As Europe’s newest country, Kosovo is building its own future. Less than 15 years after independence, citizens are engaging to ensure a strong democracy and thriving economy. New opportunities to develop multi-cultural relationships and create trust between diverse communities represent a bridge from the region’s past to its future.
Still, economic and political challenges threaten both stability and prosperity. Young people face an unemployment rate of more than 50%, significantly higher than their older counterparts. Youth are urgently seeking jobs to support themselves and their families, and without work, are vulnerable to risky behaviors and irregular migration.
Training in soft and workforce skills and entrepreneurship increases youth's community engagement, enhances stability, and reduces bullying and gender-based violence.
In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 global health crisis did not leave Kosovo untouched, but young people stepped forward to lead the response, joining community Emergency Response Teams to ensure social distancing and other measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, as well as delivering food to vulnerable families with limited transportation and economic means.
Up to Youth
Global Communities is implementing a five-year Up to Youth Activity in Kosovo, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), committed to improving the capacities and enabling the aspirations of youth so that they can contribute to and benefit from more stable, democratic, and prosperous communities. Global Communities works with young people in nine municipalities in Kosovo as they become sources of positive change, develop new life skills and build resilience. Young people ages 15-24, including those often marginalized or excluded, come together for leadership opportunities, developing advocacy and awareness campaigns, and launching social ventures. Up to Youth utilizes a Positive Youth Development lens, ensuring that the key principles of assets, agency, contribution and enabling environment are integrated across activities, as well as an evidence-based approach to youth learning.
Over 2,900
youth and parents participated in Up to Youth’s community outreach activities
Mobilized 630+
youth throughout nine partner municipalities to improve their capacities and skills to contribute to and benefit from better communities and livelihoods
133
youth completed the entrepreneurship and rapid market assessment workshops to assess their municipalities’ potential for future private sector engagement opportunities
Our work in Kosovo
Positive Youth Development
Equipping Young People for Leadership and Success
Economic Opportunity
Advancing Job Training and Market Linkages for Sustainable Livelihoods
Sustainable Development
Standing with Communities as They Shape Their Own Future
Water Security
Expanding Safe, Sustainable Water Access
Resources
Briefs & Case Studies
The School Garden Model
Global Communities (GC) created and is utilizing an Integrated Fleet Management System (IFMS)which optimizes fleet performance by focusing on improving users’ experience while maximizingcost- effectiveness. Empowering and equipping the Fleet Team to achieve excellence, the IFMS is acomprehensive collection of systems, tools, and procedures that guide the supervision of the fleetteam, the management of in-house…
Briefs & Case Studies
Integrated Fleet Management System
Global Communities (GC) created and is utilizing an Integrated Fleet Management System (IFMS)which optimizes fleet performance by focusing on improving users’ experience while maximizingcost- effectiveness. Empowering and equipping the Fleet Team to achieve excellence, the IFMS is acomprehensive collection of systems, tools, and procedures that guide the supervision of the fleetteam, the management of in-house…
Briefs & Case Studies
The Community-led School Feeding Model
Pamoja Tuwalishe is an innovative school meals program t h a t i s supporting 367 schoolsand communities t o operationalize the National School Feeding Guidelines (NSFG). Implementedin support of the Government of Tanzania’s priority to improve learning outcomes andchildhood nutrition, the Pamoja Tuwalishe program is funded by USDA McGovern-Dole, andis implemented Global Communities in…
Research & Publications
Adapting Health Systems to Protect Children from the Impact of Climate Change: A Series
Prepared by The Child Health Task Force, Global Communities, and UNICEF The “Re-imagining the Package of Care for Children” series, co-hosted by the Child Health Task Force, Global Communities, and UNICEF, provided a platform to foster important discussions on how to adapt health systems to protect children from the challenges posed by the climate crisis.…
Toolkits & Manuals
Cooperative Businesses: A Training Guide for Cooperatives & Developers
Kenya’s cooperative movement is flourishing, and the worker cooperative model is gaining traction as a catalyst for equitable economic development and job creation. While worker cooperatives are relatively new to Kenya, their potential impact is being recognized. The USAID Cooperative Development Program CLEAR (Cooperative Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy and Research implemented by Global Communities, is dedicated…
NEWS
Latest stories from the blog
Up to Youth Program Supports Sweet Entrepreneurship in Kosovo
By Lizzie Hickman Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager, to have the entire world of possibilities open for you to …
Read MoreEmpowering Youth to Engage Meaningfully in Their Community
Originally published by USAID Meriton Binakaj is currently enrolled in online courses to finish high school. “I couldn’t have done it before since I had …
Read MoreKosovo Youth’s Newfound Life Skills Build Resilience in Their Communities
Originally published by USAID It is essential that Kosovo youth have the skills necessary to take part in Kosovo’s democratic and economic future. Acquiring soft …
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