{"id":17400,"date":"2025-11-27T20:38:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T18:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/?post_type=project&p=17400"},"modified":"2025-12-02T11:29:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T09:29:15","slug":"2020-2","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/project\/2020-2\/","title":{"rendered":"2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Projects in 2020<\/h4>

Syri i Vizionit delivered social change across Kosovo\u2019s communities. Our work focused on empowering youth, women, marginalized communities, and children strengthening both individual capacities and institutional systems that support them.<\/p>

We expanded employment opportunities through several multi-municipal initiatives, offering professional training, mentoring, and practical work experience to hundreds of young people, women, persons with disabilities, and members of minority communities. Over 300 individuals from Peja, Istog, Klina, De\u00e7an, and Junik strengthened their employability, while new social enterprises, start-ups, and small businesses received grants, guidance, and ongoing support. In agriculture, we equipped women farmers from Peja, Istog, and Klina with knowledge, mentoring, and tools to grow their family businesses and improve product visibility in the market.<\/p>

Our child protection and child rights governance program reached thousands of children, parents, teachers, and institutions across eight municipalities. Through trainings, advocacy, awareness campaigns, and cooperation with local and national authorities, we helped advance the Law on Child Protection, strengthened reporting mechanisms, built positive discipline skills for parents, and enhanced the participation of child-led groups in decision-making processes making children\u2019s voices heard at municipal and national levels.<\/p>

We continued our long-term work with Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in Peja, offering psychosocial support, supplementary education, employment counseling, and advocacy for improved access to basic services. This helped families, including returnees, navigate barriers to education, healthcare, social services, and labor market integration.<\/p>

At the civic level, Syri i Vizionit joined forces with partner organizations to promote active citizenship and strengthen municipal accountability across 19 municipalities. Through shared learning, policy advocacy, and joint initiatives, we supported the development of a unified regulation on local councils and expanded citizen participation in local decision-making.<\/p>

