Mitrovica Youth Program

About SPARK, The University, Students Parliament, Fractal, Jelena Anzujska

SPARK (formerly known as ATA) develops higher education and entrepreneurship so that young ambitious people are empowered to lead their post-conflict society into prosperity. SPARK builds the capacity of local economic and educational institutions so they can empower their own populations. The organization actively mobilizes support for this within Dutch Society, especially with economic and education institutions. Post-conflict regions are characterized by high unemployment. One of the main causes is the discrepancy between education offered and skills needed in the labor market. SPARK supports educational institutions in adapting their curricula to the market needs and establishing good governance within the institutions themselves. In addition, SPARK facilitates start-up businesses through trainings, consultancy and micro-credit and it enhances cooperation between partners from the business, government and education sectors. In total, over 50 SPARK people are employed, who actively work towards the attainment of our mission. The SPARK headquarters are located in Amsterdam, and field offices are located in Belgrade, Skopje, Tuzla, Podgorica, Mitrovica and Pristina. For more information about our programmes, please refer to www.spark-online.org.

The University has the status of a state university, founded in 1970. The University comprises ten faculties in its whole complex. These are: Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Medical Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Teachers Training Faculty, Faculty of Physical Education, Faculty of Technical Sciences, and Faculty of Arts. All study programmes that are organised and performed by the faculties, are modified according to the law of higher education and according to the European system of higher education.

The University, temporary settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, is the most important institution for higher education, including scientific and art research, in this region. The University also plays a significant role when it comes to social and economic development. Since its foundation in 1970, the University and all its faculties have asserted considerable influence by means of higher education, scientific and art related research, and last but not least by being actively involved in local and regional development. Bearing these facts in mind, it is our primary mission to provide young and engaged people with general, expert, scientific and/or artistic knowledge and skills. This is at all times undertaken with respect to the rise of social demands, as well as the regional and national developments. Eager to accomplish this mission we have set ourselves, the University has defined a policy of constant improvement of the quality of teaching and the scientific and artistic education of youths, so that the material work conditions are given and our University and its faculties can continuously develop.

The Students Parliament is a body of the University that protects the students’ rights and defends their interests at the University. The Students Parliament:
- Chooses its representative in the University bodies
- Improves and implements new kinds of work and student activities
- Takes care about quality assurance, curriculum reform, analyzing efficiency of studying, determining number of ECTS credits, improving student mobility, promoting scientific undertakings of students, improving of students standard, organizing all kinds of cultural, sports activities etc.
- Enabling international and interuniversity cooperation

FRACTAL is a non-governmental, non-partisan, non-for-profit organization founded on 22nd of April 2001 in Belgrade, acting as an action oriented think-tank for social change, focused on role of youth initiatives in improvement of communication and exchange between people from different national, ethnic, confessional, ideological and social environments.
Fractal goals improvement of communication between people from different national, ethnic, confessional, ideological and social environments; exploration of possibilities for synergetic approach in exchange of ideas and fostering cooperation among different social actors and subjects (political, profit, non-profit, government sectors, etc.); motivating (young) citizens, by strengthening their capacity and supporting their creativity, for involvement in social and political dialogue and activism; spreading the idea s of rule of law, democracy, human rights and ecology;
Fractal areas of intervention are Confidence Building Measures (CBM), Sustainable Development (SD), Social Minority Assistance (SMA).
Fractal activities:

• Fostering public discussion through conferences, round tables, campaigns and promotions
• Organizing various intercultural meetings, seminars and conferences
• Organizing various civic, informal education programs
• Performing programs on issues of vulnerable social groups
• Conducting researches and publishing projects

NGO „Jelena Anžujska“ was founded in late 2000. Its aim is to develop  capacities of the Third Sector and promote inter-sectoral cooperation. Our mission is to improve and develop capacities of Civil Sector, building NGOs’ human resources,  expand and empower cooperation between all three sectors. The mission has been accomplished through various forms of education, information compiling and sharing, researching and networking. The core principles of our Organisation are based in values of learning, team work, research spirit and ethics. The members of our Organisation are ‘veterans’ of a very young NGO sector in Kosovo Serbian Community. Our knowledge and experience steams from numerous trainings of which some were organized by our  organization. The beneficiaries of our programs is  primarily non-governmental sector. Our activities are currently mainly focused in Kosovska Mitrovica North.NGO ”Jelena Anžujska” has organized so far 13 trainings and  7 in partnership,  3 youth camps - in Kosovo and  Italy,  Displaced Teenagers Integration Program, the first Comparative Sociological Research of Multi-ethnic coexistence in the divided cities of Mostar and Mitrovica, the First International Conference in Kosovska Mitrovica about the City in 2005, a Study Trip to Mostar and Brcko for an unofficial delegation from Kosovska Mitrovica. Currently, we are launching  Public Informative Education Campaign on the decentralization. The activities of the organisation have been supported by numerous donors, such as: KCSF Priština, CBM Mitrovica, KFOS Priština, OSCE, British Office Priština, Balkan Trust Fund Belgrade.