YSP Balkan - Youth and Students for Peace

YSP Balkan - Youth and Students for Peace IAYSP holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council.
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We are pleased to invite you to apply for the International Youth Summit for Peace 2026, taking place from 1–4 October 2...
28/08/2026

We are pleased to invite you to apply for the International Youth Summit for Peace 2026, taking place from 1–4 October 2026 in Mitrovica, Kosova.

Under the theme “Youth as Peace Practitioners: From Dialogue to Action,” the Summit will bring together 120 young leaders and practitioners from 40+ countries to explore how young people can contribute to peacebuilding, democratic participation, regional cooperation and stronger, more inclusive communities. The Summit will combine high-level discussions, intercultural dialogue, practical workshops, networking and youth-led solution-building, with a focus on issues such as democratic governance, YPS and WPS agenda, anti-corruption disinformation, migration and brain drain, mental health, education, human rights and social cohesion.

Taking place in Mitrovica, a city shaped by division but also by the potential for reconciliation, the Summit aims to move beyond dialogue — creating space for participants to connect, exchange experiences, develop practical solutions and build partnerships that continue beyond the Summit.

We would be very pleased to welcome you to Mitrovica and encourage you to apply and be part of this international community of young peacebuilders.

Link: https://www.ysp-balkan.org/international-youth-summit-for-peace/2026-edition

24/08/2026

A moment from the Youth Peace Assembly at Peace Cup 2026, where Mr. Labinot Çoçaj was part of a panel of young people and share the vision behind the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace (BIYSP).

Speaking about volunteering, youth leadership, peacebuilding, and the role of young people in shaping more peaceful and inclusive societies.

20/08/2026

We are pleased to share a short excerpt from the side event “Grassroots Peacebuilding via Model UN for Youth Living in Conflict Zones and Divided Societies”, held in UN Vienna on 13 August 2026.

As part of the programme, Mr. Labinot Çoçaj, representing IAYSP–Balkan / YSP Balkan, contributed a video presentation introducing the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace 2026 and highlighting our mission to empower young people to become active peacebuilders across the Balkans and beyond.

The event brought together voices from diplomacy, the United Nations, peacebuilding organizations and young people, exploring how Model United Nations and youth-led initiatives can contribute to grassroots peacebuilding in conflict-affected and divided societies.

Watch the full video here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FbXj5U3G8/

The full story and additional information are also available on the News section of our website: www.ysp-balkan.org.

Why Mitrovica?Because peace is not built where it is easy—it is built where dialogue matters most.For generations, Mitro...
06/08/2026

Why Mitrovica?

Because peace is not built where it is easy—it is built where dialogue matters most.

For generations, Mitrovica has symbolized both the challenges and the opportunities of coexistence. Today, it stands as a place where young people choose dialogue over division, cooperation over prejudice, and action over silence.

From 01–04 October 2026, the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace will bring together 120+ young leaders from over 40 countries to transform ideas into action through high-level discussions, Action Labs, intercultural exchange, World Cafe, Regional Discussions, the S!NERGY Youth Innovation Assembly, the Peace Road and Street Basketball for Peace Initiatives.

Because every bridge tells a story—and together, we can help write its next chapter.

📍 Mitrovica, Kosova
📅 01–04 October 2026

🔗 Apply now: https://www.ysp-balkan.org/international-youth-summit-for-peace/2026-edition

In the framework of preparations for the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace 2026, the Executive Director of YSP...
31/07/2026

In the framework of preparations for the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace 2026, the Executive Director of YSP Balkan, Prof. Ejona Icka, was received in an official meeting by H.E. Reiner Rudolph, the Ambassador of Germany to Kosovo.

Applications are officially OPEN for the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace 2026!From 1–4 October 2026, Mitrovi...
30/06/2026

Applications are officially OPEN for the Balkan International Youth Summit for Peace 2026!

From 1–4 October 2026, Mitrovica, Kosova will once again become a meeting point for the world, bringing together 120 young leaders from more than 40 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East.

Following the remarkable success of BIYSP 2025 which united 120 young people from 33+ countries alongside presidents, mayors, academics, civil society leaders, NGOs, and changemakers. Through dialogue, intercultural exchange, Action Labs, and youth-led initiatives, the Summit strengthened cooperation, mutual understanding, and peacebuilding among young people from diverse backgrounds.

This year, participants will engage in meaningful discussions on:

🔹 Good Governance & Democratic Participation
🔹 Anti-Corruption & Integrity
🔹 Mental Health & Youth Wellbeing
🔹 Disinformation & Hate Speech
🔹 Peacebuilding, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion

Through high-level panels, intercultural dialogue, hands-on workshops, and youth-led innovation labs, participants will collaborate with policymakers, academics, civil society organizations, and community leaders to develop practical responses to some of the most pressing challenges facing our societies today.