Across all these efforts, Syri i Vizionit\u2019s work in 2020 strengthened social inclusion, expanded economic opportunities, empowered communities, and advanced the rights and wellbeing of children and vulnerable groups anchoring our mission to build a more just, participatory, and equitable Kosovo.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Empowerment and Employment of Youth, Women, and Other Vulnerable Groups in Five Municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo<\/div>
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Project Title: Empowerment and Employment of Youth, Women, and Other Vulnerable Groups in Five Municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo\n<\/br><\/br>\n\nDuration: 24 months (October 26, 2020 \u2013 October 25, 2022) <\/br><\/br>\n\nLocation: Istog, Peja, Klina, De\u00e7an, and Junik<\/br><\/br>\n\nImplementing Organizations: Syri i Vizionit in partnership with The Balkan Forum and the Municipality of Istog<\/br><\/br>\n\nBudget: \u20ac325,420.39<\/br><\/br>\n\nDonor: European Union<\/br><\/br>\n\nProject Objective:\nTo increase employment opportunities for youth, women, and other vulnerable groups in Kosovo through direct support aimed at meeting the needs of both the workforce and employers.\nTo enhance employment for 300 young people, women, persons with disabilities, and members of minority communities (Ashkali, Bosniak, Egyptian, Roma, and Serb) from both rural and urban areas of the municipalities of Peja, Istog, Klina, De\u00e7an, and Junik.\nTo promote sustainable employment through the development of existing businesses, establishment of new social enterprises, and creation of self-employment opportunities for 300 individuals among the target group.\nTo advance the fulfillment of employment rights for these vulnerable groups (youth, women, persons with disabilities, and members of minority communities) by raising awareness and understanding among employers and the general public in Kosovo regarding the discrimination these groups face in the workplace and beyond, as well as their rights. <\/br><\/br>\n\n\nBeneficiaries:\n300 young people, women, persons with disabilities (PWD), and members of minority communities (Ashkali, Bosniak, Egyptian, Roma, and Serb); their families and communities; the business sector; and local government authorities.\n<\/br><\/br>\n\nProject Implementation:\nSyri i Vizionit will provide training and mentoring for 300 youth, women, persons with disabilities, and minority community members from rural and urban areas of the five municipalities in Kosovo. The training will improve their knowledge and develop skills based on labor market demands and trends, including office management, human resources, administration, finance, information technology, and marketing.\n\u2022\t50 participants will receive certificates from accredited professional training centers within the municipalities.\n\u2022\tAnother 50 participants will benefit from practical work programs in selected businesses, enabling them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired.\nSyri i Vizionit will also support the establishment of seven new social enterprises (start-ups) and 20 businesses initiated by youth, women, PWDs, and minority community members, as well as provide assistance for their development.\nAs a direct result of the project\u2019s activities, 20 new jobs will be created.\nIn addition, Syri i Vizionit will organize awareness and advocacy campaigns to sensitize local employers, government officials, and citizens about the discrimination faced by youth, women, PWDs, and minority communities in the workplace and beyond, its impact on human rights, and the need for concrete action to address it.\n<\/br><\/br>\n\nActivities and Results:
\n\u2022\tConducting a needs assessment of the target groups and an analysis of the local labor market.
\n\u2022\tBased on assessment findings, implementing activities to develop employability skills, including workshops (for soft skills), vocational training, re-skilling programs (for those whose qualifications no longer meet market demands), and on-the-job training (internships). .
\n\u2022\tFacilitating connections between potential employers and trainees\/employees, including the organization of job fairs. .
\n\u2022\tMediating employment placements to ensure long-term, well-regulated jobs with fair contractual conditions. .
\n\u2022\tProviding continuous training and mentoring for skill enhancement based on specific job requirements. .
\n\u2022\tProviding small grants to private enterprises to create long-term employment opportunities for youth, women, and other vulnerable groups. .
\n\u2022\tDelivering initial training and advisory services for market analysis and business plan development for start-up social enterprises and self-employment initiatives. .
\n\u2022\tAfter careful evaluation, offering financial incentives and ongoing mentorship to support the launch of new social enterprises. .
\n\u2022\tSupporting product design, brand management, and market placement for self-employed beneficiaries. .
\n\u2022\tProducing and distributing awareness materials across social media \u2014 such as video interviews, documentaries, blogs, and street performances \u2014 to draw the attention of employers and the wider public in Kosovo to the issue of workplace discrimination against disadvantaged groups. .
\n\u2022\tConducting continuous advocacy to eliminate barriers and promote employment opportunities for the target groups. .
\n\u2022\tPublishing two case studies presenting assessments, challenges, and lessons learned from the project.
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Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture<\/div>
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Project Title: Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture<\/br><\/br>\n\nDuration: 10 months (February 1 \u2013 November 30, 2020) <\/br><\/br>\n\nLocation: Peja, Istog, Klina<\/br><\/br>\n\nImplementing Organization: Syri i Vizionit<\/br><\/br>\n\nBudget: \u20ac25,910<\/br><\/br>\n\nDonors: Otto per Mille; Brot f\u00fcr die Welt<\/br><\/br>\n\n\nProject Objective: <\/br>\n\nTo improve farm governance and entrepreneurship through capacity building and empowerment of women and young women, enhancing their position in business, strengthening self-initiative and employment opportunities by developing family-based agricultural businesses in the municipalities of Peja, Klina, and Istog.<\/br><\/br>\n\nBeneficiaries: A total of 25 women and young women from the three municipalities will be selected as direct beneficiaries.\nThe project will focus on capacity building to enhance the skills of women and young female farmers in farm management, marketing, and better presentation of their products in the market.<\/br><\/br>\n\nProject Implementation: Syri i Vizionit will organize five workshops for women and young female farmers.\nAfter identifying participants\u2019 needs, topics will be developed for the Women and Young Female Farmers Empowerment Program. Possible workshop topics include: Business, planning, Branding, Organic products, Gender equality, Networking\nThe program will be implemented in three phases: Preparatory Phase: During this phase, women farmers and young women will be given the opportunity to express their interest in joining the program by completing a basic application form.<\/br><\/br>\nCapacity-Building Phase: Based on the needs of the selected beneficiaries, a customized training and empowerment program will be developed and delivered.\nSupport Phase:Four female farmers will be selected from among the workshop participants to receive additional support, either through equipment or products that will help them develop and improve their products and services. <\/br><\/br>\n\n\nActivities and Results: <\/br>\n\nThe project activities will be carried out through:<\/br>\n\u2022\tMeetings with the Directorates of Agriculture in Peja, Istog, and Klina to identify women and young female farmers and to introduce them to the project.<\/br>\n\u2022\tConsultative meetings with representatives of women farmers and women\u2019s associations.<\/br>\n\u2022\tTwo study visits will be organized for participants \u2014 for example, to AgroSyne in Istog and to a pepper processing factory in Rahovec\/Krusha.<\/br>\n\u2022\tTen-day mentorship for women and young female farmers. The group of 25 participants will be divided according to their agricultural sectors. Syri i Vizionit will provide tailored mentorship based on the type of cultivation they are engaged in, using carefully selected experts relevant to each field.<\/br>\n<\/div><\/div>
Empowering the Employability of Youth and\/or Marginalized Groups in the Municipality of Peja <\/div>
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Project Title: Empowering the Employability of Youth and\/or Marginalized Groups in the Municipality of Peja

\nDuration: April 1, 2020 \u2013 March 31, 2022

\nLocation: Peja

\nImplementing Organization: Syri i Vizionit (SiV)

\nDonors: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and SOS-Kinderd\u00f6rfer weltweit, Hermann-Gmeiner-Fonds Deutschland (HGFD)

\nBudget: \u20ac49,653

\n________________________________________\nProject Objective:
\nTo support marginalized youth and prepare them for access to the labor market, turning them into agents of economic development and social inclusion.\n

