ProPeace Platform
This NGO network builds the capacity of grassroots civil society to respond to the challenges Kosovo faces, collectively improving its members' effectiveness in the peace process.
ProPeace Platform is a structure of 12 Kosovan NGOs who work in the field of peacebuilding. It was founded by Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst (forumZFD) in December 2005 and is still supported by them.
The main idea of having this Platform is that local NGOs, by co-acting within the same structure, would share experience, exchange ideas, support each other and co-operate, enabling them to increase their own capacities and by this open possibilities to have a larger scope of influencing the overall process of peace-building and to place themselves in a relatively important position in the peace process in Kosovo.
Vision:
ProPeace stands for a Kosovo/a where differences and values amongst citizens are respected and broadly reflected.
Mission:
ProPeace aims to strengthen the citizen’s role in order to cultivate sufficient engagement of institutions for building peace in Kosovo/a.
Objectives:
- Informing citizens, institutions, the media and the wider public about the work of ProPeace Platform.
- Advocacy: Influencing the sensibility of citizens in becoming more active in building peace, and influencing institutions at the central level. ProPeace would like to advocate that institutions do not only TALK for peace and co-existence but also TAKE ACTIONS.
- Networking: Setting up direct contacts and a regular exchange of information with individuals and organisations within Kosovo/a, that in the future would strengthen the Platform in order to establish links to similar structures outside of Kosovo/a.
- Peace Education: In the coming period ProPeace will carry out peace education through debates, training sessions, seminars, etc. using non-formal education methods in order to raise the citizens self-consciousness for peace.
- Honouring the promotion of peace values: By honouring peace values promoters, Pro Peace aims at increasing sensibility and drawing attention towards working in the Peace Field.
In order to strengthen the ties between the member NGOs, ProPeace holds regular seminars and working-meetings covering such topics as the structure of the Platform, planning of activities, making a Plan of Action, training etc.
Beside the load of activities organised by its member NGOs, ProPeace as a Platform has organised joint activities as well. Worthy of mention is the International Peace Day (21st of September) campaign that ProPeace has organised for two years. The aim of the campaign is to raise consciousness of this day and send out a message that became a motto of Platform ‘every day is peace day’. The campaign includes distribution of posters, leaflets, postcards, press releases, stickers etc; all over Kosovo.
ProPeace is different from most of the networks in Kosovo in that this Platform is locally initiated and led, without any international interference in decision-making or strategy. ProPeace was established because of the need of several Kosovan NGOs based on the actual situation of what Kosovo is going through, and not motivated materially as is sometimes the case.
The decision-making within ProPeace is based on consensus, with a flat-membership structure, and in order to overcome difficult situations when ad-hoc reactions/decisions are needed, ProPeace has formed a coordination group made of 4 members of the Platform and named as G4+.
ProPeace has also formed its Consulting Board out of the most successful International NGOs present in Kosovo, and in the long-term aims at involving governmental structures and prominent individuals who would contribute to ProPeace.
Member NGOs of ProPeace are from different towns in Kosovo, including Prizren, Prishtina, Gjilan, Peja, and Mitrovica. Therefore the Platform can be considered a Kosovo-wide initiative.
- Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V;
- Caritas Luxemburg; and
- Our member NGOs (in different means).
Currently ProPeace counts 13 member NGOs, while the Platform is open for new memberships, as long as they fulfil the IN criteria.
Member NGOs of ProPeace Platform are:
- Action for Non-violence and Peacebuilding;
- Community Building Mitrovica;
- Center for Civil Society Development;
- Council for Peace and Tolerance;
- Fisnikët;
- Initiative for Peace;
- Kosovan Nansen Dialogue;
- Me Dorë Në Zemër;
- Oaza;
- Paqedashësit;
- Syri i Vizionit;
- Yjet e Gallaktikës; and
- Youth Initiative for Human Rights.
