Scouts of the Western Balkans United for Change
Supported by RYCO and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund through the second RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, First Scout Unit of Skopje in partnership with Scout Group Dr Mladen Stojanovic Prijedor, IO Gojko Krushka Cetinje and Savez izvidjaca grada Nisha, implemented the project “SCOUTS UNITED Learn it, Do it, Scout it”.
The project took place from November 2019 to April 2020 and built bridges for sustainable cooperation on peacebuilding and youth participation in the region. Moreover, this project opened up new perspectives and paths for young scouts by training them on building social cohesion in their respective communities and enforcing youth mobility in the Western Balkans.
Through the duration of the project, “Scouting for Change” was held to connect youth from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as to promote mutual understanding and intercultural learning among them. Furthermore, workshops on peacebuilding also took place, empowering youth to share their personal perspectives and messages on the topics discussed.
“For me this exchange is a unique chance to meet many young people from the region. My message to other young people in the region is to get involved in the scout movement,” Mr Vladimir Kambovski, one of the project participants stated.
“This program for me means making new memories, my message to other young people in the region is to seek more and more adventures,” Ms Iskra Zeković, another project participant highlighted.
When asked about keywords that represent their experience during the project, young participants emphasized team building, open communication and intercultural learning. The project enabled youth to foster regional cooperation and provided them with a better understanding of the many possible ways to build long lasting peace in the region.
“This scout exchange for me is the beginning of a never ending story,” Ms Sara Krajchevska, a young person and also one of the project participants concluded.
At the conclusion of the project, youth were provided with new opportunities for exchange and mobility and were motivated to build new networks and ties with other peers from the region.
To see highlights from their experience and activities organized during “Scouting for Change” please click the button below.
Preuzeto sa: RYCO