\nBeneficiaries:
\nThe main beneficiaries are 60 young people aged 16\u201334, who face economic and social hardship and have lower educational levels, as well as those living in geographically disadvantaged areas. Of these 60 young participants: 40% will be female, 60% will be from the Albanian community, 35% will be from the Roma, Egyptian, and Ashkali communities, and 5% will be persons with disabilities. This composition ensures the inclusion of youth from three localities within the municipality of Peja where the program will be implemented. A total of three working groups will be established:\n\u2022\tTwo groups of 20 participants each (totaling 40 youth), and\n\u2022\tOne group of 10 young people or persons with special needs.\n

\nExpected Results:\n\u2022\tStrengthened theoretical and practical capacities through life skills and employability training.\n\u2022\tIncreased awareness among local institutions and other relevant stakeholders regarding the situation of youth in need and available mechanisms to improve their conditions.\n\u2022\tEnhanced social dialogue between institutions, the business community, and youth.

\n\nActivities:
\n\u2022\tSelection of 60 marginalized youth aged 16\u201334, both male and female, from various communities (with at least 40% female participants).\n\u2022\tDevelopment of competencies through group-based training sessions.\n\u2022\tIndividual and group coaching sessions to strengthen skills and employability readiness.\n\u2022\tOrganization of roundtable discussions to develop joint recommendations.\n\u2022\tCooperation with public and private sector actors to facilitate employment and inclusion opportunities.\n\u2022\tOrganization of inter-institutional debates to promote collaboration and awareness on youth employment and inclusion.\n<\/div><\/div>
Our Obligation 4 the Future \u2013 Child Protection and Child Rights Governance<\/div>
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Project Objective:\nWithin the framework of this program, Syri i Vizionit worked in two main thematic areas: Child Protection and Child Rights Governance (CRG).\nIn the area of Child Protection, the project aimed to influence the creation of a legal and institutional framework that protects children and prohibits violence and corporal punishment in all environments. It also sought to strengthen the professional capacities of institutions mandated to protect children, ensuring they provide timely and professional services.\nIn the area of Child Rights Governance, the program worked with children from the Respect Our Rights (RoR) monitoring group and the Children\u2019s Assemblies (CA), empowering their roles in policy-making and participation in decision-making processes at both local and national levels.\n________________________________________\nBeneficiaries:\nThe beneficiaries are all children in Kosovo, regardless of their ethnic, religious, racial, gender, or disability background. Other beneficiaries include institutions at the local and national levels mandated for child protection and child rights governance, Children\u2019s Assemblies, schools, parents, teachers, and civil society organizations (CSOs) working with children.\n________________________________________\nProject Implementation:\nSyri i Vizionit worked in two main fields \u2014 Child Protection and Child Rights Governance.\nUnder Child Protection, the organization operated in five municipalities (in 10 schools across Peja, Gjakova, Prizren, Klina, and Gjilan) to contribute to developing the legal infrastructure that protects children and prohibits violence. The project worked closely with local and national institutions to promote the Law on Child Protection and support them in developing Administrative Instructions, particularly the one that prohibits corporal punishment against children.\nSyri i Vizionit also organized trainings on positive discipline in everyday parenting, providing parents with alternative, non-violent approaches to child-rearing. The program further strengthened the capacities of child protection mechanisms and institutions to ensure professional service delivery, and it fostered social dialogue among schools, Centers for Social Work (CSWs), and child\/family protection services.\nIn the field of Child Rights Governance, the project worked with child-led groups such as the national monitoring group Respect Our Rights (RoR) and Municipal Children\u2019s Assemblies (CA), as well as with child rights coordinators in seven municipalities \u2014 Peja, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Klina, Prishtina, and Mitrovica.\nThe project also promoted institutional transparency through direct meetings and workshops involving children and local authorities.\nDuring the reporting period, Syri i Vizionit focused on addressing findings from the Young Voices Report through the work of the RoR group and Children\u2019s Assemblies.\nSpecial attention was given to environmental education and climate change, raising children\u2019s awareness on these issues and engaging them in advocacy campaigns directed toward institutions, emphasizing the need for practical policies for environmental protection and climate action.\n________________________________________\nObjectives and Results:\n\u2022Local institutions function effectively in identifying cases of violence; teachers and parents have enhanced capacities in positive discipline to improve child protection inside and outside schools.\n\u2022Child-friendly reporting mechanisms for violence in schools are recognized and used as reliable and functional tools for child protection.\n\u2022Around 400 parents trained in Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP) approaches.\n\u2022Social Work Centers (CSWs) staff strengthened their capacities to identify and manage cases of violence, offering better-quality services for children.\n\u2022Initiated social dialogue among schools, parents, CSWs, and the Police for identifying children with antisocial behavior and supporting their reintegration into schools and families, while developing school council work plans.\n\u2022Campaigns and advocacy conducted to strengthen local and national formal and informal systems for child protection, as defined by the Law on Child Protection.