YMCA in Kosovo Blog

Coming straight from Italy, feeling lost for a couple of months in Kosovo and finding my way back to the new home called YMCA, this how my journey sounds so far, but let me get into the details.  Ylli at the Gjakova Y Back in September (2019) I returned in Kosovo after one year of european voluntary service (EVS) that I did in Turin (Italy) in a community center named Il Passo Social Point. It was an unforgettable experience that I will always remember as the best period of my life, but as they say  "the show must go on" and so it did.  During the first three months of my comeback in Kosovo, I started working on a job that I didn't like and that I couldn't share my creativity. I was feeling frustrated and a bit lost. People who know me well, they know how much I love working with young people, so I started applying in every job that was related to human interaction. One late night evening, when I was ready to give up, I recieved an unexpected phone call fr...

I’m Erblina, an 18 year old volunteer in the YMCA. I really wanted to be part of the organization ever since I heard of it. Erblina at her TenSing painting group I learned many things that I didn’t know before, things that aren’t discussed even in classrooms. YMCA is where I feel free to be myself and the people there make you feel like you’re part of a family. What I liked most about the sessions in the Ten Sing program is that besides drawing we have the chance to make friends, play a bit of music and discuss different topics each session. Erblina during her Leadership session drawing her perfect leader When I first became a trainer of the Arts group in the Ten Sing program, I and the participants found the space to express our creativity and try new things. I wasn’t sure I would be great at helping them learn more about art, but afterwards, I started feeling more comfortable and shared with them what I knew about drawing and painting. Being part of the ...

I’m Adea Pantinaj, 15 years old from Peja, Kosovo. I was the only girl in the group when I registered which is why I felt a little lonely. Through time, I realized that, no matter how or what, I have a right to express myself and I don’t have to feel lonely, and also that YMCA doesn’t differentiate between any age, gender, religion, race, etc.  Adea and her friends during their activities When I’m at the YMCA I feel like I’m home. I’ve had some very lovely experiences in the organization, including the chance to try different kinds of art.  I feel good every time I’m at the YMCA Peja center, and I always look forward to the next sessions as I have a lot of fun learning and hanging out with the friends I’ve made there. Everybody at the center is friendly which makes every session even more attractive. Right from the start, I learned a lot of things that nobody even mentioned in school, yet every individual should know. Besides this, I learned a lot of things ab...

I’m Natyra, a young fifteen years old volunteer in the YMCA community. First things first, I must say that I’ve never explored countries other than Kosovo and its neighbors so my story may not be as exciting as the others, but believe me when I say, YMCA is the best thing you can attend in your teen years. Natyra and her YMCA friend I joined the YMCA a year and a half ago as a fun activity with my friends. At the time, the only thing I knew about it was the song: It’s fun to stay at the YMCA. And it turned out to be true! I found out about our organization at school and it seemed like a cool activity I could do. Besides, I had a lot of free time so why not? Our first session was on a Sunday and I was very shy. I remember that the games we played that day were so fun, I didn’t even realise I was learning so much throughout them.  Most of the time when our sessions were done, me and my friends would hang out more at the center because we just couldn’t leave the good vibe...

Hi everyone, I am Elion Brada! A 16 year old youngster from Peja enrolled in the first year of high school, studying for natural sciences in “Bedri Pejani” Gymnasium. Today, I would like to share with you my journey within the YMCA, to be honest, it is not a long one, but truly saying it has been a wonderful experience for me and it still continues to be so. The first time I heard for the YMCA it was through my sister, when she was my age she joined YMCA as a volunteer too, recently, she become a board member. Within the YMCA she not only had the chance to learn new things, gain experience in leadership, but she also made new friends and visited places. Seeing her engagement within this organization, the things she and her peers were doing for the community, I decided to follow her path and join the YMCA.  Elion with his YMCA membership When I first started I have to say that I was a bit unsure if I really wanted to be part of this organization, moreover I was scared ...

Hello, I am Elsa and I am 15 years old these two years has taught me more than I ever expected.  Elsa with her trainers My adventure at the  YMCA has been with a lot of surprises. First, the YMCA for me was a place to spend time, do something out of my routine. And now day after day, session after session, it became something else, it gained a deeper meaning, it became one of the places that I could not wait to go and learn how to deal with yourself and others. Elsa during her activities What I learned during my time at the YMCA is that you can be a really good leader. For me the YMCA is just like a compass, it directs you to the right and good things and the important part of this is the journey that we go through. Elsa and her friends with their Leadership Program Certificates The best thing for me is having the opportunity to become a trainer for the Leadership Program. Finally, I got to do something I really enjoy and that helps me with m...

I’m Vullnet, being part of the YMCA have been one of the best parts of my life. Not only did I make new friends meet new people, but I changed a lot in a good way. For me, as a young man was a great opportunity to show my self, to speak up, to talk about my dreams, to say what is it in my mind without having the fear of judgement, which helped me to travel from my introvert self to an extroverted me now. Thanks to the YMCA.    Vullnet volunteering at Question Time event I was part of many programs here at the YMCA. Starting with the Leadership, Ten Sing (Art Group), Scouts, YWoMen etc. All of them were special to me. After finishing one, I was always felt the content had challenged me and changed how i think and feel about certain things, like a new person inside. Besides learning new things, I had the chance to liver those new things, the topics we have worked on have taught us how to stay strong in life, how to deal with ourselves as adults. But the most wonderf...

I'm Jehon Alikckaj from Decan and I'm in 'Vellezrit Frasheri' high school. I joined YMCA last year, where I am part of the Leadership and TenSing program. Jehon with his certificate of Reality Module of Leadership This organization has helped me a lot since it has made me more compassionate and has offered me the space to express myself  without prejudice by anyone, it has offered me space for my words to be heard considering that Kosovar society is very much perceived by the opinions of others. Also, the YMCA has also connected me with new friends from the municipalities of Gjakova, Peja and Junik where this organization has its other centers, this also helped me with critical thinking and sharing realities with youth from other cities. Jehon with his friends after their World Challenge The YMCA my second home and so it will always remain.  I encouraged all young people from Kosovo to join the YMCA and similar organisations as this helps you discover the...

My name is Erza Hakaj, I am 16 years old from Decan. I joined the YMCA last year and I learned many different topics that belong to the Leadership program, through them we have developed our YMCA and it has become an open door that has offered me and many young people the space to do activities, games where each of them has a powerful message to us that we will remember during different stages of life. Erza Hakaj  I've been part of TenSing program also where I've challenged myself in different fields of art. The reason why I chose the YMCA is that we are all equal when we have a week of overloading a place like the YMCA enables us to entertain and express what we think without fear of judging us, we have the right to do whatever we want including what we need. Erza and her friends in the Leadership Program  Through my training I got the skills and confidence to become a Peer Trainer, the YMCA has given me this chance and now I have my own team to lead, I be...