G O V E R N M E N T O F K O S O V A MINISTRY OF CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS Department of Youth Youth Assets for Social and Economic Transformation P I S GU N M I K “Investing in Youth in Kosovo” Skender Boshtrakaj Director of Department of Youth Videoconference March, 2005

Youth Situation in Kosovo Concept Y O U T H is taken from the UN definition for Young People, age from 15 to 24. Around 65% percent are under age 30 (the youngest population in Europe), whereas 1/3 of the population are from 15 – 24 years old. From the data gathered in 2004, unemployed Youth Percentage rate is 59.16%; from them 45.2% are female and 54.7% are male

Youth Situation in Kosovo Aspirations: - god job and family life - go to the University/Study abroad Education quality is increasing Satisfaction with the employment: - 34%, would change their actual job - 26%,were forced to the self-employment Informal economy 50% (oral contract, no insurance) Family is the main recruiting force for a young person 6.4 family members 1 person working (they need min 395 E, they have E, 65% of the family incomes from employment, 35% solidarity or ???!!!

Structure of the Youth Sector Ministry of CYS&NRA Department of Youth Municipal Directorates for Culture, Youth and Sports Civil Society - Youth NGO’s - Youth Centers - Youth Networks Partners International NGOs International Donors Local Business & Community ?? SEE & EU Youth Institutions

Youth Department Mission: Youth empowerment and creation of sound foundations for the social and individual development of youth. Goals: Creation of opportunities for promotion, development and participation of youngsters in active social life. Offer equal services to all youth, enabling development of life-skills and social values by respecting individual particularities.

Kosovo Youth Policies Network and Public Information for Youth Youth Promotion and Development Youth Policy Development Non Formal Education Youth Participation and Integration Health Education and Prevention Youth Employment

Some Programs of Dep. of Youth Implementation of the Law on Youth Empowerment and Participation Kosovo Youth Action Plan (KYAP) SIP Found (Social Integration and Participation) Municipal Youth Policies Info Pika (Info Point) Youth Month 2005 Health Prevention/ Education

What is Youth Law addressing? Law on Youth Empowerment and Participation defines: fundamental notions and concepts of Youth Infrastructure, youth rights and obligations, responsibilities of Central Administrative Institutions and responsibilities of Municipal Administrative Institutions

Why Kosovo Youth Action Plan Need for improvement of Kosovo Youth state and their perspective Need for improvement of inter-ministerial, cross-sectoral coordination among local and central government and among civil society Need for developed of Youth Policies on state level and addressing needs of young people of Kosovo Need that Youth related Programs based on Local Development Plans are in harmony with Kosovo Youth Action Plan. Need that implementation of Youth Policies to have timelines, responsible institutions and required resources, aspirated results and measurement of results Need for coordinated efforts within the Plan-equal for all, because of limited financial sources and other youth infrastructures

Issues for addressing Life Long, formal and non-formal education and training, Recognition of non-formally acquired skills and competencies- second generation of Youth Workers Access to New Technologies Information, personal advice and support, career guidance Health services and social protection

Issues for addressing Access to paid work and voluntary work Justice, marginalized youth rights and integration of minority youth Opportunities to participation and active citizenship Recreational, sports, cultural and social activities Youth mobility, youth exchange and international experiences Safe and secure environment

Dilemmas: How do social structures and institutions favor and/or obstruct young people’s influence? What strategies could help young people have more influence on social development-individually, as well as collectively? What are the indicators allowing to measure young people’s influence on social change? How does young people’s action or inaction alter the landscape of knowledge, work, leisure, community and power?

KEY RESULTS ACHIEVED IN 2004 A large number of young people including minorities actively participating in designing, implementing and monitoring of the DoY projects and activities. The Law on Youth Empowerment and Participation finalized with input from young people is with the Prime Ministers office ready for the Parliament. School-to-work transition survey with ILO (To understand the process of transition of young people from school to work. So that Youth Employment Policies can be developed and initiated to improve the transition process where needed ).

LESSONS LEARNED Introduction of new concepts such as Youth Employment Services and Life Skills Based Education requires more efforts and longer period of time to be accepted by stakeholders. Sustainability of the youth projects requires assistance for a longer period of time and exit strategies for the government to take over. Activities that are related to behaviour change of young people are more difficult to measure and need more time to show results. Capacities of youth NGOs need to be continuously strengthened.

CHALLENGES Despite the large number of young people and high unemployment, the investment in the youth sector remains very low. March violent events in Kosovo have strongly hindered the small progress that was achieved in the previous years especially affecting the youth perspectives Lack of NGOs with good expertise and experience in delivering qualitative services, especially in working with vulnerable groups and doing outreach work.

OPPORTUNITIES Young people present a challenge but, even more, they present an opportunity. Working with, and strengthening the networking of groups of positive-thinking young people so that they can make their voices heard, is an opportunity that needs to be fully exploited. They are modern and forward-looking and have a clearer idea than their elders of what can be possible in an educated, informed and democratic society - Social Bomb - Development potential

DoY CONCERNS High youth unemployment and over-representation of young people in marginalized groups Low social networking, support systems and services Increasing inequalities of educational opportunity Insecurity, increasing violence and destruction of the environment

THE WAY FORWARD Implementation of the Law and Development of the Kosovo Youth Action Plan and ensuring the meaningful youth participation throughout the process. Support establishment of the Youth Employment Found Support the development of the Youth Employment Services. Support youth-led media projects. Enhance the knowledge of young people and promote Youth self-employment initiatives

Contact: Skender BOSHTRAKAJ, Director of the Department of Youth Tel: +381 (0) Fax: +381 (0) Message for all: Youth is our future, but also youth is their today !