Flying over Differences

“I was a bit afraid at the beginning, but then it was super funny, a really exciting experience.” These were the words of Senad Gushani, a young man from the municipality of Gjakovë/Đakovica, just after riding the “Zip Line” over the beautiful landscape of the Rugova valley, in Pejë/Peć municipality.

The young men and women – Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo Roma, and Kosovo Egyptian – gathered at a breath-taking location, just outside of Pejë/Peć.

There, as they “flew” for more than 700 metres above the Rugova canyon, the space was created for interaction and the exchange of ideas. For most of them, it was the first time experiencing the only major “Zip Line” in Kosovo, and, as described by Senad, the adrenaline and excitement levels, and a bit of fear, were particularly high.

Just as special as the exhilarating experience of the “Zip Line” was the chance for these young people to connect with fellow youth from throughout Kosovo. In everyday life, opportunities to socialize with likeminded members of other communities are few and far between.

Senad explains that in the course of the morning he mixed with most of the participants, making contacts that he is hopeful can be kept alive through organizing future activities together. “The atmosphere was really friendly, we took pictures all together and shared funny videos between us after the “Zip Line,” he adds.

Marta Dasić, a young girl from Brestovik/Brestovik, in Pejë/Peć municipality, was thrilled with the experience and would like to see more activities of this kind planned, in order to build friendships with other young people. “I am really glad that I came, it was exciting to experience the “Zip Line”, but more importantly, to share it with an amazing group of people. Some who have now become my friends,” Marta says.

The joint inter-municipal declaration

The visit was organized by the municipality of Pejë/Peć as one of the results of an OSCE-supported joint inter-municipal declaration on the commitment to promote inter-community dialogue in the municipalities of Pejë/Peć, Gjakovë/Đakovica, Deçan/Dečani, Klinë/Klina, Istog/Istok and Junik.

The declaration was signed by the mayors of these municipalities on 28 May 2018. The initiative is based on the idea that a culturally diverse society is a goal to be pursued, that inter-community reconciliation, return and reintegration, dialogue, and mutual respect are crucial to a stable and democratic Kosovo where there is no place for any form of discrimination or social exclusion.

This was the first of the planned activities and it will be followed by similar events in the other five municipalities of the region. Each activity will be different, tailored to the unique, natural and cultural character of the respective municipalities, but the aim will be the same: to bring young people from different communities and municipalities together, promoting dialogue and co-operation among them.

The OSCE commitment

The representatives of the municipality and the acting director of the OSCE Regional Centre Pejë/Peć, Maid Konjhodžić, presented the main goals of the activity to the participants before the adventure began. Konjhodžić highlighted that the OSCE is particularly glad to see youth from the region engaged in different sport activities in the beautiful nature of the Rugova valley: “It is an opportunity for young people from different communities to get to know each other and enjoy the nature of the Pejë/Peć region together,” he said. He also expressed the desire of the OSCE to soon see activities like this in other municipalities, “with the same aim to promote the region’s diversity and youth engagement.”

As the activity in Rugova valley came to a close, there were no doubts that its goals had been achieved. Senad, Marta, and all the other youth who participated, had successfully breached not only the high-up distances from treetop to treetop, but also the differences and barriers between communities. They had fun together, regardless of their ethnic background. With an eye on the future, their hope is to continue on this path, by participating in new activities Kosovo-wide, where they can meet each other and build friendly relations.

The OSCE continues to support initiatives to promote inter-community dialogue and co-operation, supporting the activism of youth and contributing to the well-being of all communities living in Kosovo.