Exciting News for all IANS collaborators! We started a regional program on crime prevention and youth resilience. Institute for Activism and Social Change is partnering with Shelter for DV and GBV Victims “E. Haxhiymeri” (Albania), Peer Educators Network (PEN) (Kosovo) and Udruzenje „Zemlja djece u Bosni i Hercegovini“/ Association Land of Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for a great 14-month timeframe project supported by the “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans” regional project implemented by the Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA). The program goal: “To strengthen prevention efforts in Western Balkans, and increase youth resilience and exchange of good practices through Regional Exchange Platforms/hubs”. This Goal contributes towards strengthening the roles and capacities of CSOs and CSOs networks/ platforms to engage in the advancement of culture of tolerance and resilience to violence, while contributing towards inclusive societies for sustainable development (smart Balkans’ goal, also echoing with the priorities outlined in the Guidelines for Applicants).

Although youth face many challenges that make them particularly vulnerable to crime, violence and victimization, it is important to remember that, by virtue of their age, energies and learning abilities, young people are key agents of change in creating a better future and have great potential to advocate on behalf of themselves and their communities. This key element was the key for our Project: by (i) empowering youth with competencies, values, confidence and social connectedness to make them more resilient to violence, crime and radicalism; (ii) increasing youth socio-economic opportunities and perspective, through skills development and expertise; and promoting youth civic education in their community and local institutions; and by (iii) establishing a regional exchange hub for sharing good practices and lessons learnt on violence prevention.