The German Residence in Prishtina hosted the Harmony Hero Awards 2025, honoring five remarkable young peacebuilders and, for the first time, a youth group whose efforts are making a real difference in their community. Organized by RYCO Local Branch Kosovo* in cooperation with the German Embassy in Kosovo, the ceremony marked the International Day of Peace by highlighting the role of youth in reconciliation and community development.
This year’s awardees were: Adelina Tershani, Ideal Zhaveli, Destantila Muriqi, Anes Demirovic, and the Obiliq Students’ Council for their initiative “The School I Want.”
The event gathered young people, institutional representatives, and international partners. The evening featured welcoming and supporting remarks by the German Ambassador, Jeton Zulfaj (Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office), Donika Zogu (Youth Representative on the RYCO Governing Board), and Dardana Fetahu (Acting Head of RYCO Local Branch Office Kosovo). Their presence reflected the strong backing that institutions and international partners give to youth-led peacebuilding.
The program was also enriched by creative performances. Amina Kaja, a 2024 Harmony Hero, moved the audience with a powerful slam poem about the meaning of everyday heroes:
“I searched for Heroes,
High and low,
But they were always around us,
Always within.
We don’t need webshooters,
or a tail with glittering fins –
it seems you simply need a Hero’s love,
and the courage to begin.”
Meanwhile, Kimete Arifaj, another former awardee, together with the participants, painted the Tree of Heroes—a collective artwork symbolizing unity, dialogue, and the many roots and branches of peace.
The 2025 Harmony Heroes shared heartfelt reflections, filled with gratitude and determination. One of them, Destantila Muriqi, expressed:
“Let these Harmony Hero Awards be our call to walk together, to lift one another, and to keep reaching for a world that holds us all in dignity. For they belong to all of us: to those who rise under the weight pressing them down, and to those whose voices were silenced before they ever had the chance to speak, but who—against all odds—keep trying.”
Their stories once again showed that peace is not an abstract ideal, but something built step by step through courage, empathy, and everyday action.
As these new Harmony Heroes join the growing circle of young peacebuilders, they remind us that harmony is not a one-time achievement, but a continuous journey. To ensure more young changemakers are celebrated in the future, you can learn more about how to nominate a future Harmony Hero here.
Congratulations to the 2025 Harmony Heroes! May your dedication continue to inspire a more peaceful and inclusive future.
*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.
