PROJECT NAME:

Kosovo Innovation Social Transformation Plus

SECTOR:

Civil Society

PROJECT VALUE:

104,850 (EU Contribution 99,930 EUR, 95.30% )

DURATION:

12 months 01/06/2023 – 31/05/2024

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:

International Documentary and Short Film Festival (DokuFest) & Kosova Education Center (KEC)

DIRECT BENEFICIARY:

Primary schools, teachers, students and local community organizations

COVERAGE/IMPACT:

Prizren, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Vushtrri, Lipjan, Obiliq, Suhareke, Vitia, Podujeve, Dragash and Kamenice

PROJECT PURPOSES:

The project aims to foster creation of independent forums for discussion and exchange of ideas for teens in addressing fake news and disinformation through: • Creation of a collaborative and co-working environment for civic education of teens from different ethnic background • Elaborating and developing project activities based on the basic principles and strategies for inclusiveness and participation in communities • Advancing the promotion of digital literacy for teens and local communities and skill building for resilience • Building digital skills of pedagogical workers and community leaders to help youth develop resilience to identify and resist extremist narratives, hate-speech and to acquire socio emotional skills to engage constructively in society without having to resort to violence

ACTIVITIES:

• Selection of Community representatives and member renewal at School Clubs - Induction meeting with local community formal and non-formal organization from partner municipalities • Joint kick-off meeting with all stakeholders • Organize Summer School • Select films for community screenings with participation of schools and community representatives • Develop Film Guides on Radicalization Prevention, Digital Media Literacy and Interethnic relations • Screenings of films in the project locations • Produce Human Interest Stories by community representatives assisted by School Clubs • Organize training for School Clubs and Teachers • Organize training for Community representatives • Organize digital social transformation challenge – mini grants for community organizations who work with schools on topics of interethnic relations and supressing hate speech • Organize final event and award ceremony

RESULTS:

• Creation of sustainable collaborative platform for community-based organizations that work together with schools (pupil and teachers) in preventing, avoiding and addressing eventual ethnic slurs and hate messages in media landscape and creating digital content as counter narratives based on mutual respect and tolerance. Shared through public events, followed by open discussions facilitated by thematic experts • At least 5 community representatives and 10 high school students capacitated to create at least 10 human-interest visual stories focused on positive alternatives and inspirational counter-narratives to hate speech. To be disseminated through social media channels and screened at schools • Trained teachers respond more adequately to student needs, and adjust their teaching in keeping with 21st century educational exigencies • Open source digital platform available to communities, schools and general public for successful transformation of digital education, improved quality of teaching and learning, and improved general social development