We are happy to announce that GAIA is organizing “YOUTH BRE!” – a youth gathering from 11th – 15th of September 2019 in the ski resort of Brezovica/Brezovicë, Kosovo.

YouthBRE is a small-scale, sustainable, educational and creative youth gathering in Brezovica/Brezovicë ski resort in Sharr Mountains, Kosovo which is supported by UNMIK. It gathers 30 participants from all communities in Kosovo to learn, discuss and act on the most urgent environmental issues locally and globally. These range from climate change, human rights, sustainable lifestyle practices, environmental peacebuilding and the pressing threat posed to the natural streams in the national park by the construction of hydropower plants.

Throughout the event, we will engage our young participants in a range of non-formal and formal activities. We will have talks with inspiring experts, a public debate with political decision-makers, and discussion with local stakeholders who are protecting rivers and nature. Lastly, we will also take measures for our future and prepare actions to raise our voice in the struggle for social and environmental justice in Kosovo.

We welcome you to attend the youth gathering on Friday, September 13th, 2019. At 10:00 o’clock, we are hosting an environmental debate with representatives of several political parties at Motel Bucan. This panel discussion seeks to engage our young participants with potential decision-makers in a public debate on the current issues and climate change in Kosovo. If you are interested in attending this event, please register under [email protected].

In the evening, we invite you to enjoy local sounds of rock, jazz, traditional, reggae and drum’n’bass. At 17 o’clock, the event will be kicked-off at Berevački Potok. After a shared dinner at 19 o’clock, the night will continue at Motel Bucan.

Schedule of Mini BREfest:

• 17:00 Mahalake Chave & Jimmy Mustafa Band at Berevački Potok
• 19:00 shared dinner at Motel Bucan
• 20:30 Debatiket
• 22:00 Electra Heart
• 23:30 Dj Alla Deen

Among the performing artists, Mahalake Chave from Gracanica will have their first public performance at BREfest. Jimmy Mustafa Band, which has been traditionally present at GAIA events, will warm-up the atmosphere by the stream with Roma and Gypsy tunes. Debatiket, a jazz band led by Illir Bajri, will be entertaining us after a shared dinner at Motel Bucan. Electric Heart, a rock band from Mitrovica Rock School will also be with us. Dj Alla Deen from Mitrovica will close-off BREfest with Reggae and Drum’n’bass.

Although smaller in scale, MIni BREfest continues with the tradition to welcome visitors for an evening with live music and to manifest their appreciation of nature and cultures of Sharr. This year, we also invite you to demonstrate your care for the natural environment by expressing your stewardship for the natural streams, Durlov Potok and Berevački Potok, which are under threat by the construction of  two hydropower plants as we speak.

We will be covering the daily activities on our social media accounts. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.