Youth Empowered through Inclusive Schools and Societies

UNICEF implemented the Youth Empowered through Inclusive Schools and Society, “YESS” project. This project was financially supported by the UN Peace Building Fund (PBF), in partnership with UNICEF and IOM. The project used a bottom-up and community-based approach, using schools and their surrounding communities as an entry point to actively engage young girls and boys, particularly those from marginalized communities that have been historically under-represented in decision and policy making. Through support to a range of non-formal education interventions and youth-led projects both within and beyond the school setting the project empowered young people with new skills to become agents of change who promote tolerance and diversity, foster mutual understanding and respect, and build social cohesion between and within various communities living in Kosovo.

The project worked with adolescents and youth aged 13 to 24, their teachers and educational authorities, parents, and broader communities in ten selected municipalities across Kosovo. By empowering adolescents and youth in both formal and informal settings and linking them with local governance mechanisms and media, the project seeked to enhance social cohesion within and across diverse communities. In this line, interventions were designed to actively engage young people, teachers and local authorities, to enhance their personal capacities to challenge stereotypes and prejudices, as well as to build critical skills in communication, cooperation and problem-solving. The project also aimed to strengthen the school environment through introduction and reinforcement of inclusive education approaches that are adapted to the needs and realities of the local contexts.

Project Outcome: Girls and boys and young women and men are empowered to promote tolerance and diversity and build social connections between and within communities, increasing mutual understanding and making communities in Kosovo more resilient to conflict

Key Results:

• Establishment and strengthening of 54 Students’ Councils and 62 school-based peer mediation clubs
• 2200 students (aged 13-18) have gained essential tools and confidence to foster school environments rooted in tolerance, diversity, and mutual respect
• The programme reached over 22,000 students  in 11 municipalities (2024 – 2025), out of which 13,000 adolescents have been directly engaged, 700 teachers have strengthened their capacities in inclusive teaching and peer mediation, and more than 200 youth-led initiatives have addressed key drivers of exclusion and community tensions contributing to safer, more inclusive schools and strengthened social cohesion within and between communities
• 2300 students have been actively engaging in leadership, dialogue, and decision-making processes aimed at fostering inclusive and democratic school environments
• Over 23.000 students have been reached indirectly through awareness-raising activities and other joint activities focusing on promoting tolerance, conflict resolution, and the importance of creating safe and respectful learning spaces.

The Evaluation Report of the YESS Project is available here.