\n\u2022Children and communities are aware and sensitized about the importance of prevention and timely response to violence cases, in line with institutional mandates.\n\u2022Enhanced advocacy and lobbying capacities of child-led groups to increase institutional accountability.\n\u2022Child-led monitoring groups strengthened to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes.\n\u2022Child-led monitoring structures empowered to address child rights issues through advocacy with the Ombudsperson Institution (IOK).\n\u2022Municipal Children\u2019s Assemblies (CAs) recognized and included in their respective municipal work related to child rights.\n\u2022Children actively participate in decision-making processes, demanding effective monitoring and accountability from mandated institutions.\n\u2022The RoR group influences decision-makers to enhance children\u2019s participation.\n\u2022Child-led groups raise public awareness on child rights through campaigns and initiatives.\n\nActivities:\n\u2022Five (5) study visits between schools to exchange experiences and learn about functional child protection mechanisms developed during the project.\n\u2022Implementation of school steering council work plans for preventing and referring cases of violence and initiating social dialogue.\n\u2022Drafting a municipal regulation on the administration of complaint boxes in another municipality.\n\u2022Developing an informational brochure on complaint boxes and a municipal handbook for managing these boxes in primary and secondary schools.\n\u2022Presentation of a baseline analysis report on existing violence reporting mechanisms.\n\u2022Professional support for the Commission responsible for opening complaint boxes.\n\u2022Accreditation of a teacher training module on prevention and identification of various forms of violence.\n\u2022Conducting teacher trainings on violence prevention and identification.\n\u2022Implementation of recommendations from the 2020 Baseline Study on violence reporting mechanisms in schools.\n\u2022Establishing model child-friendly classrooms through the Cluster Approach.\n\u2022Expanding the Code of Conduct across all participating schools.\n\u2022Parent trainings on positive discipline.\n\u2022Trainings for CSW staff members.\n\u2022Monitoring the implementation of the three-year plan (developed in 2017) for child and family protection from abuse.\n\u2022Information sessions for teachers and parents on sexual education and reproductive health.\n\u2022Supporting action plans to initiate social dialogue between schools and CSWs.\n\u2022Awareness campaign on the Law on Child Protection, focusing on the prohibition of corporal punishment.\n\u2022Monitoring implementation of the Law on Child Protection and supporting the drafting of administrative instructions.\n\u2022Participation in regional and international meetings and seminars.\n\u2022Identification of new RoR members.\n\u2022Two-day workshop to strengthen RoR\u2019s internal functionality.\n\u2022Regular RoR meetings to coordinate advocacy actions and ad hoc initiatives.\n\u2022Reflection meeting on the progress of actions developed during the RoR seminar.\n\u2022Syri i Vizionit supported the finalization and implementation of the joint annual activity plan between RoR and the Ombudsperson Institution.\n\u2022Support for Children\u2019s Assembly (CA) work plans and monitoring the implementation of municipal regulations for CAs.\n\u2022Stakeholder meetings at local and national levels for developing and initiating a guide for Children\u2019s Assemblies.\n\u2022Regular meetings with CAs.\n\u2022Representation of the RoR group in various institutional initiatives.\n\u2022Support for implementation of the RoR annual work plan.\n\u2022Direct participation of children in municipal budget hearings, with media coverage at local and national levels.\n\u2022Engagement of RoR volunteers as mentors for Children\u2019s Assemblies\u2019 activities.\n\u2022Monitoring of the National Strategy for Children\u2019s Rights and organizing a seminar on the strategy.\n\u2022Organization and support of meetings and initiatives between RoR and youth groups.\n\u2022Raising public awareness on the importance of environmental protection and climate change.\n\u2022Commemoration of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child Day and International Children\u2019s Day \u2014 child-led groups organized activities marking these two important dates directly related to child rights.\n\u2022Support for online campaigns led by child-led groups through their official online platforms.\n\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>
Re\/Integration of Vulnerable and Returned Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities in Peja Municipality (Prospect 3)<\/div>
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Duration: 42 months (May 2019 \u2013 October 2022)\nLocation: Peja\nImplementing Organizations: Syri i Vizionit and Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS)\nBudget: \u20ac112,912.00\nDonor: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Karl K\u00fcbel Stiftung f\u00fcr Kind und Familie (KKS)\n\nProject Goal:\nThe aim of the project is to contribute to the reduction of poverty and the empowerment of human rights of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in Kosovo, with a particular focus on returnees. This will be achieved by improving access to education, the labor market, healthcare, and social services as an important step toward their social participation and economic integration. The project is a continuation of previous initiatives implemented in the municipalities of Rahovec, Istog, and Gjakova, which have shown significant results in improving the position of these communities in society.\n\nBeneficiaries:\nThe beneficiaries of this project are families from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities \u2014 including children, youth, the elderly, and returnees \u2014 who, in cooperation with local institutions and the organization Syri i Vizionit, will enhance their participation in education, healthcare, socio-economic services, and the labor market.