Regional HUB meeting with focus group

Community Building Mitrovica and CiviKos Platform today organized the second meeting with focus group composed by civil society and local institutions representatives. In this meeting was discussed about the needs and current situation of civil society organizations in Mitrovica. Mrs.Mimoza Murati, representative of CiviKos delivered opening speech by presenting the Platform, and spoke about the purpose of regional offices. This activity started with three questions raised by the organizers’ side: What do NGO representatives think for the current situation of civil society in Mitrovica Region? What’s the level of civil society development? How much is civil society included in the decision-making process?

Speaking about the situation of civil society in Mitrovica Region, Lulzim Hoti - NGO 7 Arte representative addressed the issue of economic instability for civil society as one of the biggest concerns. As the discussion continued, different issues as: decrease of interest  for participation in different activities and reduction of the NGOs activity, lack of funds, lack of facilities, the need for capacity building, allocation of extra funds for NGOs in Mitrovica North that lead to disproportional development of civil socity between North and South were addressed by the participants’ side. On the other hand local institutions representatives expressed their readiness to cooperate, while they also emphasized lack of funds as the main reason for failing to support the civil society sector more.

Mr. Hajriz Koci, Director of Culture Youth and Sports in Skenderaj Municipality emphasized that in Skenderaj different youth organizations are supported but also complained about the civil society inactivity in this city. Mr. Fahri Jashari, Official for NGO sector in department of Culture Youth and Sports emphasized that they have worked on regard of facilities and after mayor will approve the decision that commission has made, NGOs in need of facilities will find easy to benefit from those free spaces.

Outcomes emerged from this meeting will be further on addressed during the creation of civil society regional strategy.