Youth Development

Youth engagement and empowerment

Nisma ARSIS has made youth engagement and empowerment a cornerstone of its mission, actively involving young people in meaningful participation, advocacy, and community-driven change. The organization operates in a structured and long-term manner, placing youth at the center of decision-making processes, social innovation, and local development, guided by human rights principles, inclusion, and meaningful participation. A key platform for youth engagement is the House of Colors Center in Tirana, which brings together young people aged 15 to 29 from diverse neighborhoods, creating a safe and inclusive space for learning, collaboration, and social impact. Through this center, ARSIS supports youth to develop life skills, civic competencies, and leadership capacities while fostering a strong sense of social responsibility.

Youth participants are identified through a proactive and inclusive outreach approach, including collaboration with school leaders and psychosocial staff, informational sessions at the Faculty of Social Sciences, and open online applications. This methodology ensures the participation of young people from diverse social and geographic backgrounds, including neighborhoods such as Kombinat, Yzberisht, Selita, Komuna e Parisit, Allias, Fresku, and Selvia, allowing a broad range of perspectives and lived experiences to inform activities and dialogue.

Nisma ARSIS equips young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate on critical social issues, including children’s rights, gender-based violence, and human trafficking. Through weekly, structured sessions facilitated by trained professionals, youth participate in psychosocial activities, reflective learning, and practical initiatives that support their personal development and community well-being.

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Nisma ARSIS’ youth-focused work aims to:

Strengthen personal and social empowerment, by developing young people’s interpersonal skills, leadership, communication abilities, critical thinking, and self-confidence.
Promote active citizenship and participation, supporting young people to identify challenges within their communities and co-design solutions through youth-led initiatives.
Build resilience and prevent risks, including violent extremism, criminal behavior, gender-based violence, and social exclusion.
Foster intersectoral dialogue, by creating platforms for cooperation between young people, public institutions (social services, police, schools, municipalities), and civil society actors.
Enhance youth participation in policy and advocacy, through consultations, youth forums, policy briefs, and awareness-raising campaigns at local and national levels.

Nisma ARSIS implements youth programs and initiatives that include trainings, mentoring, community-based actions, creative activities, and dialogue platforms, with particular attention to young people in vulnerable situations and those facing barriers to participation.