Edona Maloku, RIT Kosovo Donjeta Demolli, City of Kamenica, Kosovo Shared Education Initiatives in Other Divided Contexts: The Case of Kosovo Edona Maloku, RIT Kosovo Donjeta Demolli, City of Kamenica, Kosovo SELF Annual Conference, Belfast, September 2019

Kosovo: Background Vibrant country, youngest population in Europe (over 50% are under 25 years old!) BUT With a troubled past Previously part of former Yugoslavia Conflict in 1998-1999; international military NATO intervention and a United Nations Protectorate Main conflicting groups: Albanian majority seeking independence and Serb minority against it Over 13,000 victims (1,600 are still missing), around 1 mil became refugees at the time Declared independence in 2008 Source: http://kosovoblogs.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/newbornwikipedia.jpg

Ethnic groups have polarizing attitudes about independence Kosovo’s state flag (brings forward a new identity) 87% of the population 7% of the population A Kosovar Albanian waves an Albanian flag as celebrates the independence of Kosovo in the capital Pristina (© Getty images, 2008) Kosovar Serbs protest with Serbian flags in North Mitrovica against the declaration of independence of Kosovo (© Getty images, 2008)

11 years post-independence: Where are we at? Ethnic identity remains a key dividing aspect of the groups Rigid interethnic relations: Lack of contact Unwilling to even establish contact Negative intergroup attitudes Competitive victimhood High perceptions of conflict (among children) Children’s ethnic categorization starts as early as 6 years old (Andrighetto et al. 2012; Maloku et al.2016,2017,2018) ?

Kosovo’s Education System Reflects the Divide Segregated along ethnic lines for 3 decades now Started in 1990s when the Albanian majority was forbidden to use public schools A parallel system organized in home-schools was set in place and a separate Albanian curricula was established by Albanians Serb children followed Serbia’s state curricula and used school facilities. Both removed each other’s language from their educational programmes  remains so even today, language is an added barrier Although now both communities have access to school facilities, education remains separate and perpetuates division  Serbs follow a Serbian State education system, Albanians follow a Kosovo state education system

Shared Education Initiative in Kosovo Biggest challenge  To gain support (political) to promote a Shared Education Model for Kosovo, but a momentum has been created: two courageous supporters Former Kosovo President, Atifete Jahjaga (2011-2016) Jahjaga Foundation Qëndron Kastrati, Mayor of Kamenica, ethnically mixed municipality

“Kosovo’s youngest mayor seeks to bridge ethnic divide” Financial Times, 2018

First event: January 2019 Over 35 academics, policy-makers and practitioners in Prishtina Kosovo, Northern Ireland North Macedonia … to forge relationships and facilitate in the development of the Shared Education (SE) Model in Kosovo … City of Kamenica has agreed to work with us on advocating for it and getting financial support © RIT Kosovo

City of Kamenica Covers 423 km²; 56 villages Total population is around 30,000. Warm hospitable people Big diaspora ©Arian Mavriqi ©Arian Mavriqi Extremely low crime rates Known for progress on inter-ethnic relations 95% alb; 4% srb; 1% others. High unemployment rate

The Municipality Headed by Mayor Qëndron Kastrati Social Democratic Party - PSD First term as mayor with 55.6% of votes 2017 municipal elections. Deputy Mayor Bojan Stamenkovic 11 municipal departments. Six (6) departments are run by women Department of Finances is run by a young roma

Troubled Past – Optimistic Future Painful war – just like any war. Long road ahead to improve mutual relations Go beyond formal settlements Act immediately & by day-to-day actions Better relations than anywhere else in Kosovo

Current Situation Mixed Neighborhoods Joint market Interactions - mostly when necessary Municipality is committed to tackle the lack of integration Education is top priority Around 4,482 pupils (3,999 Kosovo Albanian 423 Kosovo Serbs, 60 Kosovo Roma) Do not share curriculum or learning environment

One Step at a Time Aspiration Proposal to fund a new school facility for all Joint extracurricular activities Albanian & Serbian Language Courses

Shared Education Local and grassroots initiatives – more sustainable Northern Ireland’s Experience – incredibly valuable Institutional  Legislative character Importance of cooperating with Ms. Maloku (RIT) Funding  Challenge

THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION TO US! Edona Maloku, RIT Kosovo Edona.Maloku@rit.edu Donjeta Demolli, City of Kamenica, Kosovo Donjeta.Demolli@rks-gov.net SELF Annual Conference, Belfast, September 2019