From 3rd-6th of December 2025, Heartefact organized the Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, held in Pristina, Kosovo. The program brought together participants from Serbia – psychologists, psychotherapists, artists, political science students, and activists – for a four-day visit focused on regional cooperation in the context of women’s rights, minority rights, and transitional justice.
Throughout the visit, participants met with leading feminist, human rights, and civil society organizations from Kosovo. The program opened with a working lunch with the Kosovo Center for Gender Studies, offering an opportunity to exchange perspectives on gender equality, research, and advocacy. On the following day, participants attended a conference on hate crime at Hotel Prishtina, engaging in discussions on institutional responses, legal frameworks, and the protection of vulnerable communities across the region. Later that afternoon, the group visited Kometë Feminist Centre, where Anita Vllahiu and Medinë Dauti presented their work on feminist organizing, community support, and educational programming. The day concluded with a meeting with alumni of the Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, aimed at maintaining long-term cross-border networks.
The third day highlighted issues of memory, social justice, and the work of local human rights organizations. Participants visited the Children of War Museum and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights Kosovo, exploring narratives of post-war recovery and youth-led peacebuilding efforts. This was followed by a meeting with CEL Kosova, focusing on rights-based advocacy and strategies for ensuring safety, dignity, and inclusion for minority groups. The group also visited QIPS, gaining insight into their community-focused services and approaches to strengthening civic engagement. In addition to the thematic program, participants took part in a guided cultural and historical tour of Pristina and visited Gračanica, enabling them to better understand the local context and the diverse cultural realities that shape regional cooperation.
Across many of the meetings, discussions focused not only on existing challenges but also on concrete ways to deepen and mainstream cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia. Participants reflected on how expert exchanges – particularly among psychologists and psychotherapists – can serve as an effective model for mutual learning, peer support, and the development of shared professional standards. Such exchanges were highlighted as a meaningful avenue for strengthening dialogue, building trust, and fostering long-term collaboration between practitioners from both societies.
Beyond formal sessions, the program created space for building professional relationships and identifying future joint initiatives. Participants exchanged practices in advocacy, education, and community engagement, contributing to a broader regional effort to promote human rights and social cohesion.
The Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program will continue in 2026, further expanding opportunities for cooperation between organizations, activists, and professionals from both Kosovo and Serbia.
This visiting program was carried out as part of the project “Fostering Cross-border Dialogue and Civic Engagement” which Heartefact implements with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
