Era Tahiri, a former student of Xhevdet Doda high school in Pristina, was among the first members of her school’s Makerspace – and it changed her life. The Makerspace, a component of USAID’s After School Support for Teens Activity, offered a Technician’s Club that Era joined. She started with computer programming basics and soon learned that she loved it. “This is when I decided about my future profession, and today I'm a third year student in the Faculty of Computer Engineering at the University of Pristina.”
Era is one of thousands of success stories about young people who participated in USAID’s youth development programming. After School Support for Teens improved Kosovo’s education system and developed students’ life and work skills through the use of modern technology and practical project-based programs in high schools throughout 16 municipalities. The experience and exposure empowered teens to come up with solutions, design and make products, explore their own creative interests, and build key competencies and self-confidence.
In addition to skills building, students were offered entrepreneurship and career development opportunities. USAID facilitated approximately 250 agreements between partner schools and businesses to offer internship opportunities for over 1,500 high school students. The students gained on-the-job experience and developed soft skills, both crucial for securing future employment.
Era reaped the benefits of an internship through USAID, too. She interned at Innovation Center Kosova where she gained invaluable IT experience. Now, in addition to being a university student, she has a job on the IT team at a local bank.
Through training, guidance, and internships, USAID’s After School Support for Teens activity provided an opportunity for 67,800 total high schoolers to become agents of change in their own lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Kosovo Education Center (KEC) for USAID Kosovo