Conference “Building a Culture of Volunteering from Individuals to Institutions” 2025

Last week we hosted the Conference “Building a Culture of Volunteering from Individuals to Institutions” – an event that brought together youth, institutions, schools, businesses, and communities from across Kosovo to celebrate volunteerism and civic engagement in the country!

• Keynote Speakers

The Conference opened with a speech by the Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Aivo Orav. He emphasized the essential role that volunteering plays in strengthening communities, deepening democracy, and empowering Kosovo’s youth. He highlighted the EU’s long-standing support in building sustainable volunteering structures in Kosovo and praised the growing engagement of schools, municipalities, businesses, and civil society, while calling for even stronger institutional commitment to make volunteering a lasting national culture.

Following the EU representative, TOKA’s Executive Director Hatixhe Zeka delivered her speech. She emphasized that building a sustainable culture of volunteerism in Kosovo requires not just policies but active engagement from individuals, institutions, and communities. She highlighted inspiring examples from TOKA’s work and successful international models such as Sweden, calling for collective commitment to make volunteerism a core part of education, identity, and civic life.

• Presentations

During the conference two presentations took place – one by TOKA’s team and the second by the Institute of Psychology.

The first presentation, “Innovative Models for Youth Action”, led by Nuhi Tërshani and Leonita Bajra – Senior Project Managers at TOKA – reflected on Solidarity Action Day and Service Learning in Kosovo. They presented the key achievements of these two programs over their implementation period, program innovations, and next steps for 2026 and beyond. More than 5,000 volunteers have been engaged in these two programs alone, implementing over 315 community projects and securing cooperation agreements with 10 Kosovo municipalities. They also announced the launch of the CEL – Civic Engagement and Learning Platform, a new digital space designed to support youth in learning and civic participation.

The second presentation was led by Laura Cakolli from the Institute of Psychology. She highlighted the main findings of the joint report: Exploring the Mental Health and Well-Being of Children in Rural Areas and Low Socio-Economic Environments in Kosovo and Romania, a research study conducted by the Institute of Psychology, University of Prishtina, TOKA, and Noi Orizonturi (Romania). The study revealed that Kosovar youth show stronger emotional regulation and higher wellbeing, whereas Romanian youth identify concerns earlier but experience more stress and rely more on peer support.

• Discussion Panels

The conference also featured two discussion panels.

The first panel, moderated by Arbrita Uka (Journalist & Researcher, BIRN Kosovo), titled “Innovative Models of Local Collaboration for Youth Empowerment,” included panelists Naim Behlulaj (Director of the Directorate of Education, Istog), Selami Klaiqi (School Director, Gymnasium “Ismail Qemali”, Kamenicë), Fisnik Nimoni (Executive Director, ASET SHPK, Pejë), and Delvina Bejta (TOKA Volunteer). This panel addressed local-level cooperation and highlighted how Solidarity Action Day has brought together municipalities, businesses, and schools as a promising model supporting local development.

The second panel, titled “Service Learning and Mental Health,” was moderated by Gonxhe Konjufca (Journalist & Communications Officer, The Balkan Forum) and included Prof. Dr. Aliriza Arënliu (Director, Institute of Psychology, University of Prishtina), (Teacher and Club Leader, Service-Learning Program), and Leonita Bajra (Senior Project Manager, TOKA). The panel explored links between volunteer engagement, emotional wellbeing, and socio-emotional development in youth. Discussions highlighted how service learning helps build self-confidence, purpose, and healthy relationships while also contributing to communities.

• Volunteerism of the Year Awards Ceremony

The conference concluded with the long-awaited Volunteerism of the Year Awards Ceremony! Awards were distributed across three categories: Youth, Enablers of Volunteering, Education & NGO. Below are the winners:

Youth

1. Sara Çeshko – Breakthrough Volunteer of the Year
   
2. Diar Bekteshi – Rising Volunteer of the Year
   
3. Edesa Ibrahimi – Volunteer of the Year
   

Enablers of Volunteering

1. Municipality of Istog – Most Supportive Municipality of the Year
   
2. AnchorzUp – Most Supportive Business of the Year
   
3. Egzona Morina – Most Supportive Diaspora Representative of the Year
   
4. Pranvera Hyseni – Most Supportive Public Figure of the Year
   
5. Leman Kamberi Muriqi – Volunteer with Lifelong Contribution of the Year
   

Education & NGO

1. Solidarity Club – Gymansium “Bedri Pejani”, Pejë – Service Learning Award at National Level – 1st Place
   
2. Super-Volunteer Club “Yjet” – Service Learning Award at National Level – 2nd Place
   

The Conference “Building a Culture of Volunteering from Individuals to Institutions” demonstrates that Kosovo is taking meaningful steps toward creating a sustainable civic engagement ecosystem. From inspiring speeches and research presentations to practical discussions and the awards ceremony, the event showcased that volunteerism is becoming a pillar of education, identity, and community development. With the support of institutions, partners, donors, and young people, the journey toward a Kosovo where volunteerism is a lived culture – not merely an aspiration – has already gained new momentum.

• Donors

A special thank you goes to our donors!

The Volunteerism Awards of the Year are supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo; the Kosovo Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) ‘EJA Kosovo’ programme, 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), Innovative Solutions and the Erasmus+ Programme project SLIPSTREAM (2023-1-SK02-KA220-YOU-000159836).

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the issuing authority can be held responsible for them.

• Supporters

This year’s Volunteerism Award Campaign would not have been possible without our supporters! We thank the embassies, municipalities, public institutions, businesses, and organizations, including:

7arte, American Advising Center, American Chamber of Commerce, Atlas Institute, BONEVET Foundation, British Embassy Kosovo, CB Mitrovica, CDF, Dokufest, Ec Ma Ndryshe, Eco Z, Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina, ETEA, Europe House Kosovo, European Youth Card, Germin NGO, Gjethi (KÇ), Instituti Atomi, ISDY, Kosovar Social Enterprises Foundation, Kosovar Youth Council – KYC, Kosovarisch-Deutsche Wirtschaftsvereinigung, Kosovo Center for Security Studies, Kosovo Makers League, Kutia, Këshilli i Veprimit Rinor Lokal-Mitrovicë, LAPS, Let’s Do it – Ta Pastrojmë Kosovën, Mother Teresa Society, Municipality of Hani i Elezit, OHT – Oda e Hotelierisë dhe Turizmit të Kosovës, ORCA, OriginAL, Play International, Qendra Fit, Qendra për Hulumtime Psiko-Sociale dhe Mjekësore, QIPS, Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Rilindja Gjelbër, SOS Children’s Villages Kosovo, Teach for Kosova, The Balkan Forum, The Ideas Partnership, University of Prishtina, Ura e Bashkuar, Women’s Business Association She-ERA, YAHR, YIHR.