United Youth Task Force

This project aims to foster inclusive and representative participation of Kosovo youth in local decision-making processes and to promote inter-ethnic cooperation by partnering with a multi-ethnic network of young peacebuilders “United Youth Task Force.” The Project launched in January 2020 seeks to address identified weaknesses of youth advisory boards mandated by law to exist within each of Kosovo’s municipalities - the so-called Local Youth Action Councils (LYACs). In ten ethnically mixed target municipalities, the project strengthened LYACs through capacity-building of LYAC members, facilitation of advocacy meetings between ethnically diverse youth and local authorities and support for drafting municipal Youth Action Plans reflecting the needs of non-majority communities. It also launched a Kosovo-wide awareness-raising campaign “Make Your Voice Heard” featuring the voices of young change-makers from all communities as well as youth-led responses to COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19, the project was modified to provide a platform to address youth-specific needs in times of COVID-19 and seek for joint solutions, through organization of online meetings between local youth from diverse communities and municipal directors for Culture, Youth and Sports, Offices for Communities and Returns and Gender Equality Officers. Furthermore, in the framework of the project, in response to the pandemic, UNMIK supported the capacity of Gracanica Innovation Center and Klokot/Kllokot Multi-Ethnic Youth Center “SMAART” to produce face protection shields and other personal protective equipment through a donation of 6 3D printers and filaments.

Through the project, three multi-ethnic youth-led peace initiatives received small grants in support of implementation of local youth policies in cooperation with all involved LYACs.

Read more: https://unmik.unmissions.org/printing-their-way-safer-kosovo-young-innovators-3d-print-face-shields-health-workers

Kosovo-wide

This project aims to foster inclusive and representative participation of Kosovo youth in local decision-making processes and to promote inter-ethnic cooperation by partnering with a multi-ethnic network of young peacebuilders “United Youth Task Force.” The Project launched in January 2020 seeks to address identified weaknesses of youth advisory boards mandated by law to exist within each of Kosovo’s municipalities - the so-called Local Youth Action Councils (LYACs). In ten ethnically mixed target municipalities, the project strengthened LYACs through capacity-building of LYAC members, facilitation of advocacy meetings between ethnically diverse youth and local authorities and support for drafting municipal Youth Action Plans reflecting the needs of non-majority communities. It also launched a Kosovo-wide awareness-raising campaign “Make Your Voice Heard” featuring the voices of young change-makers from all communities as well as youth-led responses to COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19, the project was modified to provide a platform to address youth-specific needs in times of COVID-19 and seek for joint solutions, through organization of online meetings between local youth from diverse communities and municipal directors for Culture, Youth and Sports, Offices for Communities and Returns and Gender Equality Officers. Furthermore, in the framework of the project, in response to the pandemic, UNMIK supported the capacity of Gracanica Innovation Center and Klokot/Kllokot Multi-Ethnic Youth Center “SMAART” to produce face protection shields and other personal protective equipment through a donation of 6 3D printers and filaments.

Through the project, three multi-ethnic youth-led peace initiatives received small grants in support of implementation of local youth policies in cooperation with all involved LYACs.

Read more: https://unmik.unmissions.org/printing-their-way-safer-kosovo-young-innovators-3d-print-face-shields-health-workers

Kosovo-wide

This project aims to foster inclusive and representative participation of Kosovo youth in local decision-making processes and to promote inter-ethnic cooperation by partnering with a multi-ethnic network of young peacebuilders “United Youth Task Force.” The Project launched in January 2020 seeks to address identified weaknesses of youth advisory boards mandated by law to exist within each of Kosovo’s municipalities - the so-called Local Youth Action Councils (LYACs). In ten ethnically mixed target municipalities, the project strengthened LYACs through capacity-building of LYAC members, facilitation of advocacy meetings between ethnically diverse youth and local authorities and support for drafting municipal Youth Action Plans reflecting the needs of non-majority communities. It also launched a Kosovo-wide awareness-raising campaign “Make Your Voice Heard” featuring the voices of young change-makers from all communities as well as youth-led responses to COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19, the project was modified to provide a platform to address youth-specific needs in times of COVID-19 and seek for joint solutions, through organization of online meetings between local youth from diverse communities and municipal directors for Culture, Youth and Sports, Offices for Communities and Returns and Gender Equality Officers. Furthermore, in the framework of the project, in response to the pandemic, UNMIK supported the capacity of Gracanica Innovation Center and Klokot/Kllokot Multi-Ethnic Youth Center “SMAART” to produce face protection shields and other personal protective equipment through a donation of 6 3D printers and filaments.

Through the project, three multi-ethnic youth-led peace initiatives received small grants in support of implementation of local youth policies in cooperation with all involved LYACs.

