UNMIK/PR/326
PRISTINA—The Department of Youth is organizing a Youth Week from 1-7 October. The event, which from this year onwards is to be held each year, is aimed to inspire the active engagement of youth in shaping their society. This year’s theme will be Tolerance, No Violence. A range of activities planned and implemented by youth themselves will be held all over Kosovo during the week.
The Department of Youth expects youth organizations to play a major role in organizing the events, promoting non-violence and messages of coexistence. It is inviting them to send proposals and ideas of activities as an example of young people’s positive contribution to their communities.
A selection board composed of the Department of Youth, youth NGOs and international NGOs will select activities from the proposals related on tolerance on social, cultural, environmental or political issues. Due to the difficult socio-economic and political nature of the Kosovo society, extra priority will be given to activities that recognize the ethnic diversity of Kosovo and the need to find non-violent ways to resolve conflict.
The post-war situation in Kosovo has left youth with both a legacy stemming from a history of intolerance and conflict as well as the challenge to engage actively in building civic society. Since the end of the war, hundreds of new youth organizations and associations have been established with the aim of creating better conditions for youth themselves and for their society as a whole.
Proposals and ideas must be submitted to the International Rescue Committee or International Medical Corps Youth Centers by 8 September.