Multiethnic Community Builds Cohesion Through Environmental Activism

Although two decades have passed since the Kosovo conflict, genuine reconciliation is yet to be achieved.  According to a Kosovo-wide survey funded by USAID, 75 percent of surveyed citizens believe all citizens regardless of age and ethnicity should be part of the reconciliation process.  To achieve this, communities need to be brought together around common issues and empowered to become the change in their society.  USAID’s Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation (RCT) activity complements this process and contributes with its grassroot approach by providing the space and resources for citizens from all communities to work together toward a common goal.  

The first activity organized in this regard was the joint marking of Earth Day with a week of activism in April.  More than 20 members of the first multiethnic Cohesion Circle jointly organized the week of activism and the planting of 84 trees in seven municipalities in northern Kosovo (Mitrovica South, Mitrovica North, Zvečan/Zveçan, Leposavić/Leposaviq, Vushtrri/Vučitrn, Skenderaj/Srbica, and Zubin Potok).  The Cohesion Circle members engaged the local community, municipal representatives, school children, and academia in sharing the unanimous message:  “reconciliation is possible if we work together.”  

Some of the Cohesion Circle members had the opportunity to visit neighboring municipalities for the first time.  “This is the first time I am visiting the municipality of Leposavić, and the fact that I will plant trees in the school yard makes me very happy.  I want to see this tree grow big and strong!” said Arta Ibishi from Mitrovica.

To promote joint activism, RCT organized a celebration on Earth Day, which brought together the Cohesion Circle members, representatives of the Ministry of Environment, academia, youth activists, and influencers to reflect on the environmental issues that all communities in Kosovo are facing.  During the discussion, the participants stressed that environmental issues are just one of the many issues that are shared between communities and there are many more that require joint action.