Read more: https://unmik.unmissions.org/printing-their-way-safer-kosovo-young-innovators-3d-print-face-shields-health-workers

Kosovo-wide

Kosovo-wide

Kosovo-wide

Kosovo-wide

The youth-led "E.E.E." (Equal Ethinicties Empowerment) project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at promoting intergenerational learning and transfer of skills and knowledge of artisanal arts of different communities among young people in the area of Gjakova/Đakovica. Some 60 young people from K-Albanian, K-Roma, K-Bosnian and K-Ashkali communities attended the monthly courses of pottery, traditional clothing and knitting and learned about artisan traditions of different communities living in the area.

Read more at: https://unmik.unmissions.org/working-young-people

Gjakovë/Ðakovica

The youth-led "E.E.E." (Equal Ethinicties Empowerment) project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at promoting intergenerational learning and transfer of skills and knowledge of artisanal arts of different communities among young people in the area of Gjakova/Đakovica. Some 60 young people from K-Albanian, K-Roma, K-Bosnian and K-Ashkali communities attended the monthly courses of pottery, traditional clothing and knitting and learned about artisan traditions of different communities living in the area.

Read more at: https://unmik.unmissions.org/working-young-people

Gjakovë/Ðakovica

This youth-led "Kosovo Youth Festival" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at breaking the community divides and promoting cultural diversity in Kosovo by providing an apolitical space for youth from all Kosovo communities to exchange traditional music, food, games and dances at the first youth-led multi-ethnic cultural festival. The 1st Kosovo Youth Fest was organized in Kukaj Ethno Village and brought together over 80 youth from K-Albanian, K-Serb, K-Bosnian, K-Turkish, K-Roma, K-Ashkali and K-Egyptian communities.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/kukaj-ethno-village/kosovo-youth-fest-2018/452054551930634/

Kosovo-wide

This youth-led "Kosovo Youth Festival" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at breaking the community divides and promoting cultural diversity in Kosovo by providing an apolitical space for youth from all Kosovo communities to exchange traditional music, food, games and dances at the first youth-led multi-ethnic cultural festival. The 1st Kosovo Youth Fest was organized in Kukaj Ethno Village and brought together over 80 youth from K-Albanian, K-Serb, K-Bosnian, K-Turkish, K-Roma, K-Ashkali and K-Egyptian communities.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/kukaj-ethno-village/kosovo-youth-fest-2018/452054551930634/

Kosovo-wide

This youth-led "My Kosovo in One Shot" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at connecting young people from diverse ethnicities around Kosovo though a workshop on photography and film-making in relation to the topic of cultural diversity. "My Kosovo in One Shot" camp was organized in Rugova mountains and gathered 25 youth passionate about photography and film-making, who deepened their knowledge and skills trhough a training with professional photographers and media specialists and engaged in the production of a series of creative photographs promoting cultural diversity of Kosovo. The final exhibition took place in the end of September 2018 in Pristina and attracted over 120 visitors.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNMIK/posts/my-kosovo-in-one-shot/10156561360247798/

Kosovo-wide

This youth-led "NO means NO" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at empowering young women and girls in the municipalities of Leposavić, Fushe Kosova/Kosovo Polje and Pristina to withstand and counter psychological and physical violence through a course on self-defense, professional counselling and art therapy. Through the three activities in each of the target areas, over 60 young women from diverse communities developed some basic self-defense skills and gained confidence and peer support in facing the issue. In order to strengthen the trust-building effect, self-defense sessions were delivered by the professional martial arts trainers in ethnically diverse teams.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNMIK/posts/no-means-nono-means-no-project-is-an-initiative-of-three-young-women-aida-redzep/10156575856857798/

Prishtinë/Priština Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje Leposavić/Leposaviq

This youth-led "NO means NO" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at empowering young women and girls in the municipalities of Leposavić, Fushe Kosova/Kosovo Polje and Pristina to withstand and counter psychological and physical violence through a course on self-defense, professional counselling and art therapy. Through the three activities in each of the target areas, over 60 young women from diverse communities developed some basic self-defense skills and gained confidence and peer support in facing the issue. In order to strengthen the trust-building effect, self-defense sessions were delivered by the professional martial arts trainers in ethnically diverse teams.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNMIK/posts/no-means-nono-means-no-project-is-an-initiative-of-three-young-women-aida-redzep/10156575856857798/

Prishtinë/Priština Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje Leposavić/Leposaviq

This youth-led "YouthIN Transparency" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at increasing transparency between public institutions and young people from different communities in the municipality of Gjilan/Gnjilane in relation to implementation of youth policies. Some 80 youth from K-Albanian, K-Ashkali and K-Serb communities attended the meetings with representatives of MOCR, Gender Equality Officer and Director of Culture, Youth and Sports, where they were able to raise their concerns on issues related to allocation of youth spaces, language rights and development of sportive, educational and cultural activities in the municipality.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/royal-lounge-bar/youth-in-transparency-culture-debate/558302174658034/

