Strengthening Youth Empowerment: YMCA Kosovo’s Meeting with Prime Minister Mr. Albin Kurti.
The meeting focused on discussing various activities of YMCA Kosovo and its partnerships across Europe, including representatives from Ulster University in Ireland who were present at the meeting. The mixed delegation emphasized the importance of youth work, research, and peacebuilding.
The conversation naturally extended to the Camp established in Kosovo and the organization’s reach, mission, and beliefs.
During the meeting, the directors shared their belief that young people are like diamonds—requiring time and pressure (in the form of opportunities, platforms, training, etc.) to shine. This belief was supported by a profile of work and reach that positions YMCA in Kosovo as one of the largest organizations in the country.
The delegation shared details about the recent Global NGS event and the organization’s youth and schools reach. In response, Prime Minister Kurti inquired, “How old is this organization?”. While YMCA in Kosovo has been active for about a decade, it benefits from the global YMCA’s 180-year history.
This historical context brings us to the “pilot” part of this article. In 2021, YMCA in Kosovo was invited to be part of a group of seven original YMCAs to deliver HP LIFE courses as part of a new global partnership. Since then, three community digital hubs have been embedded into youth centers, implementing a STEAM box methodology with a focus on technology.
Additionally, a digital space equipped with 3D printers, a smart board, and other tech is set to open later this year at Camp Pjetershan. Alongside these facilities, thousands of young people have upskilled through the hubs with self-paced digital courses and support from YMCA center staff.
Young people like Fiona, who was featured by HP multiple times for her story about upskilling herself where her school perhaps didn’t offer what she needed, and Avnora, who taught herself how to 3D print and was featured by HP on International Women’s Day, exemplify the impact of these initiatives.
Many others in the community are also taking full advantage of what YMCA and HP offer, preparing themselves for the digital future.
Returning to the meeting with the Prime Minister, the discussion covered the future of young people in and out of Kosovo and what needs to be done to support them further.
The conversation bridged from the private sector’s contribution to the global partnership with HP to the importance of up-skilling and re-skilling. The Prime Minister was encouraged to support and promote these efforts. At the end of the meeting, a branded partnership bottle was presented to him for his own digital learning, with some light-hearted comments about it being empty due to the hot summer in Kosovo.
YMCA has served its communities for over 180 years, and this enduring legacy continues. Partnerships and initiatives like the Digital Hubs “Powered by HP” – empower people to change their lives at their own pace, with YMCA support staff available to assist at all levels and abilities. Even the Kosovo Prime Minister recognizes and approves of these efforts!
