Syri i Vizionit.
Syri i Vizionit: ‘Think Globally, Act Locally’
The organisation ‘Syri i Vizionit’ is based in Peja and started to implement projects in the aftermath of the Balkans War in 1999. Syri i Vizionit’s primary aim is to promote local democracy and citizens’ participation in Kosovo. In its continuous efforts to enforce democratic practices, a special emphasis is made on the promotion of good governance, accountability, transparency and participation in multiple spheres of civic life.
Any project implemented by Syri i Vizionit seeks to form sustainable linkages between municipal authorities and civil society actors.
Initially the organisation operated as an informal youth group of 40 persons aged from 18-27. Together they developed a range of small scale projects.
A Balkan youth camp that fosters reconciliation
To encourage the spirit of co-operation, Syri i Vizionit helped organise ‘Youth Reconciliation Initiative’ summer camps. The camps’ main goal is to create permanent mechanisms – not only temporary bridges – to decrease tension and promote tolerance and ethnic diversity between the communities.
The Pejë/Pec Youth Network (YPNE) in Kosovo and the inter-ethnic Project Kumanovo in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, co-organised the camp at the scenic Ohrid lake. The OSCE Office in Pejë/Pec supported the project. Attendance was high, bringing together 30 young people from YPNE and 30 from Kumanovo.
The camp
At the start of the camp, participants introduced themselves and the activities they were involved in. To break the ice, both youth networks had prepared presentations of the results of their activities prior to their arrival in Ohrid.
Over nine days, participants dived into numerous courses in conflict management and analysis, intercultural and religious diversity, team-building and communication skills.
Milestones like the Youth Reconciliation Initiative summer camp will be followed up. The next stage is the production of a documentary film, newsletter and website in late 2009. There is still a long way to go, but the continuation of these youth activities provides much hope for the future.
