Action Against Discrimination for All: A Step Towards Equality in Kosovo

Since its launch  in February 2023,  the EU funded project “Action Against Discrimination for All,  implemented by Kosova Education Center (KEC), aims  to  create a supportive environment for young people. ensuring that they are treated with respect and dignity. The project  , an has taken significant steps to tackle discrimination and promote human rights., with the focuses on countering discrimination, hate speech and gender based violence. 

School Clubs are one of the pillar activities of the project. KEC’s School Clubs gather girls and boys from various communities – Albanian, Bosnian, Turkish, Roma and Ashkali – to learn about peer mediation and countering hate speech. More than simply extracurricular activities, these clubs serve as platforms for students from different generations to exchange knowledge, ensuring a sustainability far beyond the project duration of the fight against discrimination. Up to now, over 310 young people have participated in these activities.

Advocacy and work with direct higher level stakeholders is also an important aspect of the project. Throughout its implementation, the project worked directly with school principals, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Ombudsperson’s Office to identify and address cases of discrimination.  During the implementation of the project, we maintained regular communication with school directors, MESTI and Ombudsman to detect discrimination cases over the partner municipalities of the project. And as a result, we came up with specific numbers of the discrimination cases, such as: MESTI: 45 reported cases of discrimination; Ombudsman: 19 reported cases; Beneficiary schools: 444 reported cases.” says Ardita Kabashi, Project Manager at KEC. 

The Annual Summer School is yet another important component of the project. It  brings together all School Clubs around a learning experience, using PONDER – a methodology that improves the life skills of adolescents by fostering media literacy and critical approaches to information. Throughout the Summer School, students and mentors collaborate on creative digital content aimed at raising awareness against discrimination and countering hate speech. So far,  120 participants (90 students and 30 mentors) have taken part in this initiative, producing animations, games, short films, and more. These projects not only raise awareness but also equip students with the tools to fight discrimination in their everyday lives.

Through the support of the European Union, this project has empowered schools and communities to take responsibility for preventing and addressing discrimination and hate speech. The results so far are promising, but the journey towards full equality continues. With ongoing commitment and collaboration, the Action Against Discrimination for All project is contributing towards a more inclusive future in Kosovo.