YMCA in Kosovo Blog

I am Edona Vitija, 18 years old and I am part of the YMCA in Kosovo for almost a year now. For the time that I spent here, I have experienced extraordinary moments, I have learned so many important things that made me change myself, and my friends to become better. I have also met so many amazing new people and we have learned a lot from each of them. Edona Vitija Last summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the Gender Junik Camp, where the main topics that we discussed were about violence, stereotypes, prejudices, and feminism. It was one of the best trips in my life. We had so much fun and it helped us to release stress by practising yoga and mindfulness. Edona in Junik Camp Another great experience started later that year, when we opened the first Leadership group in Prishtina. We just finished the Community Module, and started on the level. I can’t wait to finish the sessions and be able to open my own group where I can lead. I just hope I will be as good a...

A COUNTRY WITHOUT A CAMP Frost Valley partners to help open the first summer camp in Kosovo Typically, when a parent in the United States is deciding what their children should do for the summer, the question is: Which camp do we send them to? However, in some countries, parents don’t have a variety of wholesome, beneficial options at their disposal. Kosovo is one such country at risk of lacking those enriching opportunities for its youngsters. Despite its vibrant and enthusiastic citizens, years of political unrest and devastating war have severely reduced the number of youth development opportunities in Kosovo. Unfortunately, prior to 2003, Kosovo was not included in the nearly 120 countries that are home to YMCAs. Kosovo is a small, landlocked territory in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, where thousands of civilians were subjected to conflict of Serbian military forces, resulting in a long-standing war. The majority of the population in Kosovo today is under t...

 Know your limits, but never stop trying to exceed them My experience at the YMCA in Kosovo Drenusha representing YMCA at CiviKos I have clearly in my mind the first day I came at the YMCA. I was called from my friend just for one day to accompany her, but I did not imagine that I will be a part of it, finding my space to share my opinions, feelings and expand my knowledge. At the beginning I did not know too much for the YMCA. I thought that it was just a youth center that do activities, games and stuff like that. After a month I can say that my point of view changed for better. The way I thought, the way I spoke and the way I communicate with other people. I have learned even more which are the problems that youth face with them. For one year I finished two levels of leadership and took part on world challenge “Move”(cup song), where I met new friends, new leaders and of course two important people Dorina and Adi. They always encourage and inspire us to not giving up...

After 11 hours of traveling we finally arrived in Thessaloniki. We were very excited. First we went to YMCA building or XANO how the Greeks call it. It was awesome it had basketball courts, volleyball courts, and a girl showed us around. I loved the YMCA shop, it was amazing. After that we got on the bus and had 2 hours on the road where we arrived at Halkidiki camp. Outside YMCA Greece After we sent our suitcases to the accommodation we went to eat dinner. We were then shown the camp rules. There was a bell and everyday it rang at 7:45 so the marikes ( χαχα ):some of us who had to lay the table and serve, had to go. After that there was another bell ringing at 8:00 so that everyone could go to the dinning hall and eat. After the marikes served the meal it was time for the prayers and after that we started eating and we couldn't leave the table until everyone was finished! The first day we were split in four groups that had two or three leaders and they took us on a tou...

"Paradise on Earth" Well, it was quite a new and attractive place for us or should i say for us youth... travelling to Greece was living a reality between antique and modern life, surfing through Thessaloniki at first, it was a great city with all the ingredients of Greek history. All over amazing sights, all across downtown we saw special things and buildings, and then... the YMCA building. When we first saw that place, we thought is all this building for the YMCA? or only half of it?.. but no, it was huge! Everything was organized as it should be, a place where youth can express themselves, can reflect freedom and spend time with friends. A pool, a mini-market, a basketball hall, a mini church, lots of activity rooms and many many other things like cups, awards and we wished that one day we would have a YMCA like this, what an amazing place! We moved from Thessaloniki for a hour and a half to Halkidiki - paradise on earth.The camp was populated by mostly Gre...