“Investing in youth is not an expense, but a crucial investment in democracy and in a more sustainable and just future for Montenegro”, was emphasized during the signing of contracts with five civil society organizations (CSOs) whose projects have been supported within the framework of the call for CSO project proposals in Montenegro. This initiative aims to strengthen the role of civil society in promoting transparent and participatory governance, democratic reforms, and respect for human rights, with a particular focus on youth.
“We believe that investing in youth is not a cost, but a key investment in democracy and in building a more sustainable and just future for Montenegro. Therefore, support for these projects should be seen as part of a broader effort to contribute to the development of informed, active, and empowered generations capable of driving positive social change”, said Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Education (CCE), during the event.
Kirsten Schonefeld, Director of the Regional Office of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung for Serbia and Montenegro, congratulated the representatives of the supported CSOs, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between FES and CGO in strengthening civil society initiatives. “The competition was strong. Having experience with preparing projects for EU funding, I know how demanding the process is. It’s encouraging to see that young people are increasingly ready for such calls. I appreciate your work, and I believe that well-conceived projects like these will lead to success and bring tangible benefits to youth in Montenegro”, she stated.
Boris Ivanović from the Ministry of Sports and Youth noted that the efforts of CCE and FES have provided youth-focused NGOs with an important opportunity to achieve their goals and carry out their activities. “I’m particularly pleased that the call was conducted efficiently and received a large number of quality applications, even though that made the evaluation process quite demanding. Through such collaborations, the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to continuously improving the position of young people”, said Ivanović.
“This support allows us to show young people, in a practical way, how to realize their ideas within their local community—in our case, in Cetinje. Our goal is to encourage their active engagement with modern technologies and innovative solutions”, said Anđela Martinović, founder and project development coordinator at the Montenegrin Science and Technology Hub KNOWLEDGE – EPISTEME, whose project received support. She explained that, in cooperation with the Capital City of Cetinje and the Municipal Utility Company, young people will develop practical solutions for environmental protection and local community sustainability. “This initiative not only promotes science and innovation, but also supports the development of entrepreneurial ideas and technical and scientific literacy, which is the mission of our organization”, Martinović concluded.
David Vukićević, President of the Network for Youth Activism of Montenegro (MOACG), highlighted the importance of the project that their organization will implement, aimed at improving youth policy through legislative changes. “Our intention is to advocate for the establishment of youth clubs in municipalities where they currently do not exist, to contribute to the balanced regional development of youth activism. Overall, this creates better conditions for young people to stay in Montenegro and collectively contribute to the common good and public interest”, said Vukićević.
“In the past, we have partnered with organizations whose projects received this kind of support and had positive experiences. It is an honor to now collaborate directly with CCE on strengthening innovation, empowering youth, and improving the network of local partners—local institutions, NGOs, and the academic community—to support the development and empowerment of the local community”, said Darko Žugić, Executive Director of the NGO Business Center from Nikšić, during the contract signing.
The call for proposals is part of the SYNERGY Montenegro program – strengthening youth networks and empowering resilient groups and youth in Montenegro, implemented by CCE in partnership with the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and NGO Multimedijal Montenegro, in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and with financial support from the European Union.
Maja Marinović, Programme Associate