Balkans: Forum and Training

This programme involves a two year training programme for negotiators and peace workers in the post-Yugoslavia countries (Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo) and Forums for conflict facilitators, media professionals, governmental and non-governmental organisations dealing with post-war issues and building community. Focusing on local and regional civil society issues in Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo, the programme will address issues of ‘who we were’, ‘who we are’ to where we are going’. It will foster cooperation among participants in projects which support civil society, and economic development.

The Forums will support participants to experience the possibility of working with past and current conflict, transformation and collaboration with others. This includes working with blocks preventing cooperation, including tensions concerning inter-ethnic/national relationships within the different countries of the Balkans, between those countries, and in relationship to Europe.

The programme will help the participants to discover emerging personal patterns of leadership, diversity of viewpoints, and shared visions for the future, directly impacting on their work in their communities. After taking part in trainings and forums, key participants will also contribute to the evaluation and further phases of planning and implementation of this Balkans Programme.