The Ministry of Regional Development in partnership with the Swiss Caritas in Kosovo, within the "Youth Environmental Impact" (YENI) project, held the ceremony of awarding the "Dervish Rozhaja" environmental award, which was awarded to the schools with the best projects.

The finalists of this competition were seven upper secondary schools from different municipalities through the Eco Clubs with project proposals, from which the three best finalists received prizes for the implementation of environmental projects.

The award aims to promote environmental and climate education through environmental projects carried out by upper secondary school students in Kosovo.

Initially, sixty (60) Eco Clubs from 60 upper secondary schools from 17 municipalities of Kosovo were in the implementation and in the competition.

The finalist Eco Clubs presented their innovative environmental projects to the audience and the jury.

The winners were selected by a professional and independent jury, the winning schools are:

First prize: Eco Club from the upper secondary school "Kujtim Krasniqi" in Malisheva.

Second prize: Eco Club from "Dardania" upper secondary school in Han i Elezit.

Third prize: Eco Club from "Eqrem Çabej" upper secondary school in Vushtrri.

The first prize was awarded by the Secretary of the Ministry for Regional Development, Mr. Besim Kamberaj, who in a speech praised the success of the project, in particular the establishment of 60 eco clubs in 17 municipalities of Kosovo. At the same time he expressed the commitment of MRD in support of innovative ideas from young people with special emphasis on innovative ideas in environmental protection and improvement of living conditions.

The ceremony was honored by the presence of Dr. Aurora Bakalli, the granddaughter of Prof. Dr. Dervish Rozhaja, who distributed medals with the emblem of Dervish Rozhaja to all the finalists.

The director of Swiss Caritas in Kosovo, Mr. Gerhard Schaumberger, Professor from "Hasan Prishtina" University, Director the MED, professors and students of seven finalist schools were among the participants.

The YENI project is implemented by the Swiss Caritas in Kosovo with funding from the Ministry of Regional Development and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and aims to empower young people to act on environmental issues and climate change through the implementation of concrete environmental projects and climate in their schools.

The Secretary of the MRD was accompanied by Ylber Çitaku, Deputy Director of the DRD and Shani Hamitaga, Division Leader.