Kosovo
New Unions for the Youth of Kosova:
National Kosovan Handball Federation (KHF) and CASPEA Foundation
form an Alliance for Education, Employment and Non-Violence
for the Youth of Kosova
Nothing has changed
Recent Challenges for Youths in Kosova
The Situation for youth in Kosovo has not improved since the declaration of independence in February 2008.
Education
Most of them deplore that the only chance to receive proper education or employment is to leave the country. For most of them, this is neither financially nor logistically an option. Not to mention their lacking acceptance in European countries.
Drugs and Crime
Much of the energy of frustrated youth seems to find an outlet in crime, or drugs. Veton Elshani, spokesperson of the Kosovo Police Service, says: “The average age of those who engage in criminal offences from pretty heavy crime as well as drug abuse is 18 to 24. Even kids younger than 18 are significantly involved in crimes ranging from theft to murder.”[1]
Unemployment
Kosovan Labour Unions are constantly emphasising the hopeless situation of many youth in Kosovo. Their chances of entering vocational training or finding employment are very little. Kosovan youth seem to find different outlets in this frustrating situation. WHO statistics say that Kosovo’s youth has a far higher rate of drug abuse than the same age group in Western Europe.
Radicalisation
More and more young Kosovars find an outlet for their frustration in hard-line religion.[2] Studies warn of the danger of political Islam and religious radicalisation among Kosova’s youth. The reason for this, many experts argue, is the need for psychological stability that has risen after the war. This creates a feeling of being lost and hopeless without future perspectives. These circumstances play into the hands of radical, nationalist or fundamentalist demagogues: “The stakes for religious radicalisation are as present as is the possibility for radicalisation for political or other social reasons.”[3]
The chances for independent Kosovo of living in peace and justice clearly depend on the young generation.
But what can be done for the education, welfare and perspectives of youth of Kosovo?
How can we help?
Attempts to support and empower the Youth of Kosova
The Kosovan Handball Federation (KHF) is forming an alliance for the youth of Kosova. Together with CASPEA Foundation, they are introducing a programme of Sport for Education, Non-violence, and Anti-discrimination. From 2009 onwards, youth trainers and coaches for handball have to be trained in “Sport for Non-violence”. This is taught in CASPEA’s train the trainers workshops.
This big national sport federation has an outreach to 1800 boys and girls in Kosovo. The local sport clubs provide non-formal education, teach important live skills. They also form stable networks for children and youth.
The national sport federations are well aware of their responsibility arising from this network of social contacts among children and youth. Additionally, sport coaches very often have more influence on youths than school teachers. They also have the function of a role model.
Thus, CASPEA and KHF empower the youth coaches to train children not only in their specific sport. They will extend their capacities to teach Fair Play, respect, tolerance, social inclusion, important life skills and healthy life styles.
Applicable techniques for solving conflicts in a non-violent way are being introduced. They include peer mediation and setting up interethnic relations through sports.
During the implementation of this programme, the target group of Kosovan boys and girls will be monitored. The following indicators are being compared to peers of the same age group outside the programme:
- higher rate of completion of compulsory school time
- higher share of entering into vocational training
- lowered unemployment rate among target group
- higher educational and professional performance
- less delinquent rate convicted of violent behaviour
- less delicts of drug abuse
- resilience against radical, nationalist, and fundamentalist ideologies
- more social interaction between youth from different ethnic background
External experts from the field of development cooperation, education and sport sociology evaluate all monitored data.
First project actions:
In a pilot phase CASPEA and FHK hold a 14-days’ train the trainers programmes for 40 youth trainers each in Pristina. After completion, they will be certified “Sport for Nonviolence” - Coaches and install a network of youth for education, employment and non-violence.
The concept will be incorporated into weekly sport sessions, but also sport tournaments and social events, such as cross culture tournaments, aiming at including neighbourhoods and communities from different ethnic backgrounds.
Project Goals 2009:
14 days’ pilot workshop for Kosovan handball youth trainers
Please support the youth of Kosovo!
Help to realise training and education workshops for the handball network.
Please submit your donations to this account:
Zürcher Kantonal Bank
Account No.: 1100-1698.909
IBAN: CH85 0070 0110 0016 9890 9
Reason for transfer: Youth of Kosova
[1] Sokol Ferezi, in: Focus Kosovo, UNMIK, Spring 2008, p. 7.
[2] according to a study by KIPRED (2005).
[3] Ferid Agani, psychiatrist and member of the parliament, ibid. .
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