Debora Peci has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Prishtina in Prishtina, Kosovo. She has been part of an NGO called Democracy Plus for over five years. Debora's main focus is increasing citizen activism and engagement. She tries to achieve this through information sessions, public meetings and online platforms. She works with public institutions and citizens in bridging their communication gap and in improving constituents' inclusion in policy planning and decision making. Through this, Debora can understand new problems and challenges that people, especially the younger generations, face daily. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Kosovo's Truth Seekers

The project aimed to teach Kosovo's youth on how to spot fake news on social media and how to combat it. The course taught the technique of identifying false news into simple stages that anybody can comprehend and apply in their daily life.

The project executed a training series geared towards young people of ages 14 through 18 to educate them on recognizing false news from real news. The training series was based on the fakenews.dplus.org platform that was developed by Democracy Plus and recipients will be accredited for attending the training series. With equal gender and emphasized rural participation, the project benefitted 120 high school students from different municipalities in Kosovo.

"This training helped me understand that I want to pursue journalism, and I am going to share it with my friends while we prepare for the admission exams."- Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience

Debora was a participant in the IVLP Project 21st Century ChangeMakers: Trend Leaders Promote Social Media Discernment Among Youth, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360.

Debora's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "IVLP has allowed me to understand that we face the same challenges. On one hand, this is disheartening since it shines a light on how vulnerable we are in the digital era. On the other hand, however, it is also comforting to know that we can find support from all over the world."

U.S. Communities Visited 

San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Manchester, NH

Country: Kosovo

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