Kosovo youth who believe they have the power to make a difference in their communities and in the world-at-large turned out for a variety of USAID-sponsored events in commemoration of Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day, 2012. Both are annual events celebrated internationally to bring attention to environmental issues and the importance of youth involvement in community affairs.

USAID in cooperation with Kosovo schools and the Kosova Education Center organized the weekend events, which took place at Mother Teresa Square in downtown Pristina and lovely Germia Regional Park on the outskirts of the city. In both locations, young people led passersby and visitors in fun activities with environmental themes. Students and teachers from three Pristina schools – Hilmi Rakovica, the Green School and Iliria – designated five “corners” in each location - A Recycling Corner: students together with a recycling company demonstrated a bottle crusher that was developed by the students, A Painting Corner: participants painted motifs pertaining to Earth Day, A Face Painting Corner: students and teachers painted earth-related symbols on faces of willing visitors, A Recycled Paper Corner: students designed original origami using recycled paper and offered them to visitors, and A Green Information Corner: students briefed visitors on environmental issues and facts.

Young people in Kosovo are demonstrating increasing interest in environmental activism through “Green Clubs” that, with the assistance of the USAID Basic Education Program, are being established at schools around the country. Club members used the weekend events to showcase their important work and offer information to other young people about how to get involved in protecting the planet.