YMCA Kosovo

Who we are?

YMCA in Kosovo is a value based organization formed of volunteers that seek to share the ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation. Inspired by the worldwide mission of YMCA as a viable answer to the needs of Kosovo, we established a National Office in Kosovo in August 2003. Afterwards programs in Prishtina and Peja started, and activities in Mitrovica, Ferizaj and Gjakova.

How we work and what can you find here?

Through common work within various programs which focus primarily on the needs of young people, we strive to overcome prejudices and poverty, to improve the quality of social life, and to build a common European awareness. Our activities are funded until now entirely through voluntary work of our experienced local multiethnic staff.
Our values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Caring inspire us to serve and change the world in a better. YMCA Kosovo, as an association, has 4 operating branches: Prishtina, Peja, Gjakova, and Mitrovica; and 4 NGOs under the umbrella of YMCA Kosovo: Kosovo Special Olympics, Y International, YMCA Basketball Academy, Euro 26 and ISIC.

Most of programs and activities are focused on promoting healthy lifestyle for youth. YMCA Kosovo uses various instruments for achieving its goals.

Mission and Vision

YMCA in Kosova is a youth organization formed of volunteers that seek to share the ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.

"We are Catholics, Muslims, Orthodox, Protestants with different ethnical and social backgrounds who are gathered to help people our community to grow in spirit, mind, body and social responsibility.
Our values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Belief in God and People inspire us to serve and make the world a better place." Message from YMCA Kosova leaders

Mission

YMCA Kosova promotes positive values and builds spirit, mind and body through social, health and sports programs for children and youth.

Vision

YMCA Kosova builds strong kids, families, and communities that celebrate diversity, and offer opportunity to all.

What we do?

• Social Dance Theater Program
• Value Based Leadership/Servant Leadership
• Anti HIV/AIDS Program
• Social Empowerment of Roma Youth
• Democracy, Interethnic Dialogue and Peace Building
• Special Olympics Kosovo
• Exchange Programs and Camps
• Preschool and Childcare
• Modern Dance
• Sports: Football, Karate, and Basketball

For more details:

www.ymcaks.com

About Kosovo

Kosovo is a small and landlocked territory in the center of the  Balkan Peninsula presently under the administration of United Nations.  The majority of the population is Albanian (88%), while the most numerous among the other ethnic groups are the Serbs, Bosnians, Turks and RAE (Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian).
The most prominent religions are Muslim, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox.   According to a World Bank Living Standard Measurement Survey taken in the autumn of 2000, at least 12 percent of the population is extremely poor and another 40 percent is poor.  Thus, more than half of the people in Kosovo are still struggling to survive

General Information:

• Area: 10.887 km²
• Population: 2.000 000
• Capital: Prishtina
• Religions: Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox
• Political structure: Parliamentary democracy
• Currency: Euro
• Time: GMT, GMT + 1 (from March to September)
• Ethnic groups: Kosovo Albanians 88%, Kosovo Serbs 7%, Other ethnic groups 5%
• Age distribution: 0-14 years: 33%, 15-64 years: 61%, 65 and older: 8%
• UNDER 26 years 60%