Jelena

General information

 

Project title: Barabar Connect
Duration: 12 months
Implementation period: From November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025
Supported by: The Swiss Confederation represented by Swiss Federal department for Foreign Affairs, acting through Peace and Human rights division
Status: In progress

Project objectives:

The overall objective of the program is to foster interethnic dialogue and cooperation among diverse community actors in Kosovo to enhance social cohesion and address pressing social issues. To achieve this, Barabar Connect proposes a set of structured actions that will bring together targeted interethnic groups and stakeholders, engaging them in constructive exchanges. These efforts aim to:

• (Specific objective 1) enhance the social engagement of youth from all Kosovo communities in addressing pressing social issues and
• (Specific Objective 2) broaden professional and community-based collaboration across ethnic boundaries in advocating for social inclusivity and cohesion.

Expected results:

The direct results of the action include:

• Increased youth engagement on complex social issues, reconciliation, and the importance of dealing with the past
• Enhanced cooperation through artistic and cultural expressions
• Strengthened collaborative links between professional and community groups from various communities across ethnic boundaries
• Enhanced cooperation between civic and community advocacy initiatives and relevant institutional representatives at local and central level in addressing the pressing social issues.

The long-term outcomes of the project include increased social awareness and improved interethnic dialogue among youth, community and civic advocacy groups in addressing pressing social issues.

Related reading:

• Publications
• Articles

General information

 

Project title: The Barabar Initiative: Enhancing Community and Trust-building Dialogue in Kosovo – Phase 2
Duration: 11 months
Implementation period: From July 15, 2024 to June 15, 2025
Supported by: UNMIK
Status: In progress

Project objectives:

The Barabar Centre was established in 2023 by NGO CASA and NGO Integra. It is an inter-ethnic hub for trust-building activities and an open space for professional, social, and cultural interactions between peer groups from all communities in Kosovo. In a short period of time, the Barabar Centre has hosted over 80 events with the participation from all communities. It has become a central landmark of trust-building efforts in Kosovo, facilitating constructive interactions and fostering understanding among diverse communities.

Building on the success of the Phase 1 of the UNMIK-supported project, the Barabar Centre will engage a wide variety of beneficiaries and continue to provide a safe space for the meaningful exchange of views and debate between members of different communities, while continuing to ensure effective participation of women and youth.

The project aims to address the key challenges of the trust-building process in Kosovo. The overall objective is to enhance direct contact and exchange between communities at Kosovo and at the regional level (civil society, academia, media, as well as youth and women’s groups) thus contributing to the prospects of a genuine and durable peace.

Expected results:

The Barabar Centre has already established itself as a unique space where all communities meet to promote inter-ethnic dialogue, tolerance, equality and cultural collaboration. The Barabar Centre continues to serve as a hub for many initiatives that share and promote these values. By promoting and facilitating these interactions, the project seeks to contribute to the prospect of a genuine and peaceful coexistence of all communities in Kosovo.

The Barabar Initiative: Enhancing community and trust-building dialogue in Kosovo – Phase 2 aims to achieve the following results:

1. It seeks to advance reconciliation and integration among all communities in Kosovo.
2. The project anticipates a rise in activities initiated by municipal mechanisms, civil society, and local organizations that foster intercommunity trust and integration across Kosovo’s municipalities.

Related reading:

• Publications
• Articles