Gjilan/Gnjilane

This youth-led "YouthIN Transparency" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 2nd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at increasing transparency between public institutions and young people from different communities in the municipality of Gjilan/Gnjilane in relation to implementation of youth policies. Some 80 youth from K-Albanian, K-Ashkali and K-Serb communities attended the meetings with representatives of MOCR, Gender Equality Officer and Director of Culture, Youth and Sports, where they were able to raise their concerns on issues related to allocation of youth spaces, language rights and development of sportive, educational and cultural activities in the municipality.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/royal-lounge-bar/youth-in-transparency-culture-debate/558302174658034/

Gjilan/Gnjilane

In the framework of the “Young Change- Makers: Localization of UNSCR2250 in Kosovo” a group of 15 youth from diverse communities successfully completed a multi-faceted program for young peacebuilders that included a course on youth mediation, facilitation, conflict transformation through peace and human rights education and A1/A2 levels of Albanian and Serbian languages. Through the peer-to-peer methodology, these young leaders engaged over 550 youth from diverse communities into a broad range of inter-ethnic trust-building activities.

Read more at: https://unmik.unmissions.org/

Kosovo-wide

In the framework of the “Young Change- Makers: Localization of UNSCR2250 in Kosovo” a group of 15 youth from diverse communities successfully completed a multi-faceted program for young peacebuilders that included a course on youth mediation, facilitation, conflict transformation through peace and human rights education and A1/A2 levels of Albanian and Serbian languages. Through the peer-to-peer methodology, these young leaders engaged over 550 youth from diverse communities into a broad range of inter-ethnic trust-building activities.

Read more at: https://unmik.unmissions.org/

Kosovo-wide

Kosovo-wide

This youth-led "Cross-Community Visual Arts" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at developing cultural awareness and inter-ethnic trust among youth from diverse communities through an artistic summer camp and a series of workshops on art techniques, graffiti and using ARTivism to counter ethnic divides. The team aspires to organize a camp as an annual event with the support of the Directorate of Culture, Youth and Sports of Ranillug/Ranilug.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/posts/394308307891734

Kosovo-wide

This youth-led "Cross-Community Visual Arts" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at developing cultural awareness and inter-ethnic trust among youth from diverse communities through an artistic summer camp and a series of workshops on art techniques, graffiti and using ARTivism to counter ethnic divides. The team aspires to organize a camp as an annual event with the support of the Directorate of Culture, Youth and Sports of Ranillug/Ranilug.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/posts/394308307891734

Kosovo-wide

This youth-led "Together We Can" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at equipping an ethnically diverse team of young people with skills to identify, deconstruct and counter ethnically or religiously related prejudices and expressions of intolerance through organization of a thematic workshop.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Rahovec/Orahovac Prizren Dragash/Dragaš

This youth-led "Together We Can" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at equipping an ethnically diverse team of young people with skills to identify, deconstruct and counter ethnically or religiously related prejudices and expressions of intolerance through organization of a thematic workshop.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Rahovec/Orahovac Prizren Dragash/Dragaš

This youth-led "Together We Can" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at equipping an ethnically diverse team of young people with skills to identify, deconstruct and counter ethnically or religiously related prejudices and expressions of intolerance through organization of a thematic workshop.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Rahovec/Orahovac Prizren Dragash/Dragaš

This youth-led "Empowering Women in Business" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that aimed at raising awareness and improving access to the labor market among young women and girls with specific focus to those residing in the rural areas of Pristina and North Mitrovica. The activities under this project include organization of info-sessions and 2 networking events linking young women with successful businesswomen in North Mitrovica and Pristina and production of a documentary that promotes women-led start-ups and enterprises as well as raises awareness about challenges and success stories. Thus, the project also aims at increasing collaboration between communities and strengthening employability skills of young women.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Prishtinë/Priština Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North

The “Under One Sky” is the first multi-ethnic youth-led astronomy project in Kosovo. Over the period of September 2019-February 2020 the project benefitted some 630 young people from diverse communities (370 young women, 260 young men; 46% coming from non-majority communities) through astronomy info-sessions and sky observation workshops in 12 municipalities across Kosovo and the final multi-ethnic Astronomy Peace Camp. The project team was mentored by UNMIK Youth Focal Point and peer mentors from "United Youth Task Force" network of young peacebuilders and "Peer Educators Network".

