Nisma Arsis
BY eatech
Nisma Arsis
August 31, 2026
How young people from Albania and Montenegro strengthened leadership, influenced dialogue and turned inclusion into visible community action
Young people from Albania and Montenegro celebrate the completion of the three-day Youth Leadership Boot Camp in Durrës.
Meaningful youth participation becomes real when young people are trusted not only to speak, but also to design, advocate and act.
More than a launch event, the meeting created an open platform for dialogue and partnership. It connected youth perspectives with the institutions and organizations able to support their ideas, laying the groundwork for the learning, advocacy and youth-led action that followed.
Project representatives and institutional partners at the kick-off meeting, where a shared vision for meaningful youth participation was established.
Non-formal education, team challenges and peer learning allowed participants to practise the skills behind meaningful participation: listening across differences, communicating clearly, collaborating in diverse groups and turning community concerns into practical ideas. The value of the Boot Camp lay not only in what participants learned, but also in how they learned it — together, across borders, and with space to contribute their own experiences.
Non-formal learning and peer exchange helped participants practise communication, teamwork and inclusive leadership.
This regional connection transformed the project from a set of activities into a network of young people able to exchange perspectives, challenge stereotypes and support one another as advocates for peace and inclusion.
Organized in cooperation with the Youth and Social Wellbeing Agency of the Municipality of Tirana, the event connected young participants with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the National Youth Agency, the National Agency for Employment and Skills, civil society and other stakeholders. The discussion focused on stronger mechanisms for youth participation, social inclusion, wellbeing and sustained dialogue with decision-makers.
Young people and institutional stakeholders discuss the recommendations of the “Youth Voices for Peace and Inclusion” policy brief.
A youth participant greets a resident during the intergenerational initiative at the Missionaries of Charity — Home for the Elderly.
One of the project’s most human moments took place at the Missionaries of Charity — Home for the Elderly. Young participants arrived with essential supplies and recreational materials, but the initiative quickly became about something less tangible and equally important: time, attention and connection.
In one moment captured during the visit, a young participant reached out to greet an elderly resident. The handshake was simple, yet it reflected the project’s larger message. Peace and inclusion are built through everyday choices — by approaching rather than excluding, listening rather than assuming, and recognizing the dignity and contribution of every person. What began as a donation visit became an intergenerational exchange rooted in empathy and solidarity.
A second youth-led initiative at the PAK Center for Persons with Disabilities carried the same principle into another setting. Interactive games, collaborative activities and open communication helped reduce social barriers and create space for equality, respect for diversity and meaningful participation. Educational and recreational materials were also provided to support the Centre’s ongoing activities.
By linking learning, voice, action and visibility, the project strengthened a practical model for youth-led peacebuilding — one grounded in cooperation, inclusion and the belief that communities become more resilient when young people have the space and support to shape them.
Author: FILL IN NAME - FILL IN ROLE, NISMA ARSIS, Albania
The scheme places a strong emphasis on supporting youth-led and youth-responsive projects that bring tangible, localized impact at the municipal level, particularly by enhancing youth security and engagement in governance and policy-making processes.
POLICY PAPER
Young people from Albania and Montenegro celebrate the completion of the three-day Youth Leadership Boot Camp in Durrës.Meaningful youth participation becomes real when young people are trusted not only to speak, but also to design, advocate and act.
A Pathway from Dialogue to Leadership
The journey began with the official kick-off meeting at the end of January 2026. Young people joined representatives of public institutions, civil society organizations and RYCO to establish a common understanding of the project and its ambitions. Interactive sessions explored the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, meaningful participation and local governance, while a Youth Voices Panel placed young people at the centre of the exchange.More than a launch event, the meeting created an open platform for dialogue and partnership. It connected youth perspectives with the institutions and organizations able to support their ideas, laying the groundwork for the learning, advocacy and youth-led action that followed.
Project representatives and institutional partners at the kick-off meeting, where a shared vision for meaningful youth participation was established.Skills, Confidence and Cross-Border Connection
The project’s central learning experience was a three-day Youth Leadership Boot Camp in Durrës, organized by NISMA ARSIS in partnership with Juventas. It brought together 35 young people from Albania and Montenegro for intensive learning and exchange on leadership, peacebuilding, advocacy, intercultural dialogue and active citizenship.Non-formal education, team challenges and peer learning allowed participants to practise the skills behind meaningful participation: listening across differences, communicating clearly, collaborating in diverse groups and turning community concerns into practical ideas. The value of the Boot Camp lay not only in what participants learned, but also in how they learned it — together, across borders, and with space to contribute their own experiences.
