The Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe has been implementing projects of various sizes and scopes since its foundation in 1998.  A diverse network of individuals, organisations and institutions have grown out of these civil society initiatives.  While each project has a unique set of goals, the overall objectives are to strengthen democracy and foster reconciliation in Southeast Europe.  Projects are carefully selected, designed, and cultivated based on a set of criteria that include: perceived social need, capacity for the CDRSEE to make a significant contribution, and advice and input from local partners and other informed actors.

Current and on-going projects:

• Employed, Empowered.  Beginning in 2006, this project takes place in Serbia and aims to reintegrate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees into society.  Four broad strands of activity aim towards the goal of enabling refugees, IDPs and returnees to build up sustainable livelihoods for themselves, thus supporting the national strategy of the Government of Serbia. 

• Southeast European Joint History Project (JHP): a long-term response to conflict resolution through education.

• Trading Hope links retired volunteer business people in the UK and Ireland with SME’s in Southeast Europe.

• Shared Past, Common Future Southeast Europe reclaims its collective history through a documentary created by SEETV about the CDRSEE’s Joint History Project.

• Albanian-Serb Information Exchange Forum is a way for journalists to access and deliver accurate, timely and balanced information on Kosovo/a in three languages: Albanian, English and Serbian.

   

Completed Projects

• Disclosing Hidden History: Lustration in the Western Balkans   This EU funded project created a regional network of NGOs and specialised work groups with the aim of enhancing lustration legislation and practices and extending citizen participation in the public debate on the past in the Western Balkans.  The CDRSEE worked with five partners from 2004 to 2006.

• “Our Town, Our Future” Radio Drama, Bosnia-Herzegovina  The Our Town, Our Future Project uses radio drama, along with extensive outreach work, to strengthen democratisation, good governance, and the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  This project is being implemented together with the BBC World Service Trust from 2004 to 2006.

• “Building a Future Together” A Youth initiative in the Western Balkans.  While the project has come to a conclusion, the many links and relationships that have been made within the context of this project continue to flourish and grow.

• Database of NGOs and experts working towards reconciliation in SE Europe   The database, initiated in 2003, is a useful tool for donors and NGOs to learn more about the civil society initiatives in SEE, to search for project partners and much more!

• Internet Forum, 2003-2004.  An on-line Forum to discuss and debate issues of Reconciliation in the Western Balkans.  Supported by USAID, this Forum was used by Universities to create dialogue between students in different places with similar academic interests.

• Two on-line chats with Decision makers.
• Chat with Dr. Erhard Busek, November 2003.   

• Chat with Olli Rehn on the Enlargement of the EU, July 2005.
  

• Junior Scholars' Workshops, 2000-2004. Graduate students doing original research on topics related to the history of Southeast Europe came together on an annual basis with eminent professors for presentations and debate, supported by USAID.

• “EU Conflict Prevention: Lessons Learned from the Western Balkans” Seminar, Athens , May 2003

• “Reconciling for the Future” International Conference, Thessaloniki , April 2003

• Emergency Opinion Poll on fY Republic of Macedonia , March 2002

• Reconciliation Dialogues, February 2001

• Young Parliamentarians Project, 2000

• SEE Film (Project Plan, 2004)