Projects & Activities

The Young Peacebuilders Academy in Gjakova was an extraordinary example of how young people can build relationships through love. Participants created bridges of friendship through stimulating games and sessions.

The first day focused on connection and equality through interactive games. The second day explored technology and peacebuilding, including AI’s role in cross-cultural dialogue and early warning systems.

Participants developed media literacy skills to identify hate speech and misinformation. Each participant is developing initiatives reflecting local contexts while embracing empathy, justice, and social cohesion.

A one-day event with the message “Together we can stop it, with masks ON” took place in Lipjan/Lipljan, uniting young people from different communities to distribute protective masks.

Volunteers prepared and distributed hundreds of masks to homes in different areas of Lipjan, including Rubovci and Hallaqi e Vogël. The action was carried out by bicycle, an ecological approach to solidarity.

Young people also distributed informational materials to local businesses about respecting protective measures. Special thanks to coordinator Bestar Krasniqi, mentors Fatlinda Daku and Andjela Mirkovic, and Jana Minochkina from UNMIK.

We held an online meeting with 24 young leaders from Prizren Municipality to discuss issues young people experience daily with Fjolla Berisha, Coordinator for the Youth Sector.

Key topics included the serious lack of space for youth activities, delay in constructing the Youth Center, and the urgent need to launch the Local Youth Action Council.

Jana Minochkina, Youth Advisor from UNMIK, spoke about opportunities for involvement in upcoming youth activities, encouraging young people to actively participate in personal and collective development.

Our Youth T.R.A.I.N. team visited municipalities of Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, Skënderaj/Srbica and Vushtrri/Vučitrn to involve local decision-makers in our initiatives and build bridges for youth.

In Skënderaj/Srbica, we enjoyed a conversation with Arben Veli and Hazir I. Asllani from Qendra Rinore Skenderaj – a youth-owned social enterprise functioning as a café and space for youth activities and innovations.

The Youth T.R.A.I.N. project promotes greater youth participation in decision-making at local levels through partnerships with authorities, youth networks and the UN. This day showed how important cooperation is and how young people connecting across ethnic barriers can build strong communities.

In Rahovec, known for its vineyards and hospitality, we held a series of meetings with representatives of local institutions and civil society focused on youth, communities and equality.

We met with Bjondina Kleçka (Directorate for Youth, Culture and Sports), Lendrit Qeli (Municipal Office for Communities and Returns), Ekrem Bytyqi (Office for Gender Equality), and Qemajl Krasniqi (Youth Department).

We also learned about the work of civil society organizations including SHL Kosova, the Serbian branch of the Youth Center, and NGO “Hareja”. These meetings were organized by our local coordinator Senad Durguti in cooperation with UNMIK.

On November 30, 2019, we gathered with volunteers and activists who had been selflessly working to collect humanitarian aid for earthquake-affected areas in Albania. Our team delivered the collected packages to the Red Cross in Lezha, one of the cities hardest hit.

All donations came thanks to the enormous support of our associates and citizens who showed that in difficult times, people from different regions and communities can unite around a common humanitarian mission.

We created and shared an updated list of needs and resources to help coordinate activities and maximize the effectiveness of relief efforts. This event confirmed that humanity and solidarity transcend all borders, and that in difficult moments, a common desire to help can unite us.

We organized the second Youth Ethno-Festival in the beautiful setting of the Etnon-Village in Kukaj, one of the brightest events in the youth calendar in Kosovo. This festival was a true meeting of cultures and communities, a space where we built bridges of trust and understanding.

We brought together young people from different regions and ethnic communities, who brought with them the richness of tradition through authentic costumes, folk dances and flavors of their regions. Every detail of the festival told the story of our complex but beautiful cultural diversity.

By organizing this event, we wanted to show how important it is to cherish and celebrate the heritage that unites us, but also to encourage togetherness that will lead us to a better future. The festival left a deep mark in our hearts and the hearts of all participants, confirming that diversity is not an obstacle, but a strength.

The United Youth Task Force organized a unique art workshop called BBArt in Shtrpce, bringing together young artists from Shtrpce and the surrounding towns. This event was not only an opportunity for creative expression, but also for connecting young people who share the same passion for art.

BBArt was designed as a platform where participants could present their artwork, but also to get acquainted with the United Youth Task Force network. The call was open to all young artists, regardless of experience, with the desire to highlight the diversity of styles and approaches to art.

