By Katerina Hatija, YES 2013-2014, Albania, hosted by CIEE in Everett, WA

The IDEAL Workshop took place in Cetinje, Montenegro, from August 3 to August 6. During these days, FLEX and YES alumni from all the Southeast Europe countries got together to share their opinions and gain knowledge about four different themes: Civil Society, Human Rights and Gender Equality, Arts for Social Change, and Anti-Corruption. YES Alumni Albania was represented by two alumnae, Klea Troka (YES 2011-2012, Albania, hosted by YFU in Delaware, OH) and Dafina Meco (YES 2014-2015, Albania, hosted by CIEE in Oscoda, MI). Klea and Dafina both participated in different theme groups during the conference, Arts for Social Change and Civil Society.

Learning through practice was generally the point of this workshop, so on the second day of IDEAL, alumni had the chance to visit a local NGO in Cetinje. This NGO began their work from an unfinished room, but is now one of the most famous youth centers not only locally, but also in Montenegro. Staff at the NGO spoke to alumni about their challenges in creating and growing the organization, and how they were able to raise money in order to help other NGOs and try to make a positive impact on both Montenegrins and Cetinje. Dafina shared that the group conversation with the NGO staff was highly motivating. Following the Q&A sessions, the civil society group presented some amazing projects during a “gallery walk,” which consisted of a gallery created by alumni projects hung on the wall. In the words of Dafina, “Being part of the civil society group and being able to define such a broad term was definitely challenging, but eye opening to us.”

On the final day of this workshop, there was a sharing session where alumni from all groups had the opportunity to share their gained knowledge about their themes with the other groups. Klea and Dafina agreed that this session “was the best thing about this workshop, because in a way we got to be part of all arguments and discussions that other groups had during their sessions.”

In the end, the alumni hope to participate in similar workshops in the future to not only learn about new topics and be active, but also to meet friends again across the SEE alumni community.