A five-day youth camp on restoration and documentation of cultural heritage in the Pejë/Peć Old Bazaar, organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo for 10 students of architecture, anthropology and related fields, concluded on 27 October 2023.
The camp aimed to expand students' knowledge and awareness on the values of cultural heritage, along with its cultural, social and economic benefits. It also served to increase their understanding of Cultural Heritage Management Plans, drafted jointly by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Pejë/Peć municipality, as a tool to enhance protection, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage sites.
During the course of the program, students focused on documentation of cultural heritage sites within the Old Bazaar, a protected urban ensemble that experienced large-scale destruction during the 1999 conflict that was later reconstructed to reflect its unique cultural heritage values. They also learned from cultural heritage experts about normative and institutional framework, including best international standards in the field of protection, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, with emphasis on sustainable use of cultural heritage values to foster socio-economic development.
Arlinda Shatri, anthropology student at the University of Prishtina, said that the camp made her realize that there is a much larger aspect to the Old Bazaar. "There is a larger tradition than I thought, the Old Bazaar itself creates a stimulation of the collective society and it is not only for shopping but also a meeting place for people. Additionally, I am now able to understand emergency cases, when cultural assets are at risk and what can be done in that regard," she said.
The camp included meetings with shop owners, through which students collected data that will support the working group in finalizing the Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the Old Bazaar. It concluded with a visit to some of the most significant cultural heritage sites, including the Grand Bazaar in Gjakovë/Djakovica, the Historic Center of Prizren and the Archeological Park of Ulpiana.
The OSCE Mission is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, democratization and development of the public safety sector. It continuously supports efforts to protect and promote the rich and varied cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo. The youth camp in Pejë/Peć is a follow-up to similar programs organized over the past five years by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
