On August 31, we were in Ferizaj for the next public discussion with citizens, as part of the project “Combating Extremism in Kosovo: Trends, Challenges, and Counteractions,” supported by the MATRA program of the Netherlands Embassy in Kosovo. This discussion was organized in collaboration with the youth organization Rin’on from Ferizaj. The event began with a discussion on what political extremism is, the threat it poses to society, particularly to young people, and the generational differences in understanding these social phenomena.
Among other topics, this discussion addressed issues in schools, youth bullying, misuse of social media, and the ideological manipulation of young people through these platforms and online games, where hate speech is spread and young people are encouraged towards violence against others and themselves.
To address these issues, the discussion also covered ways to engage young people against extremism, such as: openness to different cultures and ways of life, and the importance of raising their voices and their involvement in social and political activism.
The discussion was lively due to the active participation of young people and their contributions to creating an open and democratic society.