“The reason I joined this camp was to socialise more, to overcome interethnic and interfaith differences, which are often exploited for political purposes. In reality, these differences do not exist because every family has its struggles and difficulties, and sometimes help comes from unexpected places,” says Milisa Ristović from North Mitrovica, Kosovo, about his participation at one of the Youth Peace Camps organised this winter by REC – Reconciliation Empowering Communities organisation in the framework of the EU funded project “Harmony Talks: Fostering Inter-Ethnic Understanding among Youth”.
However, youth camps were only one component of this successful initiative that through different activities, brought together over 350 youths of Albanian, Serbian, Romani, Ashkali, Egyptian, Turkish and Bosniak communities living in Mitrovica.
In addition to the three youth peace camps that gathered more than 100 young people from various communities living in Mitrovica, The Harmony Talks: Fostering Inter-Ethnic Understanding among Youth project, carried out a few other initiatives aimed at fostering understanding among youths. The Harmony Talks sessions were structured discussions tackling some of the most pressing issues for different communities in Kosovo, including reconciliation, civic activism, the role of women in peacebuilding, and environmental sustainability. As a tool to raise awareness and influence public discourse on matters related to peacebuilding, the project carried out a number of Op-Ed articles, which had an outstanding impact on the social debate regarding reconciliation, peacebuilding and civic activism in Kosovo. Through this platform, intellectuals, activists, journalists, and young people have had the opportunity to address critical issues that directly affect reconciliation processes and build positive narratives about cooperation among different communities.
“More than an initiative, the project turned into a movement for reconciliation,” says REC’s Executive Director Besnik Uka, when reflecting on the achievements of the project, while also highlighting the importance of financial backing for such initiatives, “Support from the EU and UNDP has been vital in making this project possible. Through their funding, we have created safe spaces where young people from different communities have had the opportunity to get to know each other, share experiences, and work together for a better future.”
Reconciliation Empowering Communities (REC) is a non-governmental organization known for its leadership in promoting inter-ethnic dialogue, youth empowerment, and building a more united society in Kosovo. By addressing historical divisions and social challenges that hinder cooperation among communities, REC is committed to creating powerful platforms for social transformation and sustainable reconciliation. REC has been one of the key partners in implementing the project “Harmony Talks: Fostering Inter-Ethnic Understanding among Youth,” in collaboration with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center (ADRC).
REC has played a critical role in promoting equality, social justice, and civic activism through innovative methodologies and inclusive projects. By adopting an approach based on citizen empowerment and building strong cooperation networks, the organization has helped foster trust and address deep-rooted social challenges in Kosovo. REC is the primary catalyst for change in Kosovo, building bridges of cooperation and creating an inclusive culture that aims for a sustainable and peaceful future for all citizens.
This project has marked an important moment in the reconciliation process and youth empowerment in Kosovo. The camps organised within the project were particularly impactful, because the participants had the opportunity to intensively spend time together and understand each other’s backgrounds, as shared by Edin Lahi, one of the camp’s participants, “Such initiatives [camps] are incredibly important, because they help us foster understanding, not just discuss it. They encourage us to actively contribute to peace and dialogue.”
Initiatives like the youth peace camps and the Harmony Talks project, show that through open dialogue, education, and cooperation, young people can become a catalyst for change and the construction of a more united future.
“More than an initiative, the project turned into a movement for reconciliation,” says REC’s Executive Director Besnik Uka, when reflecting on the achievements of the project, while also highlighting the importance of financial backing for such initiatives, “Support from the EU and UNDP has been vital in making this project possible. Through their funding, we have created safe spaces where young people from different communities have had the opportunity to get to know each other, share experiences, and work together for a better future.”
Reconciliation Empowering Communities (REC) is a non-governmental organization known for its leadership in promoting inter-ethnic dialogue, youth empowerment, and building a more united society in Kosovo. By addressing historical divisions and social challenges that hinder cooperation among communities, REC is committed to creating powerful platforms for social transformation and sustainable reconciliation. REC has been one of the key partners in implementing the project “Harmony Talks: Fostering Inter-Ethnic Understanding among Youth,” in collaboration with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center (ADRC).
REC has played a critical role in promoting equality, social justice, and civic activism through innovative methodologies and inclusive projects. By adopting an approach based on citizen empowerment and building strong cooperation networks, the organization has helped foster trust and address deep-rooted social challenges in Kosovo. REC is the primary catalyst for change in Kosovo, building bridges of cooperation and creating an inclusive culture that aims for a sustainable and peaceful future for all citizens.
This project has marked an important moment in the reconciliation process and youth empowerment in Kosovo. The camps organised within the project were particularly impactful, because the participants had the opportunity to intensively spend time together and understand each other’s backgrounds, as shared by Edin Lahi, one of the camp’s participants, “Such initiatives [camps] are incredibly important, because they help us foster understanding, not just discuss it. They encourage us to actively contribute to peace and dialogue.”
Initiatives like the youth peace camps and the Harmony Talks project, show that through open dialogue, education, and cooperation, young people can become a catalyst for change and the construction of a more united future.
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