Introduction
Kosovar Youth Council (KYC) is one of the oldest youth non-governmental organizations (NGO) established in 1999 in refugees camps in Albania, and registered officially later during that year in Prishtina, Kosovo. KYC came to existence as a response to the needs of the Kosovar youth, who had been facing numerous challenges brought on by the massive expulsion from their homes during the war of 1999. Hitherto, KYC has aspired to act and build a civil society through initiating and supporting youth organizations, engaging young men and women in change-making processes, strengthening their capacities, representing the youth’s voice, promoting self organized education and supporting the development of youth policies. The youth is at the heart of the organization, and all work is carried out on the basis of these channels: staff, outstanding volunteers and the high school student representative structure – the Student Council of Kosovo (SCK).
KYC’s striking niche is the establishment of the biggest high school student representative structure – the Student Council of Kosovo. SCK has been created in 2005 and is active annually ever since. It consists of 100 representatives from 100 high schools in 30 municipalities in Kosovo. SCK is a national structure that represents all students of secondary schools of Kosovo and serves as an entity that protects students’ interests and rights, and cooperates with officials, parents, professors and other educational institutions for the benefit of the entire education system.
KYC’s highest governing body is the Assembly, composed of all members of the organization. Moreover, KYC has an auxiliary body, a board of directors composed of three members. Apart from the staff involved directly in KYC’s programs, KYC has more than 600 active volunteers annually, with a wide geographic coverage in 30 municipalities (out of 38 municipalities) in Kosovo.
KYC partners with public schools, non-profit organizations, public institutions and other institutions, to maintain a high degree of youth’s wellbeing, education, and activism in their communities. Additionally, KYC engages in work on individual cases when needed, with people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations and special needs; together with their families, teachers, and other relevant acquaintances. Furthermore, KYC supports institutions transform their cultures, programs, and operations into being more inclusive and responsive to the voices and needs of the youth.
For the last 20 years, through diligent and tireless work has managed to build good relationships with all educational institutions in the country, and engage directly and holistically with the youth, assist them in connection to necessary resources, and build their capacities to achieve their academic and professional goals. Moreover, through KYC’s programs and with an emphasis on the SCK, a high number of young leaders have emerged, leading in various fields of work. This is the result of a combined approach that KYC has adopted during this period through skills development trainings as well as collaboration with institutions, and by adopting proven amplifying practices for positive and equitable outcomes.
Some of the greatest milestones and accomplishments for KYC during this period have been:
- Contributing with recommendations for administrative instructions, amendments of laws, particularly in the field of education and youth.
- Initiated the working group of Administrative Instructions (AI) on the Student Council of Kosovo (SCK).
- Providing educational intervention programs for 20 years.
- Paving the path and shaping emerging leaders, who are now contributors of state consolidation.
- Coaching and mentoring young people to become agents of change in their communities.
- Supporting the establishment and building capacities of (youth) non-governmental organizations.
- Cultivating a positive relationship with students and addressing their needs and priorities to relevant institutions, utilizing a grassroots approach.
- Creating connections between the youth and decision makers.
- Enabling a platform for cooperation between high schools in numerous municipalities in Kosovo.
- Establishing the first Students’ Council structure in all high schools in Kosovo; active since 2005. More than 1000 students being part of SCK through 2005 – 2018, from 107 high schools.
- SCK being the first affiliated member in OBESSU from Kosovo.
KYC being one of the first youth organizations to have:
- Established working groups on prevention of violence in schools and child trafficking.
- Used innovative approaches in tackling topics related to sexual health rights.
- Monitored the State Matura Exam annually and be a member in the Committee for State Matura Exam.
- Established the Youth Monitoring Group (YMG) in the period of 2010-2016, monitoring the State Matura Exam, the implementation of Directorates Education Action Plan, work of the Local Committees for Education.
- Established the Club for Better Education in 2013 composed of students, parents, CSOs, MEST representatives, through which contributing with recommendations for the finalization of the core curricula framework and has conducting a needs assessment for high school students.
Described in numbers:
- Approximately 1 million students as indirect beneficiaries of KYC and SCK since establishment.
- More than 20100 young men and women who have benefited directly from KYC’s trainings and workshops.
- More than 600 volunteers involved in KYC’s activities annually.
- Published 16 publications and research reports on education and youth.
Team
Ditjon Fetahu
Executive Director
Medina Sopjani
Project Assistant