\nProject Implementation:\nIn Peja Municipality, the project will be implemented in the \u201c7 Shtatori\u201d neighborhood \u2014 one of the most populated areas by these communities \u2014 as well as in the village of Vitomirica, in the schools \u201cXhemajl Kada\u201d and \u201c7 Shtatori,\u201d where supplementary classes will be held. Direct work will be carried out with community families, focusing on their current situation, future prospects, rights in society, social integration, children\u2019s right to education, their right to healthcare, socio-economic rights, integration into the labor market, and the provision of psycho-social counseling for families in need.\nSpecial attention will be given to families expected to return from European Union member states.\n\nExpected Results:\n\u2022\tThrough the support of the employment consultant within the project, job seekers from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in the implementation areas will improve their employability by gaining specific labor market skills through soft-skills training, employment counseling, business planning, and self-employment opportunities. Regular contact with the Regional Employment Office and the Vocational Training Center will ensure that communities receive updated information about available opportunities.\n\u2022\tProvision of psycho-social support for patients and families from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in the project areas, through a psychologist who will organize and coordinate psychological service activities in accordance with professional service delivery standards.\n\u2022\tDelivery of supplementary education in two learning centers within the schools \u201cXhemajl Kada\u201d and \u201c7 Shtatori,\u201d targeting students from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities, without excluding the majority community. Each center will engage two tutors or assistant teachers, who will assist with homework and conduct intercultural, awareness-raising, and educational activities.\n\u2022\tOrganization of advocacy activities\/campaigns in neighborhoods inhabited by Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities, addressing issues such as road infrastructure, access to drinking water, regular health check-ups, social services, and obtaining personal documents.\n\u2022\tProvision of counseling and support for returned families to help them regulate their personal documentation.\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>
Alliance for Active Citizenship and Accountable Municipalities<\/div>
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Project Title: Alliance for Active Citizenship and Accountable Municipalities\n\nDuration: 12 months (January \u2013 December 2020)\nLocation: Peja, Klin\u00eb, Istog, Junik, De\u00e7an, Gjakova, Rahovec, Prizren, Prishtina, Suhareka, Lipjan, Mitrovica, Vushtrri, Obiliq, Fush\u00eb Kosov\u00eb, Gra\u00e7anica, Kllokot, Ranillug\nImplementing Organizations: Syri i Vizionit, \u201cEc Ma Ndryshe\u201d, CSD, and Democracy Plus\nBudget: \u20ac143,016.39\nDonor: Olof Palme International - SIDA\n\nProject Goal: The aim of the project network is to encourage and engage citizens to participate in decision-making processes. Civic engagement is expected to contribute to improving citizens\u2019 quality of life, enhancing institutional transparency toward citizens, and increasing the participation of formal and informal groups, women, and other marginalized groups in politics, decision-making, the economy, urban planning, and other areas essential for improving community life.\n________________________________________\nBeneficiaries:\nThe main target groups of the project include local councils, residents of neighborhoods across the nineteen (19) municipalities covered by the project, women\u2019s groups, civil society organizations, informal groups, municipalities, and citizens interested in becoming active for the benefit of their communities.\nLocal and central institutions \u2014 including municipal administrations and the Ministry of Local Government Administration \u2014 are also key stakeholders.\n\nProject Implementation: Throughout 2020, the partner organizations, in addition to their individual activities, planned joint initiatives to foster civic engagement and increase citizen participation in decision-making. These joint activities allow beneficiary groups from partner organizations to exchange experiences and methods for strengthening citizen involvement.\nThe experience of Syri i Vizionit in establishing formal local councils, EC\u2019s expertise in urban planning, CSD\u2019s facilitation of dialogue between civil society and local government, and Democracy Plus\u2019s development of digital reporting and accountability tools form the foundation of this strategic alliance for greater civic participation and more accountable municipalities.\nStrengthening the capacities of civil society organizations, individuals, and informal groups will help ensure sustainability in changing entrenched institutional practices. The network believes that true democratic development can only occur if change begins at the local level and expands to the national level.\nThe organizations will work together to support and advocate for the drafting of a unified regulation on the organization and structuring of local councils, which will be offered to the municipalities in which they operate. These joint activities will form the foundation for project development in the following years and serve to further strengthen the strategic alliance among partner organizations.\n\nAchievements:\nJoint Achievements:\n\u2022\tAdvocacy and support for drafting the Regulation on the Organization and Structuring of Local Councils, and exchange of experiences between municipalities and project partners.\n\u2022\tWorkshop with 19 municipal representatives to present the unified regulation on organizing and structuring local councils, following its drafting by the Ministry of Local Government Administration and a civil society working group.\n\u2022\tExperience exchange visit with the Municipality of Peja on the topic \u201cChallenges in Establishing and Operationalizing Local Councils.\u201d Representatives from all 19 project municipalities participated, learning from Peja\u2019s and other municipalities\u2019 experiences in establishing and strengthening local councils.\n\u2022\tJoint Conference: At the end of the year, the partner organizations hosted a joint conference with representatives from the 19 municipalities, ministries, donors, project beneficiaries, and civil society. The conference focused on discussing opportunities and challenges related to the new regulation and ways to \u201cIncorporate Local Priorities into Decision-Making.