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/Weareallunderonesky/?pageid=1049331108610115&ftentidentifier=1117769011766324&padding=0

Kosovo-wide

The “Under One Sky” is the first multi-ethnic youth-led astronomy project in Kosovo. Over the period of September 2019-February 2020 the project benefitted some 630 young people from diverse communities (370 young women, 260 young men; 46% coming from non-majority communities) through astronomy info-sessions and sky observation workshops in 12 municipalities across Kosovo and the final multi-ethnic Astronomy Peace Camp. The project team was mentored by UNMIK Youth Focal Point and peer mentors from "United Youth Task Force" network of young peacebuilders and "Peer Educators Network".

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/Weareallunderonesky/?pageid=1049331108610115&ftentidentifier=1117769011766324&padding=0

Kosovo-wide

This youth-led "[email protected]" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that was initiated by a multi-ethnic team of youth coming from Gračanica/Graçanicё, Pristina and Štrpce/Shtёrpcё and aimed at promoting inter-ethnic cooperation and positive role of youth in building lasting peace as well as increasing employability skills of youth through an ICT summer camp and a series of educational activities on the usage of Microsoft Office package.

Read more: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Prishtinë/Priština Gračanica/Graçanicë Štrpce/Shtërpcë

This youth-led "[email protected]" project was one of the finalists of the small-grants competition of the 3rd UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo that was initiated by a multi-ethnic team of youth coming from Gračanica/Graçanicё, Pristina and Štrpce/Shtёrpcё and aimed at promoting inter-ethnic cooperation and positive role of youth in building lasting peace as well as increasing employability skills of youth through an ICT summer camp and a series of educational activities on the usage of Microsoft Office package.

Read more: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Prishtinë/Priština Gračanica/Graçanicë Štrpce/Shtërpcë

The year 2020 will mark 5 years of the UN Youth, Peace and Security Programme, and we are looking forward to celebrating it by taking the annual UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo to the next level. Relations between youth from different communities in Kosovo are closely connected with those in the broader region. The event in 2020 aims at amplifying the voices of young peacebuilders from Kosovo and the neighboring countries, identifying mutual challenges and developing a common youth-led vision towards the future.

Postponed until Autumn 2020 due to COVID-19.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Kosovo-wide

The year 2020 will mark 5 years of the UN Youth, Peace and Security Programme, and we are looking forward to celebrating it by taking the annual UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo to the next level. Relations between youth from different communities in Kosovo are closely connected with those in the broader region. The event in 2020 aims at amplifying the voices of young peacebuilders from Kosovo and the neighboring countries, identifying mutual challenges and developing a common youth-led vision towards the future.

Postponed until Autumn 2020 due to COVID-19.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Kosovo-wide

The year 2020 will mark 5 years of the UN Youth, Peace and Security Programme, and we are looking forward to celebrating it by taking the annual UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo to the next level. Relations between youth from different communities in Kosovo are closely connected with those in the broader region. The event in 2020 aims at amplifying the voices of young peacebuilders from Kosovo and the neighboring countries, identifying mutual challenges and developing a common youth-led vision towards the future.

Postponed until Autumn 2020 due to COVID-19.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Kosovo-wide

On 22-24 February 2020, in response to the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, UNMIK partnered with “United Youth Task Force” network of young peacebuilders to organize a training course “Vaccine Against Hate Speech on Media” for a multi-ethnic team of 30 young bloggers and youth activists (17 young women and 13 young men attended). The participants learned about the scope and forms of online hate speech and the usage of counter-narratives and met with representatives of the Resource Center for Missing Persons and Kosovo Documentation Center managed by the Kosovo Humanitarian Law Center to discuss about the impact of media on transitional justice issues.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Kosovo-wide

On 22-24 February 2020, in response to the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, UNMIK partnered with “United Youth Task Force” network of young peacebuilders to organize a training course “Vaccine Against Hate Speech on Media” for a multi-ethnic team of 30 young bloggers and youth activists (17 young women and 13 young men attended). The participants learned about the scope and forms of online hate speech and the usage of counter-narratives and met with representatives of the Resource Center for Missing Persons and Kosovo Documentation Center managed by the Kosovo Humanitarian Law Center to discuss about the impact of media on transitional justice issues.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Kosovo-wide

On 22-24 February 2020, in response to the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, UNMIK partnered with “United Youth Task Force” network of young peacebuilders to organize a training course “Vaccine Against Hate Speech on Media” for a multi-ethnic team of 30 young bloggers and youth activists (17 young women and 13 young men attended). The participants learned about the scope and forms of online hate speech and the usage of counter-narratives and met with representatives of the Resource Center for Missing Persons and Kosovo Documentation Center managed by the Kosovo Humanitarian Law Center to discuss about the impact of media on transitional justice issues.

Read more at: https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthTaskForce/

Kosovo-wide