Youth from Albania and Serbia conclude OSCE-supported training course in Durrës on use of digital skills to promote OSCE values

A five-day training course on use of digital skills to promote OSCE values for young people from Albania and Serbia concluded on 22 September 2016 in the Albanian city of Durrës. The course was organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia in partnership with the OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the Serbia’s Ministry of Youth and Sport, Albanian Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth and the National Youth Council of Serbia.

Participants discussed and exchanged views on current challenges and perceptions of youth from both countries, and explored possibilities of improving bilateral and regional youth co-operation between youth civil society organizations and beyond. They had an opportunity to acquire digital skills and use them for developing joint initiatives in line with OSCE commitments and MoU.

“In this training course, I found myself at a turning point, where networks became connections and strangers became friends”, said Rei Kalaja from the organization Ecolëvizja in Albania.

The need for co-operation and networking has been recognized by youth organizations from both countries, as well as their governments. A Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Co-operation was signed in 2014 by the Prime Ministers of Albania and Serbia with the goal of building bridges between youth.

“Being the pioneers on this path, I am sure that there will be more youth organizations from Serbia and Albania joining us and collaborating also on a regional level”, added Mina Radoncic from the Union of Secondary School students of Serbia.

“We are determined to bring down barriers and in their place build bridges”, agreed both young participants.

The course, which gathered 20 young people, was held within the framework of an OSCE project, financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Germany, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity among youth actors from the two countries.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia and OSCE Presence in Albania strive to contribute to these existing efforts, in support of the spirit of co-operation, tolerance and friendship between youth. The OSCE Field operations in the region, the OSCE Presence in Albania included, are also working with the newly established Regional Youth Cooperation Office of the Western Balkans, based in Tirana, focused on promoting reconciliation as well as programmes on remembrance, diversity, intercultural exchange, regional mobility, citizen participation, and the promotion of democratic values.