\u201d\n\u2022\tIncreased number of citizen complaints submitted through the platform ndreqe.com, alongside its promotion.\n\u2022\tParticipation of partner organizations \u2014 Syri i Vizionit, EC Ma Ndryshe, and CSD \u2014 in mediation workshops for Citizen Forums, where they shared experiences and best practices.\n\nActivities:\n\u2022\tAdvocacy campaign\/meetings for the establishment of a Citizen Assistance Office in the Municipality of Klin\u00eb.\n\u2022\tTraining local councils on monitoring public contracts.\n\u2022\tDrafting and adapting a unified regulation across municipalities for organizing and structuring local councils.\n\u2022\tWebsite: www.aktivizohu.org \u2013 an information, advocacy, and experience-sharing platform for citizen initiatives across Kosovo.\n\u2022\tCreation of a functional mechanism for working with Community Forum representatives in Gra\u00e7anica, Kllokot, Ranillug, Partesh, and Novo Brdo municipalities.\n\u2022\tCapacity-building program for Community Forums and strengthening communication mechanisms between Community Forums \u2013 CSOs \u2013 Municipalities.\n\u2022\tWorkshops for developing Community Action Plans.\n\u2022\tEstablishment of Citizen Forums in five new communities and transitional meetings for previous forums.\n\u2022\tMaintenance and expansion of the Online Forum Portal.\n\u2022\tFive public discussions with municipal officials.\n\u2022\tMonitoring municipal accountability and performance evaluation.\n\u2022\tThree seminars with local mediators and regional coordinators for community mobilization.\n\u2022\tFive civic education trainings for targeted communities.\n\u2022\tLocal actions\/public performances.\n\u2022\tEstablishment of political dialogue with new municipalities.\n\u2022\tInternship\/Youth Activation Program in neighborhoods and schools.\n\u2022\tResearch on national planning legislation.\n\u2022\tPublic discussion events on national planning legislation.\n\u2022\tMaintenance of the online platform and publication of information on civic engagement.\n\u2022\tMedia campaign for neighborhood activation.\n\u2022\tFinal Conference.\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>
Transparent and Accountable Municipalities.<\/div>
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Title of the project: Transparent and Accountable Municipalities.\nProject duration: September 1 \u2013 December 25, 2020\nProject implementation locations: Pej\u00eb, Istog, Klin\u00eb, Gjakov\u00eb, De\u00e7an.\nImplementing organization(s): Syri i Vizionit\nBudget: 14,895 euros\nDonor: Resilience Fund \/ Global Initiative\n\nProject goal: The project aims to build the capacities of representatives of civil society organizations and media to be able to identify and report corruption and organized crime in public procurement.\nThe organization will ensure that trainers are the best in the field and that the training is interactive so that participants remain active throughout the training. After completing the five-day training, participants will have the opportunity to practically monitor municipal contracts. During the five-day training, the trainer will engage participants from their municipalities to select a contract to monitor. The contract type will be chosen together with the trainer.\n\nBeneficiaries:\nTo achieve this, 20 members of civil society and local media from the Pej\u00eb and Gjakov\u00eb regions will be invited to the training. Participants will be trained in public procurement, money laundering, and organized crime: municipal budgeting process, procurement planning, monitoring the procurement process, contract management, money laundering, and the involvement of politicians in illegal businesses.\n\nProject implementation: After the training, the organization will appoint mentors who will mentor the participants to monitor contracts, which will be monitored from the start of the tender, the call, application, and contract award. Participants will be divided into groups, and each group member will have specific tasks to complete. After a set time by the mentor, participants will gather and discuss their findings. These findings will be compiled into a report shared with municipal representatives and the media.\nDuring this period, participants will gain knowledge regarding public procurement and reporting mechanisms. They will have the chance to learn by practically monitoring the contract awarded by municipal institutions.\nEconomic crime, especially corruption by public officials, has affected and continues to affect increased investment from the private sector, country development, and citizens\u2019 welfare. A study conducted by UNODC on private businesses shows that businesses pay bribes continuously throughout the year. Payments are mostly in cash, but also in food and drinks to public officials to gain favors. Organized crime in Kosovo, according to studies, involves fuel trafficking, tobacco, money laundering, human trafficking, drugs, etc. Legal businesses usually find it very difficult to compete with money laundering businesses in the same sector, and this affects development and investment growth.\nThe project will impact the increase in the number of watchdogs from civil society and media at local level to identify and report possible corruption cases and any possible connections of municipal officials with organized crimes, reducing organized crime, lowering citizens\u2019 perception of corruption levels from officials, and increasing trust in institutions. This will also increase trust among businesses, resulting in new investments and increased competition in quality and price during public tender competitions. This will also impact investment growth and citizens\u2019 welfare.\n\nActivities and Results: Activities will be conducted in three phases. The first phase is preparation, including administrative work, informing, and meetings with CSO representatives and media in the municipalities of Pej\u00eb, Istog, Klin\u00eb, De\u00e7an, Junik, Rahovec, and Gjakov\u00eb to inform them about opportunities to be part of the project. The second phase is organizing the trainings, and the third phase is mentoring and reporting.