Over 200 young people gathered at the "Youth Networking" event to mark and reflect on two years of engagement within the "YESS" project.
In a warm atmosphere filled with photography, creative installations and positive energy, hundreds of young people from all over Kosovo came together to celebrate the activities of the “Youth Empowered through Inclusive Schools and Societies (YESS)” project.
This meeting marked not only the end of the activities but also the beginning of a new generation that believes in collaboration, creativity, and positive change, where young people had the opportunity to share their stories during the project's journey.
This project, supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and implemented by UNICEF and IOM, aimed to strengthen social unity, promote inclusion and dialogue between communities, and raise awareness of conflicts in Kosovo, placing young people at the center of the journey towards peace.
The festive atmosphere was enriched by the presence of ambassadors, international representatives, civil society organizations, teachers and young people themselves from the 11 municipalities involved in the project.
The event began with an exciting video, presenting the main moments of activities, collaboration and interaction between young people from different communities.
Jonas Westerlund, Swedish ambassador to Kosovo, said that it is very important that there is always a youthful spirit in development projects.
"I think it is also important that in development projects we always have a youth component. So when we discuss – whether it is about health or any other topic – we should always have youth resources, panels with young people, discussions with young people, whenever we implement projects. This is my very concrete suggestion." the ambassador said Westerlund.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of the EU Office, Eva Palatova, stressed the importance of engaging young people in their community.
"From my perspective, it is above all important to be interested, to show interest in having your new future, to participate, to be part of your community, to be active where you are and to be interested in what is happening around you. You should try to engage friends, colleagues and community members to develop your views together and to participate actively, so that you do not behave simply by accepting what someone else says and tries to influence you. " noted Palatova.
Meanwhile, the Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration, Anna Rostocka, said that leadership begins with self-confidence, critical thinking, and not remaining indifferent to social developments.
"I think the most important thing is to believe in what you are doing, to think for yourself, to analyze with a critical mind. If you see what is happening, not to remain indifferent and not to say “I can’t change anything”, because if everyone thinks like that, then nothing really changes. So I think being a leader means being part of those who shape the world, finding your place, seeing what you can do and how you can contribute.. " END Rostock.
Through language camps, language clubs, inter-ethnic activities and cultural partnerships, the project aimed to increase the skills of young people, bring communities closer together and create new bridges of cooperation and understanding.
As part of its comprehensive approach, the project focused on 11 municipalities, 54 schools, and interethnic communities as key points for the development of informal activities and educational programs.
The YESS project aimed to engage around 13,000 young people and empower over 400 teachers, operationalizing 54 student councils and the same number of mediation clubs.
With over 200 young people present, "Youth networking"It demonstrated the energy and commitment that the YESS project has inspired for the future of the country."
The event summarized the main achievements and created opportunities for networking among young people from different communities, proving that investing in their participation and empowerment remains an essential step towards a more collaborative and inclusive society.
