Trust and friendship between Bardhyl Dobroshi and Milan Dobric may not have been instant, but their connection is durable; grounded in their shared love for expressing their ideas through their art. These two young artists who come from Albanian and Serbian communities in Kosovo, met in a cafe in North Mitrovica and chatted about common interests. Soon they became friends and started a pilot project called “Promaja,” a short, three-day course in graphic design, wall painting, and graffiti. Recently, they participated in USAID-supported storytelling sessions organized by the Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation activity.
“Our passion to create goes beyond all the challenges we face in Kosovo. We stay away from political agendas and focus on bringing creative people together no matter where they come from’, said Bardhyl.
Recently, they spoke to a group of 27 young people attending the USAID supported Hajde bre! Camp, a gathering of young people from communities across Kosovo. During the three-day camp, Bardhyl and Milan shared their skills in photography, graphic design, and content writing sessions. In the beautiful outdoor setting, participants practiced photography while writing stories about each other, their background, common interests, and problems in their communities.
"The best thing (at the camp) has been that I have met young people who are different from me and this helps me to expand my view of the world, of other people, of the way I think, and for me, this has been the biggest benefit from this trip,” said Florijana Beka, one of the camp participants. She emphasized the camp was the first opportunity she had to connect with peers from a more diverse set of communities. Florijana’s perspective was reflected across all of the camp participants.
The future of Kosovo will depend on ensuring that this next generation of citizens connects across the lingering divides which separate them. By forging these connections, grounded in shared interests, they will have the opportunity to discuss the common challenges their generation faces - from building lives and careers in Kosovo to the aspirations they have for their country.
Community Building Mitrovica for USAIDKosovo