Non-formal learning and peer exchange helped participants practise communication, teamwork and inclusive leadership. This regional connection transformed the project from a set of activities into a network of young people able to exchange perspectives, challenge stereotypes and support one another as advocates for peace and inclusion.
From Youth Recommendations to Institutional Dialogue
A two-day youth workshop moved the process from learning to influence. Participants examined community challenges, discussed youth participation and developed recommendations that were consolidated into the policy brief “Youth Voices for Peace and Inclusion.” At its presentation, young people introduced the key findings and recommendations themselves, ensuring that their perspectives were communicated directly rather than interpreted on their behalf.Organized in cooperation with the Youth and Social Wellbeing Agency of the Municipality of Tirana, the event connected young participants with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the National Youth Agency, the National Agency for Employment and Skills, civil society and other stakeholders. The discussion focused on stronger mechanisms for youth participation, social inclusion, wellbeing and sustained dialogue with decision-makers.
Young people and institutional stakeholders discuss the recommendations of the “Youth Voices for Peace and Inclusion” policy brief.Impact at a Glance
- 50 youth and professionals joined the kick-off event
- 40 cross-border Boot Camp participants
- 38 young people shaped the policy brief workshops in two countries
- 1 youth-led policy briefs presented, one for Albania and one for Montenegro
- FILL IN participants in the policy brief presentation event
- 4 community initiatives in Albania and Montenegro
- 6 campaign products: 1 video and 5 reels
Youth Voices in the Digital Space
The youth-led “Voices of Youth for Peace” campaign extended participation beyond in-person activities. Across July, the communication team published one video and five reels on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Through testimonials, visual storytelling and project moments, young people shared positive narratives on peace, diversity and inclusion while promoting responsible online engagement and countering hate speech, misinformation and violent narratives.A Small Encounter That Captured the Project’s Purpose
A youth participant greets a resident during the intergenerational initiative at the Missionaries of Charity — Home for the Elderly.One of the project’s most human moments took place at the Missionaries of Charity — Home for the Elderly. Young participants arrived with essential supplies and recreational materials, but the initiative quickly became about something less tangible and equally important: time, attention and connection.
In one moment captured during the visit, a young participant reached out to greet an elderly resident. The handshake was simple, yet it reflected the project’s larger message. Peace and inclusion are built through everyday choices — by approaching rather than excluding, listening rather than assuming, and recognizing the dignity and contribution of every person. What began as a donation visit became an intergenerational exchange rooted in empathy and solidarity.
A second youth-led initiative at the PAK Center for Persons with Disabilities carried the same principle into another setting. Interactive games, collaborative activities and open communication helped reduce social barriers and create space for equality, respect for diversity and meaningful participation. Educational and recreational materials were also provided to support the Centre’s ongoing activities.
Young People as Partners in Lasting Change
Taken together, the project’s results show that meaningful youth participation is not a single event. It is a process that equips young people with knowledge, connects them across communities and borders, creates access to decision-makers, and trusts them to lead visible action. From the Boot Camp to the policy brief, from community initiatives to digital storytelling, young people were not presented as future leaders waiting for their turn. They acted as leaders in the present.By linking learning, voice, action and visibility, the project strengthened a practical model for youth-led peacebuilding — one grounded in cooperation, inclusion and the belief that communities become more resilient when young people have the space and support to shape them.
Author: FILL IN NAME - FILL IN ROLE, NISMA ARSIS, Albania
Regional Youth Cooperation Office
RYCO is an intergovernmental organization that stewards and promotes regional and intercultural cooperation of young people within and among Western Balkans societies. RYCO’s programs focus on creating opportunities for young people to engage in activities that build mutual understanding and reconciliation in the civic, social, educational, cultural, and sports domains. RYCO initiates and participates in policymaking and advocates for reform. It supports the development of a political and social environment that empowers and facilitates youth exchange.RYCOgnizing YPS
RYCOgnizing YPS is a RYCO granting scheme dedicated to supporting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Western Balkans that work with youth to advance the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. This initiative empowers CSOs to scale up youth-led initiatives through actions focused on the five YPS pillars: Participation, Protection, Prevention, Partnerships, and Disengagement and Reintegration.The scheme places a strong emphasis on supporting youth-led and youth-responsive projects that bring tangible, localized impact at the municipal level, particularly by enhancing youth security and engagement in governance and policy-making processes.
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