From Local Action to Regional Change: RYCO Celebrates Youth, Peace and Security Achievements in the Western Balkans
PRISTINA, 29 October 2026 – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), brought together young people, civil society organisations, institutional representatives and regional partners in Pristina for the final event of “RYCOgnizing YPS: Meaningful Youth Participation in the Western Balkans.” The gathering marked the culmination of a year and a half of youth-led initiatives strengthening young people’s role in peacebuilding, dialogue and decision-making across the region.
Held under the theme “From Local Action to Regional Change: Building the Future of Youth, Peace and Security in the Western Balkans,” the event reflected on the project’s achievements, shared experiences from local communities and explored priorities for advancing the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda.
The event opened with remarks from Kreshnik Loka, RYCO Deputy Secretary General; Ms. Lorena Sekiraqa, Sherpa and Political Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office; and H.E. Rainer Rudolph, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kosovo*.
RYCO Deputy Secretary General Kreshnik Loka emphasised the project’s contribution to connecting local youth-led initiatives with regional peacebuilding efforts, recognising the commitment of young people and civil society organisations in transforming ideas into meaningful change.
“Your efforts show that regional change begins with committed local action,” Loka stated, recognising the contributions of grantees and young participants.
Ms. Lorena Sekiraqa, Sherpa and Political Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office, underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between institutions and young people, highlighting the need to translate youth perspectives and recommendations into concrete policies and opportunities for meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
Ambassador Rainer Rudolph reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting youth cooperation and reconciliation, highlighting the importance of partnerships that empower young people to build more peaceful and inclusive societies.
A central part of the event showcased the achievements of RYCO’s first regional granting scheme dedicated to Youth, Peace and Security. Through 13 supported projects and €636,000 in funding, the initiative engaged more than 2,000 young people across 47 municipalities, supporting 24 youth-led initiatives, 25 capacity-building trainings, 56 mentoring sessions and 46 policy dialogues.
During the session “Why Youth, Peace and Security Matters in the Western Balkans – Stories from the Ground,” Krenare Gashi-Krasniqi, Head of RYCO’s Local Branch Office in Kosovo, highlighted the importance of local partnerships in advancing the YPS Agenda. Sonila Necaj, RYCOgnizing YPS Project Manager, presented the project’s achievements and reflected on how grants, training and mentoring helped youth organisations turn their ideas into concrete action. Supported grantees also shared experiences addressing youth participation, inclusion, discrimination, mental health and other challenges affecting their communities.
Looking ahead, participants joined two interactive sessions: the Coordination Lab, “Who Does What in YPS?”, and the Recommendations Lab, “Shaping the Next Steps for YPS.” Facilitated by Alda Kondakçiu, Đorđo Cvijović and Agron Kelmendi from RYCO, the discussions explored stronger coordination among YPS actors and practical recommendations for advancing meaningful youth participation. They also built on recommendations from the Western Balkans Youth Forum 2026, including calls for a regional YPS framework and greater youth involvement in decision-making.
The event concluded with the presentation of key recommendations and closing remarks from Sonila Necaj, RYCOgnizing YPS Project Manager. Reflecting on the discussions, she highlighted the need for stronger coordination among YPS actors, greater cooperation between sectors and more opportunities for young people to influence policies and decision-making. She also emphasised that the project’s long-term success should be measured not only by the activities implemented, but by the partnerships that remain active, the cooperation that continues and the opportunities created for young people beyond the project’s conclusion. The recommendations and lessons gathered throughout the event will also help inform RYCO’s future programming and support for youth-led initiatives across the region.
As RYCO marks its 10th anniversary, RYCOgnizing YPS reflects its continued commitment to trust, reconciliation and youth cooperation. These efforts will continue through RYCO’s partnership with the German Government and the new Youth Trust Fund initiative, RYCOncile, aimed at providing more sustainable support for youth-led initiatives across the Western Balkans.
While the project has concluded, the partnerships, experiences and recommendations developed throughout its implementation provide a foundation for continued action, ensuring that young people remain central to peacebuilding and regional cooperation.
Explore the grantees’ stories, policy papers and initiatives on the Youth Approved platform.
The project “RYCOgnizing YPS: Meaningful Youth Participation in the Western Balkans” was implemented by RYCO with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO).
*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.
