Stories

Ardi’s Journey: from Disconnection to Youth Leadership

Ardi’s Journey: from Disconnection to Youth Leadership

Ardi’s Journey: from Disconnection to Youth Leadership

Ardi’s Journey :
From Disconnection to Youth Leadership

Location

Rural Kavaja, Albania

Focus

Reintegration

IMplemented by

Initiative for Social Change (ARSIS)

As part of the project “Empowering Youth Resilience through Human Rights Education and Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE)”, implemented in rural Kavaja (June 2025–February 2026), a notable change emerged through the experience of Ardi, a 17-year-old secondary school student.

Living in a rural area with limited opportunities for youth engagement, Ardi initially felt disconnected from his community and spent much of his time online, where he was frequently exposed to polarising and harmful content.

Through the project’s interactive workshops on human rights, critical thinking, online safety, and PVE, Ardi gained practical tools to analyse information, recognise harmful narratives, and communicate constructively with peers. This learning experience encouraged him to join a youth-led initiative, where he helped design a school activity that promoted respectful communication and raised awareness of online hate speech.

Ardi took on a leadership role, contributing ideas and facilitating discussions among classmates.

His turning point came during the final project event, where he presented the group’s initiative to teachers and local stakeholders. This moment significantly boosted his confidence and sense of responsibility, marking the first time he felt his voice was genuinely valued.

Reflecting on his journey, Ardi shared:

Before these activities, I didn’t think I could make a difference. Now I understand how important it is to speak up, support others, and be careful about what we share online.”

— Ardi

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