The U.S. Embassy in Pristina announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to provide after-school English language instruction and enhancement activities to ethnically diverse groups of youth age 14-18 in six (6) Kosovo’s municipalities.

Program Goal

This two-year program provides Kosovo’s youth with a common language, English, in which to communicate – a key tool in overcoming the deep ethnic divisions in Kosovo that those seeking to undermine Kosovo’s sovereignty, as well as political and economic potential, seek to exacerbate and exploit. This English language program removes roadblocks to inter-ethnic communication and facilitates inclusion.

The BRIDGE (Building Respect, Inclusion, Diversity, and Good will through English) program will bring between 30-40 youth per program site for at least 4 hours of after-school classes, no less than three times per week, for a two-year period. In addition to English learning, the lessons will be accompanied by enhancement activities including such topics as: critical thinking and media literacy, STEAM and makerspace activities that introduce students to the modern innovation economy. Activities must also include outdoor civic activities, intensive summer schools, camps, etc., that directly introduce participants to the American values of inclusion and interethnic harmony. Potential applicants are expected to propose a rich and innovative list of activities to achieve the objectives.

As English is a key skill in the global marketplace, the program additionally seeks to align education with employment opportunities, reducing Kosovo’s economic vulnerabilities and developing Kosovo’s human capital. 

Program Objectives

Potential applicants should clearly address in their proposals how they intend to reach the below objectives one by one

• Objective 1 – Before September 2021, the winning applicant will set up at least six (6) regional classes in following cities: Kamenica, Mitrovica, Gracanica, Peja, Prizren, and Sterpce, as evidenced by the number of classes established.
• Objective 2 – By the start of project implementation, the winning applicant will have reached out to rural areas to recruit at least 50% of participating students, as evidenced by the number of participants from rural areas.
• Objective 3 – By the start of the project implementation, the winning applicant will have recruited no less than 50?males, as evidenced by the number of males and female participants.
• Objective 4 – By the start of project implementation, the winning applicant will have recruited for all regional classes, depending on the municipality’s ethnic composition, a diverse group of student participants from no less than two of the following communities: Kosovo Albanian (K-Albanian), K-Bosnian, K-Turkish, K-Roma, K-Ashkali, K-Egyptian, KGorani and K-Serbian student participants, as evidenced by the number of participants from various ethnicities participating in a class.
• Objective 5 – By end of the two-year program, at least 80% of participating students will team up to learn and communicate with each other in English, learn about the U.S. culture and values, as well as each other’s culture, and engage together in innovative and creative activities and networking opportunities, as evidenced by the retention levels of students throughout the program.
• Objective 6 – By the end of the program, the ethnically mixed classes of students will have built a stronger sense of Kosovar identity and inclusion, and a stronger sense of the phrase “Kosovo is my home”, as evidenced by their inclusive individual and group narratives.
• Objective 7 – By the end of the program, at least 90% of participating students will have embraced American values of diversity, inclusion and inter-ethnic harmony, as evidenced by their shared views on these specific topics.
• Objective 8 – By end of the two-year program, at least 90% of participating students will have built a sense of solidarity with one another and an appreciation of each other’s culture and differences through joint regional networking events and activities, as evidenced by the number of joint activities participated in.
• Objective 9 – By the end of the program, all participating students will have improved their English communication skills through their participation in after-school activities, as evidenced by their English communication test skills.
• Objective 10 – By the end of the program, at least 10% of participating students will have made an attempt to enter a U.S. educational institution, as evidenced by the number of participants who either apply or take college admission tests. 4
• Objective 11 – By the end of the program, at least 80% of participating students demonstrate an increase in their media literacy and critical thinking skills, as evidenced by their narratives of social media use.
• Objective 12 – By the end of the program, at least 50% of participating students demonstrate an increase in their employment skills through participation in job interviewing role-playing activities, business writing and business field visits, as evidenced by the quality of such skills improved.

Funding Information

• Number of awards anticipated: one (1) award
• Award Amounts: $400,000
• Total available funding: $400,000
• Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in two (2) years or less.

Participants and Audiences

This program’s primary audience is Youth in Transition (14-18 years old - upper secondary school students transitioning to higher education or the job market). Applicants are encouraged to use emerging decision makers and established influencers in their program activities to support their targeted youth in transition audience.

Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Kosovo’s not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations
• Kosovo’s public and private educational institutions

For more information, visit Grants.gov.