Pristina – Eleven schools from Kosovo have been awarded the title of “Superschool” this year, with their projects presented at a public event called “Meet the Superschools,” organized by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) Local Branch Office in Kosovo. The selected schools and their programs will contribute to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and intercultural dialogue within the framework of the Western Balkans School Exchange Program.
Alongside the representatives of the awarded schools, the event was attended by distinguished guests, including Arbërie Nagavci, Minister of Education, Science and Technology of Kosovo; Eva Palatova, Acting Head of Office at the European Union Office in Kosovo; Payam Ghalehdar, Political Officer at the Embassy of Germany in Kosovo; Mimoza Gavrani Simo, Superschools Project Manager; and Dardana Fetahu, Acting Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Kosovo.
Opening the event, Minister Nagavci underlined the value of such initiatives for youth across the region:
“The Superschools project enables connections between our high school students and their peers in the Western Balkans through different exchange programs. By encouraging cooperation and building understanding, we nurture a spirit of dialogue among youth, giving us strong assurances that today’s young people will grow into fulfilled and productive individuals for themselves and for society tomorrow.”
Representing the European Union, Eva Palatova highlighted the EU’s support for the initiative:
“The Superschools Exchange Scheme stands as a flagship initiative for peace and reconciliation in the Western Balkans. It connects schools across borders, builds enduring friendships, and fosters genuine intercultural understanding. This initiative exemplifies European values in practice: dialogue, respect, and cooperation.”
Speaking on behalf of Germany, Payam Ghalehdar emphasized the importance of investing in youth:
“Superschools is far more than a school exchange scheme – it is a unique platform that actively fosters mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue and reconciliation among young people across the region. Germany remains committed to supporting a peaceful, connected, and prosperous Kosovo and Western Balkans.”
From RYCO’s Head Office in Tirana, Project Manager Mimoza Gavrani-Simo described the program’s new phase:
“Exchange for change marks a decisive step forward for the Superschools project. It demonstrates our commitment to building resilience and cooperation across the Western Balkans by engaging youth from an early age. Today, we celebrate new opportunities and the empowering potential for lasting peace.”
Echoing this vision, Dardana Fetahu, Acting Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Kosovo, added:
“These exchanges are more than excursions, they are seeds of understanding, friendship, and peace for the future.”
The event also gave schools the chance to connect with each other and discuss their project ideas with local and international partners. It concluded with recognition of schools from the previous call: Bahri Haxha School from Vushtrri received the Best Content award, while Dr. Ali Sokoli School from Pristina was awarded Best Practice.
The upcoming exchange activities will take place between November 15 of this year and April 15 of next year. During this period, each partner school will host one exchange visit lasting up to seven days, with students traveling alongside their teachers. Supported by RYCO and its mentors, the schools will coordinate and implement these activities, giving young people the chance to present themselves, their schools, and local customs while also discovering new communities across the region.
You can view the list of the 100 secondary schools selected to become Superschools in this cycle, including 11 from Kosovo on RYCO’s website.
Background
About the Superschools program
Superschools is a RYCO program for school exchanges in the Western Balkans. Its objectives are to support peacebuilding, reconciliation, and intercultural learning and dialogue among schools, students, and their communities. The program is part of the multi-donor project “Western Balkans School Exchange Scheme,” co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) together with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
About RYCO
RYCO is an intergovernmental organization that promotes regional and intercultural cooperation of young people within and among Western Balkan societies. Its programs focus on creating opportunities for youth to engage in activities that build mutual understanding and reconciliation in civic, social, educational, cultural, and sports domains. RYCO also participates in policymaking and advocates for reforms that empower youth exchange. It supports the development of a political and social environment that encourages and facilitates cooperation among young people across the region.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
