The 9th OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo with the support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, concluded yesterday in Struga, North Macedonia.
The 10-day programme brought together 23 participants from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade, and offered them an immersive experience geared towards cultivating interpersonal bonds, strengthening networking, while building dialogue and mutual trust.
Through compelling and insightful exchanges with trainers and distinguished guest speakers and trainers - who shared their personal and professional experiences - the participants were equipped with new knowledge and skills on key domains, such as gender equality, women in politics, women and youth peace and security agendas, mediation, confidence building, etc. Notably, the programme - built to offer a 360º view on topic of common interest - encompassed perspectives not just from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade societies, but also from the wider Western Balkans region, Europe and beyond.
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Bujar Osmani, joined the participants in Struga and urged them to become agents of change, harnessing the power of existing networks and forging connections with other open-minded young women. While discussing, Mr. Osmani equally highlighted the importance of not only challenging the prevailing current negative narrative, but also to develop a new positive, empowering and inclusive public discourse.
Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport, in his remarks in Struga stressed the importance of the Dialogue Academy in bringing together young women ready to build bridges and forge a strong network of Academy alumnae.
"I've grown a lot throughout this incredible journey. The Dialogue Academy has transformed me, and I already eagerly anticipate nurturing the friendships I've formed along the way," said Dafina Aliu, a participant from Prishtinë/Priština.
For Tijana Kukanjac from Belgrade, this was "an utmost mind-opening and life-changing experience, which I left as a better person along with a few priceless friendships".
As a follow-up, the participants are set to reunite in November for an alumnae exchange visit, further shaping and advancing their ideas within the growing Dialogue Academy Alumnae Network, which now recalls 209 members.
The Dialogue Academy is organized annually since 2015, under the auspices of the 'Follow Us' Initiative, as part of their work to enhance women's participation in dialogue, conflict resolution and decision-making processes.
