Dealing with the Past and Peace-building Program

YIHR KS ‘Dealing with the Past and Peace-building’ program aims to foster peace and reconciliation in Kosovo and the wider region by supporting initiatives that address the complex historical narratives of the Western Balkans. The program focuses on building an inclusive, civilian victim-centred collective memory for all communities living in Kosovo, promoting peace-building processes, and empowering youth to become leaders and activists in public life.

Our strategic approach includes:

• Public Engagement: We host debates, workshops, and youth exchanges on dealing with the past, incorporating oral history and social-cultural exploration, and developing victim-centered strategies.
• Museum and Education: We expand the Virtual Museum of Refugees and the Children of War Museum, increase educational activities in high schools, and explain dealing with the past to the public.
• Commemorative Activities: We conduct online commemorations and local activities in Kosovo-Serb areas, prioritizing inclusive memorialization of war crimes.
• Enhancing Cooperation: We cooperate with YIHR offices in the region, assign staff to work with non-majority communities, extend our presence to Serb-majority areas, and hold frequent meetings with activists.

This program is designed to educate many people about past conflicts and effectively communicate the stories of the victims so that they can be understood and learned from by a wide audience. We cannot progress on the path to a better future and recovery if we are unable to learn and grow from our past.

At YIHR KS, we believe that learning from our past is crucial for shaping a more informed and peaceful future. Join us in our journey towards reconciliation and progress.