Bridging Differences, Building Peace: International Peacebuilding Camp 2025

From July 22 to 29, the city of Prizren came alive with energy, diversity, and dialogue as we hosted the 8-day International Peacebuilding Camp at the Loyola Campus. Bringing together 41 young participants aged 15 – 18 from diverse backgrounds: Palestinian and Jewish youth from Israel, Albanian and Serbian youth from Kosovo, and students from Iowa, USA – the camp was a powerful space for connection, learning, and peacebuilding.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in carefully designed activities that allowed them to get to know one another, understand their differences, and build common ground. A highlight of the camp was the Cultural Night, where each group proudly shared traditions, music, and snacks from their countries – fostering appreciation and curiosity across cultures.

The core of the camp focused on peacebuilding through structured dialogue and reflection. Sessions such as “Empathy Storytelling” and “Moral Courage” encouraged participants to explore historical and current issues, listen to one another’s narratives, and reflect on how young people can contribute to peace in their communities. Creativity was also a big part of the journey. Through junk journaling and writing exercises, participants had the chance to express their thoughts and emotions in unique, personal ways. And during the hot summer days, Water Olympics provided a refreshing mix of fun, games, and teamwork.

The camp wasn’t limited to the Loyola Campus. We explored the beauty of Prizren and experienced thrilling outdoor adventures at Via Ferrata and the Marimanga Zip Line in the stunning Rugova Mountains.

At the end of the eight days, participants returned to their homes with new skills, broader perspectives, and friendships that crossed borders and cultures. 

This incredible experience would not have been possible without the collaboration of our international partners, Debate for Peace from Israel and partnerships with Fort Dodge and Johnston schools.Together, we proved that when young people from different walks of life come together with open hearts and minds, peace is not just a dream – it’s a shared future.

This activity is financed by the European Union Office in Kosovo, the Kosovo Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) programme ‘EJA Kosovo’, co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Sweden, “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Values ​​in the Western Balkans” implemented by the Centre for the Promotion of Civil Society (CPCD), the Centre for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) through a regional and institutional grant, financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) as well as by our local businesses: Ozon Space, Gjirafa Travel, Balkan Natural Adventure, Liri Prizren, Frutti, Rilokimi and Pro Real Estate.