Peace Camp 2006 - Montenegro

World Vision Kosovo coordinated a youth Peace Camp together with the World Vision offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania.  The Peace Camp was held from June 24th to 30th in Bijela, Montenegro. This camp, sponsored by The Eagle Down Foundation, was the second such camp organized by World Vision, the first one taking place in the summer of 2004, also funded by Eagle Down.

Some 40 young people aged 13 to 18 from Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, attended this “peer to peer training” Peace Camp aimed to promote reconciliation and conflict resolution among youth living in post conflict societies.

Peace Camp participants in Bijela, Montenegro.

The entire program co-ordinated by World Vision Kosovo was designed to be run by the youth themselves with close guidance from adult facilitators This interactive method proved to be very effective. The young participants felt this method allowed a sense of achievement and ownership of the teachings among those who were able to share their personal experiences and apply them to the teachings of the camp.

“This is the first time that I participated in such a camp and I will never forget this experience; the friendships, the teaching. Everything for me was completely new and I’ll share this experience with my friends in Albania. My wish is to be able to visit the Kids for Peace clubs in Kosovo”, said Qerime, a young girl from Albania.

Focus and priority was given to drawing out and building on existing knowledge and experiences of the youth themselves. Subjects such as conflict resolution, effective communication and problem solving were hot topics during the camp sessions, and through activities and organized excursions camp staff observed the beginning of some new, close friendships between youth of different ethnic groups and nationalities, even to the point of learning each other’s languages.

“For children to meet other children who speak different languages and practice different religions, while at the same time sharing the same dreams, enjoying the same music, laughing and crying about the same things, made a big impression on the participants,” said Stefanie Jud, Program Officer, World Vision Switzerland who visited the camp.

Since the ethnic cleansing of the 90’s drove a deep-rooted, bitter wedge between ethnic communities in the Balkans, youth today live in segregated towns, neighbourhoods and schools, and their environment is one of mistrust and often hatred towards those of different ethnic groups.

Fatmire Feka, Eagle Down Director, leading one of the many workshops

Throughout the week of the camp, peacebuilding topics were explored and youth were able to start a process of building positive attitudes towards others. Most of the youth participants were from villages and traditionally closed communities where prejudicing and stereotyping are common place. These were soon forgotten as youth built friendships and learned values of reconciliation and conflict resolution during the camp. The young participants became more self-confident and grew in their understanding of each other, and also showed enthusiasm and willingness to cooperate in promoting peace in their home countries and communities after the camp as various peace promoting ideas were discussed.

An awards ceremony closed the week long camp. Rudy Scholaert, President of Eagle Down, awarded each participant with a medal and certificate of achievement, which boosted their determination to go home and work for peace.

The peace camp gave these young people an opportunity to develop an understanding of conflict resolution and to identify the lies of stereotyping and ethnic prejudice. Despite the language barriers they built valuable and lasting friendships. A spirit of enthusiasm and achievement prevailed at the camp as these young people were given the chance to share experiences and learn from each other despite having come from different sides of recent conflicts in the region. It was thus a memorable experience for all the young people involved as it gave them a new appreciation for each other and an understanding of the negative forms of behavior and patterns of thinking that can, and has, led to conflict.

Hugs and best wishes were exchanged during an emotional farewell on the morning of departure. Two new friends say a tearful goodbye.

Rick Spruyt, World Vision Civil Society Development Manager based in Kosovo

This project was funded by The Eagle Down Foundation in partnership with World Vision Switzerland (www.worldvision.ch).