awareness into change.

We also had the chance to collaborate with DyVo Lab, a Kosovo-based startup using tech to promote sustainable innovation  a-nother step in building bridges between environmental action and digital creativity.

A Shared Vision, A United Region

For all of us, the Green Bridge Initiative has become more than just a campaign. It’s a movement rooted in trust, cooperation, and the belief that we are stronger together, not just as individuals, but as countries working in unity for a common cause.

As we celebrate World Environment Day, I am proud of how far we’ve come- not only in cleaning lakes, walking forests, and spreading awareness – but in building a foundation for lasting, regional cooperation. The friendships we’ve formed and the bridges we’ve built are proof that the environment can be a unifying force.

And this is just the beginning. We are committed to growing this initiative, expanding our reach, and continuing to show that the youth of the Western Balkans are ready, not just to imagine a greener future, but to create it.

The bridge is built. And it’s only getting stronger.