PIKËPAMJA, THE PLATFORM WHERE YOUTH’S VOICE IS HEARD

 

 

Young boys and girls make up more than half of Kosovo’s population.

They want to see their place developed so that it offers possibilities for each one of them. Despite this fact, their voice is barely heard in decision-making processes and their needs aren’t regarded. The way of reaction, for their voice to be heard, has been left more to individual bases according to needs, but sometimes in small groups as well. Even though asking for their rights shouldn’t be difficult, and shouldn’t even always be a sign of protest?

Seeing the prevailing state and after long work with young boys and girls, the idea came to light for a platform which would serve for exactly this case. “Point of View” has the purpose to offer practices that encourage and empower young girls and boys to be included in decision-making processes in their community. This was thought to be achieved by offering a platform through which different issues are treated that are tied with their needs and worries, by giving priority to youth from marginalized groups in our society. And it’s always achieved through different articles our participants have written by treating different subjects that affect them and the place they live in.

In this form there’s an investment in young boys’ and girls’ capacities that lead their attention towards issues that preoccupy them and for their inclusion in the public sphere to be promoted. And for the public’s awareness to be raised on youth’s views.

Throughout the workshops held in the year 2019, in the framework of Point of View, in the work with around 60 young boys and girls, it’s been noticed how necessary it is for an opportunity to be created for their voice to be raised for the issues that preoccupy them. The desire to learn more around the treatment of different subjects, wasn’t scarce. Through exercises, tasks and participation in discussions, they’ve developed critical thinking.

And all this experience has also served as a good indicator for us to see closely how these young girls and boys are being shaped. On the other side it’s also made the real state that prevails apparent and it’s become clear which views are really theirs.

Three of the main subjects, or worries, that have come out of the many applications for Point of View, were: unemployment, corruption and nepotism. These three were only a starting point of disclosing all the other problems that come as a result. But, that’s not all.  Young people’s bravery to treat sensitive and very serious subjects is one of the main factors that indicated just how aware youth is, and on the other side how much potential they have to develop, even if they have space to do such a thing. The subjects that have been treated within this year in Point of View are very diverse, starting from the protection of the environment, bullying; the lack of sexual education in schools; school literature and misinformation; gender equality has been treated through different prisms, starting from men’s role in fighting gender discrimination, and then young girls/women’s position in their family and property inheritance. And also women’s objectification in portals, patriarchal overdose, inclusion of women in local councils, for marriage as a choice and not an obligation. Another subject that is treated a lot is also youth leaving or their desire to leave the country.

This fact is a good indication for the state that is prevailing for many years in Kosovo, and unfortunately it’s still like that. This means that the country can’t recover or create the necessary conditions for employment, something that is making youth see their future outside of the country. The politics thus far haven’t been able to create an appropriate environment for development and employment, or even encouraging youth to project their future unto the country they were born and live in.

Despite all these negative factors in our country, one thing is clear: Kosovo has a healthy youth, open and thirsty for change. And if each one of them start making changes in at least one of the things they’ve written about then this means that the future is bright. This is also the purpose of Point of View, to be able to present youth’s voices, and then for these articles to be distributed and to take the role of a clear sign for change, and why not also inspiration.

 

 

This article mirrors the experience of Shtatëmbëdhjetë (17) team during work with young girls and boys in the Point of View project.