As Europe’s newest country, Kosovo is building its own future. Less than 15 years after independence, citizens are engaging to ensure a strong democracy and thriving economy. New opportunities to develop multi-cultural relationships and create trust between diverse communities represent a bridge from the region’s past to its future.
Still, economic and political challenges threaten both stability and prosperity. Young people face an unemployment rate of more than 50%, significantly higher than their older counterparts. Youth are urgently seeking jobs to support themselves and their families, and without work, are vulnerable to risky behaviors and irregular migration.
Training in soft and workforce skills and entrepreneurship increases youth's community engagement, enhances stability, and reduces bullying and gender-based violence.
In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 global health crisis did not leave Kosovo untouched, but young people stepped forward to lead the response, joining community Emergency Response Teams to ensure social distancing and other measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, as well as delivering food to vulnerable families with limited transportation and economic means.
Up to Youth
Global Communities is implementing a five-year Up to Youth Activity in Kosovo, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), committed to improving the capacities and enabling the aspirations of youth so that they can contribute to and benefit from more stable, democratic, and prosperous communities. Global Communities works with young people in nine municipalities in Kosovo as they become sources of positive change, develop new life skills and build resilience. Young people ages 15-24, including those often marginalized or excluded, come together for leadership opportunities, developing advocacy and awareness campaigns, and launching social ventures. Up to Youth utilizes a Positive Youth Development lens, ensuring that the key principles of assets, agency, contribution and enabling environment are integrated across activities, as well as an evidence-based approach to youth learning.
Over 2,900
youth and parents participated in Up to Youth’s community outreach activities
Mobilized 630+
youth throughout nine partner municipalities to improve their capacities and skills to contribute to and benefit from better communities and livelihoods
133
youth completed the entrepreneurship and rapid market assessment workshops to assess their municipalities’ potential for future private sector engagement opportunities
Our work in Kosovo
Positive Youth Development
Equipping Young People for Leadership and Success
Economic Opportunity
Advancing Job Training and Market Linkages for Sustainable Livelihoods
Sustainable Development
Standing with Communities as They Shape Their Own Future
Water Security
Expanding Safe, Sustainable Water Access
Resources
Capacity Materials
CLEAR Cooperative Resilience Research
Global Communities through the USAID Cooperative Development Program -Cooperative Leadership Engagement Advocacy and Research (CLEAR) program, partnered with the United States International University – Africa (USIU-A) to conduct a 5-year longitudinal research study on the dynamics of social capital within the context of agricultural cooperatives in Kenya.
Research & Publications
Cooperative Resilience Longitudinal Study in Kenya
Global Communities through the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Cooperative Development Program (CDP) known as Cooperative Leadership Engagement Advocacy and Research (CLEAR) project, partnered with the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) to conduct a five-year longitudinal research study on the dynamics of social capital within the context of agricultural cooperatives in Kenya. Cooperatives…
Briefs & Case Studies
Cooperative Development (CLEAR+) Program Project Brief
Global Communities’ Cooperative Leadership Engagement Advocacy and Research (CLEAR)+ project (2023-2028), is a USAID funded Cooperative Development Program (CDP) aimed at advocating for the development of worker cooperatives with a focus on youth employment. CLEAR+ promotes the cooperative enabling environment and improved business strategies and performance through local Business Service Providers (BSPs) using a market…
Briefs & Case Studies
The USAID Cooperative Development Program CLEAR Learning Agenda Summary
Global Communities’ USAID-funded Cooperative Development Program (CDP) CLEAR Learning Agenda was designed to generate substantial evidence on effective strategies to foster a conducive environment for cooperative development in Kenya. The Learning Agenda’s primary objective was to offer insights to guide decision-making in program implementation and pave the way for the strengthening of cooperative businesses. A…
Briefs & Case Studies
The School Garden Model
Pamoja Tuwalishe’s School Garden Model operationalizes the NSFG and will be utilized in the 367 program-supported schools. This Model will be used to train and equip schools to nurture nutritious school gardens that will serve as learning sites for students to practice climate-smart agricultural practices while contributing healthy harvests for the students’ meals at school.…
NEWS
Latest stories from the blog
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Up to Youth Program Supports Sweet Entrepreneurship in Kosovo
By Lizzie Hickman Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager, to have the entire world of possibilities open for you to …
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Empowering Youth to Engage Meaningfully in Their Community
Originally published by USAID Meriton Binakaj is currently enrolled in online courses to finish high school. “I couldn’t have done it before since I had …
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Kosovo Youth’s Newfound Life Skills Build Resilience in Their Communities
Originally published by USAID It is essential that Kosovo youth have the skills necessary to take part in Kosovo’s democratic and economic future. Acquiring soft …
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