\n\u2022\tMore than 25 meetings have been held with CSO representatives and media in the Pej\u00eb and Gjakov\u00eb regions.\nMeetings: During the first month of project implementation, the organization will meet with local media representatives (radio, TV, news portals) and non-governmental organizations in these municipalities \u2013 Pej\u00eb, Klin\u00eb, De\u00e7an, Junik, Istog, Rahovec, and Gjakov\u00eb. The purpose of the meetings will be to inform them about the project and provide the opportunity to delegate a staff member to be part of the project. The project staff will be obligated to organize the training. They will contact participants, keep regular contact to inform about training details, identify the training venue, accommodation, and transportation for participants, prepare and send invitations and agenda to participants. They will also prepare contracts and offers with companies, identify trainers, and sign contracts with them.\nExternal experts\/trainers will be obligated to prepare the agenda, training materials, deliver the training, and prepare the training report.\nAlso, during the first month of project implementation, preparatory and administrative project tasks will be carried out.\n\u2022\t20 representatives from media and CSOs have been trained and gained knowledge about monitoring public procurement to identify potential corruption in public tenders.\nTrainer selection: During the first month of project implementation, a trainer will be selected to conduct training on public procurement monitoring. At least three offers will be requested from different trainers, and the trainer with the best offer will be selected.\nThere will be 20 training participants, with possibly two trainers and two members of the organizing staff. The organization\u2019s staff will be responsible for ensuring the training runs smoothly. The budget will cover 24 persons, including costs for the trainer and organizing staff who will be part of the training.\nTraining organization: Syri i Vizionit will hold five (5) one-day trainings with CSOs and media, where 20 representatives of non-governmental organizations and media will be trained on procurement: municipal budgeting process, procurement planning, process monitoring, contract management, money laundering, and involvement of politicians in illegal businesses. Syri i Vizionit will organize the training outside of their usual working space. A hotel will be chosen to provide accommodation and training space. It will need to meet conditions for prevention of COVID-19 spread. The organization will also pay attention and comply with all Ministry recommendations regarding participant safety and COVID-19 prevention.\n\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>
SEED Step III Kosovo \u2013 Support of Educational and Employment Development<\/div>
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Title of the project: SEED Step III Kosovo \u2013 Support of Educational and Employment Development\nDuration: 36 months (January - December 2022)\nLocation: Kosovo, Serbia\nImplementing organization(s): Syri i Vizionit (for the project in Kosovo) in partnership with Volkshilfe Solidarit\u00e4t\nDonor: ADA \u2013 Austrian Development Cooperation\nBudget: 303,000 euros\n\nProject goal: To contribute to the strategic development of the labor market, a contribution to poverty reduction and gender equality in these countries, encouraging sustainable partnerships for the creation of an active labor market framework at the local level and access to formal employment, supporting youth and women for employment, facilitating interaction between the public and private sectors, promoting employment or self-employment under fair working conditions, and raising awareness for gender equality.\n\nBeneficiaries: This program benefits students, especially females, in economic high schools \u2013 tourism direction in the Dukagjin region, but the project includes all actors in tourism in this region. The community in the municipalities of Pej\u00eb, Prizren, and Gjakov\u00eb also benefits through improvement in employment in tourism, enterprises, and businesses.\nProject implementation: The three-year program in Kosovo is implemented by Syri i Vizionit and focuses on promoting sustainable partnerships that drive the creation of an active labor market framework at the local level and access to formal employment. Special attention is given to youth and women through: employment support, facilitation between the public and private sectors, strengthening partner organizations, expertise and knowledge transfer, promoting employment or self-employment under fair working conditions, and raising awareness for gender equality.\n\nExpected results:\n\u2022\tEmpowerment of local employment councils in the municipalities of Pej\u00eb, Gjakov\u00eb, and Prizren, focusing on implementing the \u201cRegional Strategies for Developing Employable Human Resources 2020 - 2025\u201d and the Action Plans for implementation of the strategies, supporting initiatives proposed by the councils.\n\u2022\tDevelopment of a plan to connect profiles (Agribusiness, Hospitality Tourism, and Food Technology) for the economic high school \u201cAli Hadri\u201d in Pej\u00eb, where these three profiles will cooperate and coordinate activities so the school begins producing products enabling students to complete internships within the school.\n\u2022\tDevelopment and accreditation of two new and innovative curricula in hospitality and tourism management, aligned with business needs and trends in the professions of hospitality and tourism.\n\u2022\tCreation of career centers within the \u201cAli Hadri\u201d school in Pej\u00eb, \u201cKadri Kusari\u201d in Gjakov\u00eb, and \u201cYmer Prizreni\u201d in Prizren, engaging a person in these centers to contribute to improving cooperation between the school and businesses, completing students\u2019 professional internships in businesses, promoting the school to new generations, parents, and businesses, and creating tracking mechanisms for students after completing vocational school.\n\u2022\tCreation of three kitchen cabinets in the schools \u201cAli Hadri\u201d Pej\u00eb, \u201cKadri Kusari\u201d Gjakov\u00eb, and \u201cYmer Prizreni\u201d Prizren, where students will carry out professional internships for kitchen and hotel services within the school.