(Project in Development)

Mission:

       To give young people the necessary knowledge and skills to be active citizens who can shape the democratic future of Kosovo.

“No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth.”

Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN. 

At the 1st World Conference of Youth Ministers,

Lisbon (Portugal), 8-12 August 1998.

Kosovo youth currently suffer from a growing disconnection between youth and government and a lack of awareness and cooperation with youth organizations and institutions throughout the Region and Europe.  This, complicated by the challenges of political change, unemployment, interethnic issues, and lack of education, presently gives youth little or no hope for the future.  Without intervention, our country may be led towards a fragile and undemocratic society.  It is time to start forging strong relations between young people and our government and neighbors or our Nation’s youth could become victims of failed policies which will last the rest of their lives. 

The project Kosova Youth Council is aimed to strengthen democracy and governance of Kosovo by involving youth, the largest part of Kosovo population, in government and public life. This journey will give young men and women in Kosovo the necessary knowledge and skills to be active citizens who can shape the democratic future of Kosovo. It will give youth a proper place in Region and Europe, with a new identity and new home, where all have rights, responsibilities, and belong to one another. 

The total proposed action will involve thousands of high school students from across the country, which will receive leadership and democracy training, and then become eligible to participate in School Youth Councils.  The School Youth Council will become structured and well-organized forums to discuss and debate issues and propose possible legislation that addresses their issues. Young people will learn about the democratic system, and be educated in parliamentary procedure, legislative committee process, debate, press relations, and lobbying techniques. The program will then provide an opportunity for high school students to participate in government at in a National Youth Council to advocate change at the local and National level. The National Youth Council members will learn by doing and have the opportunity to try their hand at leadership in simulated and real Government experiences.  The program will culminate and become sustainable as the key players in the program reach out and connect the Kosovo Youth Council with similar youth organizations dealing with similar issues in the region and throughout the European Union. 

Executive Staff

President: Naser Ashimi

Director: Edon Kurtishi

Phone: 044 136062

Skype: YMCASKY

KOSOVA YOUTH COUNCIL PROGRAMS