Debora Peci works for Democracy Plus, and NGO focused on increasing citizen activism and engagement. She works with public institutions and citizens in bridging their communication gap and in improving constituents' inclusion in policy planning and decision making. Debora has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Prishtina in Prishtina, Kosovo.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Kosovo's Truth Seekers

The project taught Kosovo's youth how to identify and combat fake news on social media. A training course geared towards young people ages 14 to 18 was conducted to educate them on recognizing the difference between false news and real news. The training series was based on the fakenews.dplus.org platform that was developed by Democracy Plus. Some 120 high school students from different municipalities in Kosovo benefitted from the training.

"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 participated 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 in partnership with WorldChicago, World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, and Global Ties San Francisco.

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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