Shkodër- From June 26th to 28th, the city of Shkodër hosted a dynamic three-day Workshop on Raising the Capacities of Local Youth Councils (LYC), bringing together 16 youth representatives from Local Youth Councils (LYCs) and young activists across Northern Albania.
Organized by the RYCO Local Branch Office in Albania and the OSCE Presence in Albania, with the support of the Minister of State for Youth and Children, the workshop focused on strengthening youth participation in decision-making, fostering local advocacy, and raising awareness on the implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda.
In line with Albania’s Law on Youth, Local Youth Councils have been successfully established in 61 municipalities with the aim to strengthen the voice of young people in local policymaking, and this workshop aimed to build their capacities for meaningful engagement.
One of the most engaging moments of the first day was the open discussion with the Minister of State for Youth and Children. The session was hosted and moderated by Mr. Kreshnik Loka, Head of RYCO’s Local Branch Office in Albania, who facilitated the exchange by presenting RYCO’s regional initiatives and emphasizing the importance of youth participation in decision-making from local to regional level. Additionally, he highlighted the necessity of supporting the implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, and raising awareness on the role of young people in peacebuilding.
Ms. Bora Muzhaqi, Minister of State for Youth and Children and RYCO Governing Board Member for Albania, encouraged participants to continue taking initiative, and seek to transform their ideas into concrete projects, through the various available opportunities from the National Youth Agency, RYCO, OSCE and other donor organizations.
Ms. Blerina Balla, Civil Society and Gender Officer at the OSCE Presence in Albania, emphasized the importance of inclusive governance and meaningful youth engagement at all levels. Additionally she highlighted the work inclusion of young people in security matters, especially through the YPS agenda.
Ms. Enkelejda Imeraj, General Director of the National Agency for Innovation and Excellence, underlined the critical role of innovation in youth-led initiatives and the need for forward-thinking approaches in local policymaking.
The workshop sessions were delivered using non-formal education methods and included interactive discussions, group work, and advocacy tools. Trainer Ms. Geldona Metaj led the overall facilitation, with the YPS-focused session co-led by Ms. Flutura Brakaj, Local Program Officer at RYCO LBO in Albania.
On the second day, participants had the opportunity to work in groups and design their own local initiatives, developing skills in project building and pitching.
At the end of the workshop, each participant committed to identifying a community issue and initiating action through their Local Youth Council. These youth-led initiatives will be followed up in a dedicated online session with the organizers in late 2025 to assess progress and continue support.
