About the LBO

The RYCO Local Branch Office in Kosovo is based in Pristina and operates throughout Kosovo, fostering youth engagement and leadership development in a diverse and inclusive environment. Until December 2023, the EU visa regime significantly limited mobility, making RYCO’s regional mobility programs and learning opportunities especially important for youth participation and cross-cultural exchange.

The LBO supports the implementation of regional programs and projects at the local level, enabling young people and other stakeholders from Kosovo to engage in intercultural dialogue, learning, peacebuilding, and reconciliation activities. Established in 2017, the office gained official status as a Representative Office on 23 October 2023.

Local impact

19

HIGH SCHOOLS

460

STUDENTS

55

CSOS

1,000+

YOUNG PEOPLE

7

CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS

55

YOUNG JOURNALISTS

10

HARMONY HERO AWARDEES

48

YOUNG DEVELOPERS
  • Open Calls: 15 NGOs were supported to conduct youth exchanges in the region.
  • Superschools: 19 schools from different municipalities implemented school-to-school exchanges with RYCO Contracting Parties. The narrative section of the factsheet notes that more than 200 students from different backgrounds travelled within the region through this project, many for the first time.
  • Western Balkans Youth Cultural Fund: 7 cultural practitioners implemented RYCO-relevant projects, while 16 individuals strengthened their skills in organizing cultural activities for peace and reconciliation through capacity-building trainings.
  • MIRAI: 12 young people from Kosovo were provided with the opportunity to travel to Japan.
  • Peace Broadcasters: The program expanded regionally and has trained 39 young people to produce stories on transitional justice, intercultural dialogue, and constructive journalism, with work featured on Deutsche Welle and local media.
  • RYCOgnized: Activities included education-focused dialogue with 60 Albanian and Serb students, solidarity actions involving 30 volunteers, basic YPS training for 20 youth, a “Student, Peace, and Security” conference with 200 multiethnic students, and a photography training with 15 participants from Kosovo and Serbia.
  • Local initiatives: More than 40 CSO representatives were trained in intercultural dialogue, digital youth work, and project management; Youth Talks engaged more than 200 participants; the Harmony Hero Award recognized 10 young peacebuilders across 2023 and 2024; the Mitrovica Volunteer Festival brought together 100 young people; Solidarity Action Day engaged 456 participants; and GAME JAM at the Western Balkans Digital Summit involved 48 young developers and showcased prototypes to more than 300 attendees.

Opportunities

On 30 September, the German Residence in Pristina opened its doors to a room full of the kind of people who don’t…
Are you passionate about research, evaluation, organizational learning, and turning evidence into better programs and ideas? The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO)…
Pristina – Are you passionate about youth cooperation, regional exchange, and turning ideas into real opportunities for young people? The Regional Youth…
In the first days of April 2026, Pristina hosted the Regional Leadership Tour of RYCO Secretary General Vladimir Obradović and Deputy Secretary…
On 12 February  2026, students of the Gymnasium of Mostar visited their peers at the British Gymnasium of Technology (BGT) in Pristina…
Pristina – Eleven schools from Kosovo have been awarded the title of “Superschool” this year, with their projects presented at a public…
The Western Balkans Youth Cultural Fund invites artists, cultural workers, and creative practitioners from Kosovo* to join a three-day local workshop in…
Pristina, December 20, 2024 – Peace Broadcaster Closing Event: Empowering Young Journalists as Peace Reporters End of December and one more significant…
In the course of this year, RISE reached the milestone of five years since its establishment in the region for building social entrepreneurship and empowered youth in the Western Balkans. Celebrations marking this anniversary took place in Tirana, Sarajevo, Pristina, Podgorica,…
Pristina – A working breakfast with media representatives, held in Pristina on November 14, 2024, marked another step in RYCO’s ongoing efforts…
In celebration of the International Day of Peace, the award ceremony for the 2024 Harmony Hero Awards took place at the German…
Open Call for Nominations: Harmony Hero Award Organized by RYCO Local Branch Kosovo* and the German Embassy in Kosovo On the occasion…
RYCO’s work and unique mission in the region are recognized, especially when it comes to quality of programs and their implementation, and…
Pristina – The 6th United Nations Youth Assembly in Kosovo was held under the theme “Youth, Peace, and Security in the AI…
Mitrovica- In a meaningful gathering at the Diakonie Youth Center in Mitrovica on January 25, 2024, the German and French Embassies in…
Capacity Building Training and Mentoring Program for Young Journalists and Students of Journalism on Intercultural Dialogue and Transitional Journalism   The Regional…
In the Fair of creativity and youth, the RYCO Local Branch Office in Kosovo* proudly showcased its commitment to fostering peace and…
(Pristina, 10th August 2023) – On the occasion of International Youth Day 2023, RYCO Local Branch Office in Kosovo*, in close cooperation…
PRISTINA – On the occasion of International Youth Day, RYCO Local Branch Office Kosovo*, in close cooperation with the German Embassy in…
The workshop on designing the “Volunteering at School” program was held on June 27, 2023, in Pristina. The workshop’s objective was to…
(Pristina, 31st May 2023) – Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), in collaboration with Deutsche Welle (DW) and the Association of Kosovo Journalists…
Andjelija and Blend are typical Western Balkan names. One young tree recently planted in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France, shares their name. How did…
PRISTINA – The RYCO Local Branch Office in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) organized the introductory event “Meet the…
RYCO LBO Kosovo concluded yesterday the last RYCO Coffee Talks event, which was held in the municipality of Dragash. Around 50 participants…
PEJA – As a follow up to the Cycle I of “Peace Broadcasters: Empowering Young Journalists as Peace Reporters”, the RYCO Local…
PRISHTINA – As part of the final stage of the training and mentoring program “Peace Broadcasters: Empowering the young journalists as peace…
PRIZREN – During January 2022, the RYCO Local Branch Office in Kosovo received project proposals by groups of young active and already…
PRISTINA – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Kosovo organized a meeting of the Superschools from Kosovo, an introductory event with the…
TIRANA – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) organized the conference “A Better Region Starts with Volunteering” in Tirana on 7-8 December…
KOSOVO/NORTH MACEDONIA – Within the third RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, the ASUC “Boro…

Team Members

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