Exploring “BORDERS”: A preview of the NECE Festival 2024 in Tirana

From November 14-17, 2024, Tirana will host the NECE Festival, an annual event, where civic educators and stakeholders from across civil society, politics, academia, media, and culture come together to exchange ideas, network and collaborate. This year’s theme, “BORDERS,” promises a deep dive into the complexities inherent in contemporary civic education. It will delve into the multiple dimensions of borders, examining their dual nature of both division and connection, constraints and opportunities, as well as exclusion and inclusion.

In June, we convened with local stakeholders in Tirana at a NECE Prep Lab, organised in collaboration with our local partner, SCiDEV. Here, a vibrant mix of cooperation partners, supporters, institutions, and civil society from Albania and beyond gathered to lay the groundwork for the festival, exploring the local civic education landscape.

During the first day of the event, we discussed the topic “Education for Democracy in Europe,” featuring insights from key figures such as Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation; Suela Kusi Drita, Senior Project Officer at the Council of Europe, Vlora Rechica, Programme Analyst and Western Balkans Director Assistant, and Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana.

The second day of the lab featured Lightning Talks where experts explored pertinent issues related to civic education in the Western Balkans under the festival’s thematic clusters:

• We explored climate change and green literacy, addressing the role of civic education in navigating environmental challenges.
• We delved into digital and media literacy, emphasising their importance in empowering individuals and enhancing democratic values.
• We examined geographies of division, diversity, and community work, highlighting strategies for fostering inclusion and social cohesion in diverse societies.
• And finally, we talked about migration regimes, civic education, and governance, exploring the complexities of migration policies and practices and their impact on civic education.

Key discussions centred around the following topics:

• Collaboration across borders and sectors being crucial for enhancing civic education and democratic participation. This includes building partnerships that transcend national boundaries to foster a more informed and engaged citizenry.
• Involving young people in cultural and innovative projects is vital. Discussions highlighted the complexities of engaging a generation influenced by diverse factors such as low participation rates, high emigration, and regional mobility challenges. Strengthening links between formal and informal education and addressing issues of local belonging and institutional distrust were key points.
• There is a pressing need for new policies and reforms to support youth programmes and artistic endeavours. This includes fostering critical self-reflection, respectful disagreement, and cross-sector collaboration to address shared challenges.
• Issues like waste management, recycling, and deforestation require systematic work and collaboration. Creating incentives and readiness to invest in environmental protection are essential steps forward.
• In our post-truth era, integrating media literacy into education as a cross-cutting topic is vital. Shared emotional intelligence can enhance engagement and interest in media literacy efforts.

• High emigration rates, particularly among the educated, necessitate initiatives to empower teachers. Policies to encourage return migration and “re-gain brain” are crucial.

Continuing the conversation at the NECE Festival

The NECE Festival in November will build on the insights from the Prep Lab, providing a platform for courageous and visionary thinkers to present bold ideas and drive forward initiatives addressing these challenges. Attendees can look forward to:

• Opportunities to engage with innovative projects and partnerships that can significantly impact civic education and youth empowerment across Europe and beyond.
• Discussions on new policy designs and reforms to support youth, intergenerational dialogue, community work, environmental sustainability, and media literacy.
• A chance to connect with local and international stakeholders committed to fostering a more participatory society.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our local partners, SCiDEV and Open Society Foundations | Western Balkans, as well as to Minister Blendi Gonxhja and Mayor Erion Veliaj of Tirana for their exceptional cooperation and warm welcome. A special thanks to our facilitator, Maja Nenadovic, for guiding our discussions.

Join us in Tirana this November to be part of this transformative journey.

Register here: NECE Festival Registration