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Press release - Young leaders ready to develop conflict transformation network

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An international conference of young leaders from eight cities in transition from conflict successfully concluded with pledges of mutual assistance in a series of projects to improve the livelihoods of citizens in all their communities. From 23rd-27th September, Mitrovica hosted the inaugural Youth Forum for Cities in Transition, an offspring of the Forum for Cities in Transition (FCT). Over 50 delegates -- from Belfast, Derry-Londonderry, Jerusalem, Kaduna, Kirkuk, Ramallah, Tripoli and host city Mitrovica -- shared and explored how their local experiences resonate with each other.

Through this engagement process, delegates gained invaluable and practical knowledge, which they will use to build sustainable cooperative relationships within and across their communities and cities.

Delegates identified current challenges to develop conflict transformation, and collectively formed creative and practical solutions.

For example, all delegates have pledged to use social to continue the dialogue begun in Mitrovica, to keep learning from and supporting each other. All will take part in short film to inform their city's youth about this event in Mitrovica.

Other pledges include:

• Jerusalem-Northern Ireland youth worker exchange
• Mitrovica-Jersualem-Ramallah youth exchange
• Christian-Muslim youth dialogue workshop and peace club (Kaduna)
• Conflict city clean-up in all FCT Youth Cities on UN Peace Day 2014
• Young children mutual play activities (Mitrovica)
• People with special needs social enterprise project selling handmade arts/crafts (Ramallah)
• Mitrovica Rock School study visit to Tripoli 

Concluding the conference, organiser Milos Golubovic said:

“I am very pleased on the result of this inaugural FCT youth gathering, especially the willingness of all the delegates to come to our city and listen to everyone else’s experiences.

“I am confident that every city delegation will apply what they find relevant for their own circumstances, in a practical way. That is the whole point of the Forum for Cities in Transition.”

Milos’ colleague, Ardiana Osmani, added:

“Milos and I have benefitted from our participation in other Forum events. We knew that there were great opportunities for other young people to benefit from this process of mutual learning and respect.

“I am excited about developing this conflict transformation network, through the cooperation of all the participating cities.”

The “Inaugural Youth Conference Forum for Cities in Transition” was convened by FCT Mitrovica youth workers, Milos Golubovic and Ardiana Osmani, and facilitated by Community Building Mitrovica in cooperation with D&G Solutions. The conference took place at the Cultural Centre, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë.

The conference received sponsorship and support from the governments of United States, Norway and the Netherlands, as well as from SPARK and the United Nations Development Programme, Mitrovica Municipality, International Business College Mitrovica, Forum for Cities in Transition, IKV Pax Christi and Mitrovica Forum “Mitrovicians for Mitrovica..

Further information on the Forum for Cities in Transition can be found at http://citiesintransition.net 

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