\n\u2022\tSupport for schools in organizing fairs in vocational economic schools in Pej\u00eb, Gjakov\u00eb, and Prizren for participation of ninth-grade students, who will be informed about the profiles offered by the economic schools and the businesses where they may be employed after finishing high school.\n\u2022\tUndertaking awareness campaigns through social networks to raise community awareness, especially among females, about the opportunities offered by vocational economic schools in hospitality and tourism profiles.\n\u2022\tSupport for schools \u201cAli Hadri\u201d Pej\u00eb, \u201cKadri Kusari\u201d Gjakov\u00eb, and \u201cYmer Prizreni\u201d Prizren to contribute and participate in meetings of the European network of hospitality and tourism schools and connecting these schools with schools from Europe.\n\u2022\tSupporting municipalities in cooperation and exchange of experiences among municipalities at the national and regional level.\n\u2022\tOpening calls for grants to support initiatives emerging from the local employment councils in Pej\u00eb, Gjakov\u00eb, and Prizren.\n\n\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>
Improving Access to Justice at the Municipal Level<\/div>
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Title of the Project: Improving Access to Justice at the Municipal Level\nDuration: 6 months (November 2020 - May 2021)\nLocations: Pej\u00eb, Prishtin\u00eb, Prizren, Gjilan, Gjakov\u00eb, and Mitrovic\u00eb\nImplementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit\nDonor: Youth Initiative for Human Rights - Kosovo (YIHR KS)\nBudget: 7,000.00 US dollars\n\nProject Goal: Improve access to justice at the local level by activating and including youth and grassroots organizations as promoters of the rule of law and democracy. The project aims to create cooperation between YIHR and five (5) grassroots organizations to expand the project's impact in various regions and strengthen the role of local grassroots NGOs.\nBeneficiaries: This program benefits primary and secondary school students, specifically those studying law, especially those in vocational schools and students aiming to study law in the future, as well as civil society organizations working with youth and municipal basic courts.\n\nProject Implementation: The six-month program will be implemented in six municipalities of Kosovo - Prishtin\u00eb, Pej\u00eb, Prizren, Gjakov\u00eb, Gjilan, and Ferizaj. In the Pej\u00eb region, it is implemented by the organization \u201cSyri i Vizionit\u201d.\nExpected Results:\n\u2022\tStrengthening the professional capacities of future young lawyers through the Constitutional and Administrative Clinic at the University of Prishtin\u00eb and internship programs within municipal administrations.\n\u2022\tImproving the legal knowledge of youth to prepare them to apply their profession in practice.\n\u2022\tIncreasing the efficiency, transparency, accountability, and professionalism of legal services within municipal administrations through professional support.\n\u2022\tStrengthening the capacities of grassroots organizations in promoting and demanding the rule of law and democracy at the local level.\n\nActivities:\n\u2022\tStreet Action: Partner organizations will organize one (1) street action within their municipalities to mark December 9 - International Anti-Corruption Day. The action will take place in the main city square and deliver a strong message from youth to all citizens. The activity aims to increase critical thinking among citizens, raise awareness of the harms caused by corruption in our society, and inform them about existing mechanisms for reporting corruption.\n\u2022\tYouth Talk: A discussion with youth will be organized to talk about youth engagement in the justice system and local decision-making processes, and to initiate debate between youth and local administration actors. The partner organization will invite a guest speaker from the local public administration and engage a moderator to lead the discussion and write an editorial to be posted on the YIHR KS website and implementing organizations\u2019 websites.\n\u2022\tEssay Competition: A competition will be organized in the target region to encourage critical thinking among youth, stimulate creativity, and express their views on justice issues. The main essay topic will be set closely with YIHR KS and partner organizations. Youth aged 16-25 will have the opportunity to compete for three prizes, with other contestants receiving participation certificates.\n\u2022\tAssembly Session Simulations: The organization will hold three simulations of assembly sessions in three smaller municipalities within the region. In total, 3 simulations with 25 participants each will be organized. Prior to the simulation, a one-day training will be held where participants learn about the assembly, procedural rules, decision-making, and other important aspects of the decision-making process. A professional trainer will be engaged to train students on these topics, and the assembly chairperson will be invited to share her experience. During the training, students will be given a case to discuss and decide on in the main session. On the second day, the assembly simulation will take place in the assembly hall and will be monitored by the assembly chairperson.\n<\/pre><\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Projects in 2020 Syri i Vizionit delivered social change across Kosovo\u2019s communities. Our work focused on empowering youth, women, marginalized communities, and children strengthening both individual capacities and institutional systems […]<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"project_category":[157],"class_list":["post-17400","project","type-project","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","project_category-157"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/17400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/17400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17567,"href":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/17400\/revisions\/17567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project_category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/syriivizionit.org\/sr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_category?post=17400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}