The workshop was particularly important in that it connected young people from different cities and ethnic communities, creating a space for dialogue, understanding and joint action. Through art, participants expressed not only their talent but also their message about the importance of togetherness, peace and inclusion.

On January 27, 2019, the first event of the “Youth in Transparency” project was held, bringing together more than 40 young people from Gjilan to discuss “Transparency and Youth in the Municipality of Gjilan.”

Participants had the opportunity to listen to panelists including Gentrit Murseli (councilor), Shefik Surdulli (Committee for Communities), and Ilmi Hajdini (civil sector volunteer). They presented their work, results and plans related to youth policies and engagement.

During the discussion, young people actively participated by asking questions and making concrete suggestions, demonstrating their willingness to participate in decision-making processes. The event was broadcast live, promoting transparency and open communication.

On December 21, 2018, the United Youth Task Force organized the opening of the exhibition “My Kosovo in One Shot”, a unique project that brought together young photographers from different communities in Kosovo, ready to show the true beauty and diversity of our country through their lenses. This exhibition was not just a display of photographs. It also was the voice of young people who wanted to tell a story of togetherness, tradition and cultural richness that often goes unnoticed.

Each photograph was a small window into the world of values and identities that make Kosovo a place rich in colors and emotions. Young people showed us that diversity is not an obstacle, but a strength, a bridge that connects people regardless of their ethnicity.

The exhibition was part of a wider event that also included the Winter Market, a special event that brought together social start-up initiatives such as The Ideas Partnership, Sa-punë, Down Syndrome Kosova and HANDIKOS. Visitors were able to learn about innovative projects that are changing society for the better, creating a more inclusive and equal environment for all.

Also, as part of the Winter Market, the project “Equal Ethnicities Empowerment” (E.E.E.) was presented, which authentically highlighted traditional crafts and arts through workshops and handicraft exhibitions. This project strengthened the message of togetherness and mutual respect, through culture and creativity, inviting everyone to get involved in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

Visitors had the opportunity to purchase handmade gifts and souvenirs with a special story, which, in addition to being a wonderful gift, were also a support for local communities and social enterprises. The atmosphere was warm, inspiring and full of hope, an ideal opportunity to encourage dialogue, understanding and cooperation between different communities through art and innovation.

On the second day of the “My Kosovo in One Shot” activity, the day started informally but very inspiringly. Jana Minochkina and Rina Mujku initiated a discussion titled “From my Kosovo to our Kosovo”, which spontaneously opened a space for the exchange of opinions, personal experiences and hopes regarding the future of the country. Through reflections and a mini-debate, the participants shed light on different perspectives on what Kosovo means to them and how together we can build a more positive society.

After that, Fatlinda Daku, through her enthusiasm and experience, showed how important the power of storytelling is in photography. She shared practical tips on how to capture moments through the lens that tell more than just a picture – small, everyday stories that otherwise remain invisible, but have the power to connect a community.

The participants then had the opportunity to personally explore the natural beauty of Rugova. With cameras and mobile phones in their hands, each frame they captured had its own background (emotion, story, memory). Later, they presented these photos, sharing what was behind them and why they were important to them.

The day was rounded off with an outstanding lecture by media expert Alan Berry, who spoke about the role of media in the community. His approach was practical and honest, encouraging everyone to think about how media can be a bridge between people, not a barrier.

This event showed how important it is to give space to young people and their voices, because they are the carriers of change and creators of the future. “My Kosovo in One Shot” is not just a photo exhibition. It is a call for unity, understanding and celebration of our common heritage, expressed through the creativity, passion and outlook of young people.

One of the most inspiring examples of cooperation presented at the forum was from Kosovo, the partnership between UNMIK and the UN Youth Task Force Kosovo. This cooperation is not just a formal structure, but a living example of how young people can be included in peacebuilding processes.

We are proud that our story and good practices were presented there by two exceptional young women: Jana, as a youth contact person at UNMIK, and Liri Rushiti, our active member and representative of Kosovo youth. Their presentation was not just a mere presentation of the project, but an honest and energetic presentation of a path towards a more inclusive and just society.

Special inspiration and additional motivation were also brought by the experiences of colleagues from Somalia, Iraq and Colombia, who shared the challenges and successes in their contexts at the forum. The common thread of all these experiences was clear: when young people are given the trust and space to act, they become drivers of change.