In a city that symbolizes both division and hope, BIYSP 2026 creates a unique space where dialogue becomes understanding, understanding becomes cooperation, and cooperation becomes lasting peace.

🌐 Are you ready to become part of a global network of young peacebuilders and changemakers?

📍 Mitrovica, Kosova
📅 1–4 October 2026

Apply now and join us in shaping a more peaceful, resilient, and inclusive future.

Link: https://www.ysp-balkan.org/youth-summit/2026-edition-of-youth-summit-for-peace (Link in Bio).

YSP Balkan was one of the organizing partners of the Balkan Leadership Conference 2026; Organized by the International A...
28/06/2026

YSP Balkan was one of the organizing partners of the Balkan Leadership Conference 2026; Organized by the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) and the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), held at the Parliament of Albania in Tirana under the theme “Media Freedom, Democracy, and Digital Governance in the Western Balkans.”

Bringing together over 80 parliamentarians, policymakers, media professionals, academics, and civil society leaders from across the Balkans and Europe, the conference created an important platform for dialogue on democratic governance, media freedom, digital transformation, and regional cooperation.

Representing YSP Balkan, our Executive Director, Ms. Ejona Icka, took part in the conference discussions and was honored with a Recognition Award for her contribution to advancing peace, youth engagement, and regional cooperation. This recognition reflects not only her personal dedication but also YSP Balkan’s continued commitment to empowering young people and fostering dialogue across the Balkans.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the organizers and partners for bringing together voices committed to shaping a more democratic, peaceful, and connected Balkans.

During this week, the Director of YSP Balkan and UN Coordinator for IAYSP Europe and the Middle East (IAYSP EUME), Prof....
06/06/2026

During this week, the Director of YSP Balkan and UN Coordinator for IAYSP Europe and the Middle East (IAYSP EUME), Prof. Ejona Icka, participated in the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) Week, engaging in a series of high-level side events focused on youth empowerment, crime prevention, and anti-corruption education.

She served as both moderator and panelist in the IAYSP EUME side event on: “Empowering Youth through Education for Crime Prevention and Anti-Corruption.”

She also participated as a panelist in the UPF Europe and the Middle East side event on: “The Relevance of Interreligious Cooperation for Crime Prevention.”

In addition, she delivered a presentation on a peace project focused on anti-corruption education, highlighting practical approaches to strengthening integrity through education and youth engagement.

During these events she was accompanied by the Programs Coordinator of YSP Balkan in North Macedonia, Ms. Amra Azizi, who also contributed as a panelist in the IAYSP EUME side event, further strengthening regional youth representation and collaboration.

A meaningful week of global dialogue at the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) Week, contributing to youth inclusion, education, and peacebuilding efforts, while also representing the voices of the Balkan youth on international platforms.

01/06/2026

🌍 Empowering Youth through Education for Crime Prevention and Anti-Corruption

IAYSP Europe and Middle East (IAYSP EUME), with the support of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), is honored to host a side event at the 35th Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna.

📅 2 June 2026 | 🕦 11:30–12:30 CET | 📍 VIC Room M5

The event will explore how education can empower young people to become active contributors to crime prevention, anti-corruption efforts, and the promotion of integrity and transparency in society.

🎤 Moderator: Dr. Ejona Icka (IAYSP EUME UN Coordinator)

🎙️ Speakers: • Viktorija Nesterovaite (UNODC)
• Prof. Dr. Li Jing Zhu (World Psychiatric Association)
• Amra Azizi (YSP North Macedonia)
• Maha Dabirian (Peace Designer Training Graduate, Austria)
• Hussein Adeleye (ANEEJ, Nigeria)

Join us as we bring together experts, civil society representatives, and youth leaders to discuss innovative approaches to youth engagement and crime prevention.

This May 1st, we celebrate the power, resilience, and dignity of work.At YSP Balkan, we believe that young people are no...
01/05/2026

This May 1st, we celebrate the power, resilience, and dignity of work.

At YSP Balkan, we believe that young people are not just the future of the workforce, they are the drivers of peace, progress, and transformation today. Through our work with youth and students across the region, we continue to empower voices that build bridges, foster dialogue, and shape a more just and peaceful society.

Behind every achievement stands effort. Behind every change stands courage.

Let’s keep working for impact, for unity, and for a better future.

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St. Vasil Andoni Nr 32
Pristina

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