Today, the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) organized a one-day study visit of young activists, high school students from all over Montenegro, in Podgorica, as well as meetings with the Director of the Directorate for Youth at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Nenad Koprivica and with the CCE’s Executive Director Daliborka Uljarević.
Young activists previously participated in the Youth Activism School, where they studied concepts, modalities and practices of youth activism, as well as mechanisms for the protection of human rights, basics of communication, leadership, public policy and advocacy, etc. The study visit is an accompanying activity of the Youth Activism School aiming to have the participants acquainted with the work of the Ministry of Sports and Youth in the area of youth policies and efforts that this Ministry invests in improving the position of young people in Montenegro.
“The example of young people who have been engaged through this and similar projects is the best proof that young people have choice and opportunities and that it only depends on them whether they will use the opportunities offered to them. The project showed that young people want to be part of the solution and that they are ready to engage in solving the problems they identify within their respective communities,“ Nenad Koprivica emphasized in discussion with young activists.
As part of the study visit, the awarding of diplomas to the students of the Youth Activism School was organized in the CCE, and the diplomas were handed to them by Daliborka Uljarević, Executive director of the CCE. “The vitality of a society and the potential to carry out successful democratic transformation is also measured by the willingness and motivation of young people to participate in decision-making and policy-making. Unfortunately, in Montenegro, young people are neither sufficiently nor adequately involved in these processes, they are still only a part of the pre-election rhetoric and later decor for decision makers. This has its expression in the increasingly visible crisis of Europeanization of our society. Hence, it makes me happy every time I see young people who do not accept this situation and who want to contribute to social change through active engagement, because that is the only way we can keep the best young people and change for the better” she said on that occasion.
Talking about the perspectives and future of young people in Montenegro, the participants of the Youth Activism School shared their observations. Radovan Vojinović from the Gymnasium “Stojan Cerović” from Nikšić considers: “This project is for me another type of education that has convinced me that Montenegro has the capacity in the form of young people who are actively fighting for themselves and for society as a whole, and to continue to show with their knowledge that Montenegro is on a great path to become a country where the voice of young people is really valid.” Martina Labović from the mixed high school “Braća Selić” from Kolašin emphasizes: “It is a pleasure to participate in such projects where we have the opportunity to express our views, opinions, exchange knowledge and gain new experiences. My message to all my peers is to fight for their own voice and to continue self improving and to be examples of youth activism.”
In overall, 25 high school students received diplomas for successfully attending the Youth Activism School, as follows: Advan Kardović, Amil Kalender, Amina Bahović, Anja Filipović, Anđela Pantović, Biljana Vuković, Daris Kajević, Dubravka Šćekić, Dušan Šestović, Irina Vukadinović, Jovana Rečević, Konstantin Vukić, Matija Svorcan, Marko Jelovac, Marko Perišić, Marko Martinović, Martina Labović, Milica Bojović, Milica Pavlović, Nađa Srdić, Natalia Orlandić, Nemanja Čabarkapa, Pajo Vasović, Radovan Vojinović and Sara Avramović.
Youth Activism School and accompanying study visits are organized within the project (RE)activator implemented by the CCE with the support of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The overall goal of the project is to contribute to the creation of information and educational programmes that promote and strengthen youth activism and provide a roadmap for their participation in public policy-making and decision-making processes that are of direct importance to them.
Željka Ćetković, coordinator of the Active Citizenship programme