Prepare for a week of exploration, discovery, and understanding of human rights and community activism.

Program Overview

Who?

High school students in Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia who are passionate about inter-ethnic understanding, human rights, and cultivating positive change in their communities.

What?

An inter-ethnic youth program focused on inter-ethnic understanding, human rights, and youth civic engagement for high school students in Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia.

When?

Phase One: August 8 to August 19, 2023

Phase Two: September 2023 to January 2024

Where?

Phase One: Skopje and Tetovo, Macedonia

Phase Two: Participants’ Home Communities

Why?

To bring a diverse group of young people together to learn about human rights, leadership, and inter-ethnic understanding and return to their homes with the knowledge and ability to create positive change.

News

Day Five: Loss, Remembrance, and Healing – Skopje Holocaust Memorial

Perhaps the most emotionally charged day of “Bridging Backgrounds” was the fifth day when the participants had a guided tour of the Holocaust Memorial Center for the Jews of Macedonia. The building’s gray concrete and glass architecture resembled the only three other...

Day Four: Activist Talks

The fourth day of Bridging Backgrounds was filled with human rights education activities, community activism training, and the activist talks session. During the activist talks, the participants had the pleasure of listening to talks of and posing questions to three...

Days Two and Three: Theory before Practice – Human Rights Education Activities and Community Activism Training

On the morning of Thursday, June 29, Building Bridges participants started engaging in discussions of identity, human needs, and corresponding rights. Activities and workshops were successfully facilitated by Bridging Backgrounds Program Director Brendan Schultz,...

Bridging Backgrounds
is organized by United by Love, a US-based non-profit,
and is funded by the US Embassy in North Macedonia