More than 40 students, who have demonstrated potential for leadership in different influential sectors such as politics, media, law, and civil society, have successfully completed the Young Leaders School, organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo.
By being part of this program, the School’s participants had the opportunity to:
– Familiarize with modern concepts of human rights, rule of law and democratic principles, as interrelated essentials of democracy building and tolerant/peaceful societies;
– Develop critical thinking about creative/practical alternatives of good governance and political transparency;
– Strengthen their knowledge in the field of transitional justice;
– Get necessary theoretical knowledge on direct democracy by analyzing the best practices in the world;
– Understand the complexity and implications of prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination in the social life;
– Familiarize with the concepts of nation, nationalism and identity;
– Become familiar with the idea and the historical, political and economic characteristics of the European Union, its legislative framework, and policy processes of the EU;
– Strengthen and develop their academic writing skills.
During the School’s program, one regional and several local study visits were organized, aiming to provide participants with the opportunity to visit relevant institutions and NGOs dealing with human rights and civic activism, as well as political parties supporting civic values. Study visits included discussions with institutions/NGOs/parties’ representatives and presentations of their work.
In the end of the program, almost all of the participants have evaluated the School as a source that provided them with information and critical discussions about the lectured topics, those they don’t get within their formal education. The lecturers as well have evaluated the School as valuable and important for the young generation of leaders as they have directly seen the interest of engagement of the participants in the discussions.
