JUSE Goes Balkan 2.0
Youth Center “Perspektiva” and SAJV are implementing in Albania the project “JUSE Goes Balkan” which aims at sharing best practices in regards to youth in decision making, through involvement in youth councils, between Albania and Switzerland.
The mobility project has five goals:
- Increase advocating capacities and skills of youth workers and youth organizers for their involvement in decision making.
The mobility project originates from a prior collaboration funded by Movetia, known as “We make democracy,” which occurred in 2019. In this project, participants were tasked with creating need-based projects tailored to their own contexts, and one of these projects highlighted the development and training of advocacy skills as a significant advantage. Given that advocacy for youth is a fundamental element of Perspektiva and SAJV’s work, capacity building was established as one of the primary objectives.
- Deepening the practical knowledge about campaigning and youth led advocacy as key tool for democratic citizenship and youth representation.
Designing and executing a campaign is an essential skill for advocacy. This activity aims to offer participants insights into effective campaigning strategies, promote mutual learning by sharing best practices among peers, and introduce innovative approaches to campaigning. The need to highlight new methods emerged from the urgency of the current global health crisis and the advent of new tools and technologies, which significantly expand the reach and impact of a campaign by broadening its outreach.
- Exchange of best practices between Switzerland and Albania about involvement of young people in decision making and broadening the (international) network.
Switzerland and Albania are linked by a significant number of individuals with Albanian roots and family who reside in Switzerland. The partners view this initiative as a chance to bridge gaps and reduce stereotypes between activists from both nations. By bringing together youth workers and organizers to exchange knowledge and broaden their personal perspectives, the partners aim to foster sustainable relationships and build lasting alliances.
- Develop collaborative strategies among the participants to foster inclusive decision making which can be replicated in the local communities.
The partners believes that democratic decision-making should be grounded in inclusion and accessible to all. However, current efforts to include youth often fall short in this regard. This activity aims to help participants identify barriers and suppression techniques that impede equal participation in decision-making processes. The competencies of the participating countries are expected to complement one another, with Swiss partners offering insights into established youth participation structures and Albanian partners contributing expertise on inclusive mechanisms and methods.
- Creating an inclusive and safe space for young people from different communities and minorities in decision making structures in Albania and Switzerland.
The partners in the mobility project are concerned about current trends in public decision-making, where processes often outcomes fail to address the needs of society as a whole. In particular, the concerns of youth and marginalized groups are frequently overlooked, and their voices are not adequately represented in decision-making processes. Therefore, the project aims to raise awareness about the daily challenges faced by young people from marginalized and vulnerable groups in participating at decision-making levels. It seeks to diminish negative stigmas associated with these social groups and to challenge participants’ perceptions of inter-ethnic relations through peer-to-peer learning and personal exchanges.
The planned mobility activity took place in Durrës, Albania, in May 2023 and profile of participants was young activists, youth leaders and youth workers, age 18-30 years old, who were engaged in civil society organisations or informal youth-led initiatives from Albania and Switzerland who were interested in developing themselves in the area of inclusion, democratic citizenship and youth in decision making.
The project was designed to facilitate the exchange of best practices between countries, focusing on collaborative learning and cultural exchange. Participants had the opportunity to visit the city of Durres, immersing themselves in both its historical and contemporary aspects. They engaged in a series of informative sessions and worked in mixed groups to foster cross-cultural understanding and cooperation. The project also included interactive sessions where participants collaborated in diverse groups, which enhanced their learning experience and promoted deeper connections between them.
One of the highlights of the project was their involvement in organizing a festival for the “Urban Connection” project. This experience allowed participants to explore Albanian traditional music and attire while enjoying a vibrant cultural event. During their time in Durres, they delved into the city’s rich history and explored notable landmarks, enriching their understanding of Albanian heritage and we cannot forget that the Swiss participants generously brought us delicious swiss chocolates.
Overall, the project combined educational sessions with cultural immersion, creating a dynamic environment for sharing knowledge and building international relationships.
By the end of the project, the participants were sad to leave and expressed the wish to be part of the “Juse Goes Balkan” project again.