7 municipalities, A Thousand Successes – Amazing Results of Solidarity Action Day 2024!

Solidarity Action Day, one of our most beloved activities, was successfully implemented again in 2024 with great dedication and success. This project promotes the engagement of young people, who for a day work at a local business and donate their wages to a specific cause.

The concept of Solidarity Action Day is a novelty for Kosovo, as it was first implemented in June 2023 in the Municipality of Prishtina and several surrounding municipalities. Following the excellent results of 2023, we decided to expand Solidarity Action Day to other municipalities in Kosovo in 2024. On International Volunteer Day December 5, 2023, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the municipalities of Kamenica and Skenderaj implemented the pilot project of Solidarity Action Day last year, paving the way for many other municipalities this year.

In March of this year, solidarity efforts were also made by the municipalities of Ferizaj, Gjakova, Hani i Elezit, Istog, Peja, Podujeva, and Skenderaj, where they provided crucial support for us to continue working and ultimately committed: 190 volunteers, in 60 businesses, and raised 3343 euros.

High Schools:  “Aleksandër Xhuvani” in Podujeva, “Bedri Pejani” in Peja, “Elena Gjika” in Ferizaj, “Dardania” in Hani i Elezit, “Haxhi Zeka” in Istog, “Hamëz Jashari” in Skenderaj, “Kadri Kusari” in Gjakova.

With the help of 16 teachers and 7 mentors, these schools began their journey with preparatory tasks. To ensure thorough preparation and understanding of the Solidarity Action Day concept, two workshops were conducted in each participating municipality, totaling 14 workshops. Through recreational activities, students learned more about each other and the key aspects of Solidarity Action Day.

After gathering all the information, the work began and the students were accommodated in the designated businesses. All municipalities implemented Solidarity Action Day with great enthusiasm and dedication, achieving these remarkable results.

• In the Municipality of Ferizaj, 30 volunteers were engaged in 6 partner businesses and raised 600 euros;
• In the Municipality of Gjakova, 25 volunteers were engaged in 5 partner businesses and raised 310 euros;
• In the Municipality of Podujeva, 29 volunteers were engaged in 4 partner businesses and raised 355 euros;
• In the Municipality of Peja, 30 volunteers were engaged in 15 partner businesses and raised 914 euros;
• In the Municipality of Hani i Elezit, 31 volunteers were engaged in 15 partner businesses and raised 539 euros;
• In the Municipality of Istog, 22 volunteers were engaged in 6 partner businesses and raised 379 euros;
• In the Municipality of Skenderaj, 29 volunteers were engaged in 9 partner businesses and raised 337 euros.

The extraordinary energy of volunteers, teachers, and mentors yielded impressive results, while businesses, with their utmost hospitality and care, created an environment where volunteers gained new skills.

Student Rina Jaka from Ferizaj emphasized:

“The skills I gained today from this day are work skills, client interaction, and also inventory management, which is a field I am currently studying.”

The acquired skills were not the only advantage the students gained. Thanks to their work, 37 partner businesses opened their doors to volunteers who worked on Solidarity Action Day and offered them job positions, with 30 of them already starting work.

After this unforgettable experience, we appreciated that our volunteers deserve recognition for their energy and enthusiasm, so we organized 7 excursions for the volunteers participating in Solidarity Action Day in 7 municipalities. The purpose of these excursions, besides entertainment, was also reflection. Through reflective activities, we analyzed the entire experience of participants from start to implementation.

Solidarity Action Day has once again proven to be an extraordinary event, demonstrating the power of community and the dedication of our youth.

The success of this event is evidence of the tireless work and enthusiasm of all involved actors. As we plan for the future, the foundations laid this year promise positive changes and developments, ensuring a sustainable legacy of solidarity and support.

We are grateful to the 7 municipalities and all the collaborators involved, whose work has united us in these extraordinary successes, despite their diversity.

Solidarity Action Day is part of the environmental activities of the Swedish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (SIDA), through its “Human Rightivism” Program that is implemented by CDF and TOKA; is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans” regional project implemented by 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). This project is developed in cooperation with the SAME network of organizations.