By Anda Rama, YES 2016-2017, Kosovo, hosted by ASSE in Berlin, PA 

This year’s re-entry seminar for 2017 YES alumni group was a rewarding one, since we learned lessons and enjoyed each other’s company. The sessions that we had were highly important because they help to bring people who feel the same way together. I take pride in the fact that I would nod at every argument my fellow YES alumni made.

We participated in different sessions throughout both days and had an opportunity to come up with our future alumni projects that would help our community. We worked in alumni groups of three or four people on projects that targeted different social issues. We discussed the following projects: inclusion of minorities, animal rights, youth development and advocacy for women’s rights and equality. The bright minds and endless ideas provided me with a great confidence boost.

During the re-entry seminar we also went on a tour of Prishtina, where we chatted about our experiences in America and found the ways to use the cultural values we absorbed in the U.S. in our daily life in Kosovo. The evening finished with a pizza night at the city center.

The end of the second day and the end of the seminar was marked with a clean-up activity at the local park in Prishtina, which was the first of many YES alumni projects we are planning to organize in Kosovo.