Young people have clear attitudes on issues that concern them and the willingness to express them publicly, and it is up to institutions to show openness and readiness to listen to them, was one of the key messages of today’s Youth Café, organised by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) in Podgorica, which brought together around 20 young people from the Capital City.Opening the event, Nikola Đurašević, Programme Associate at the CCE, emphasised that “young people in Montenegro have ideas, strength, and potential to initiate change, but it is up to institutions to listen to them, recognise them, and provide them with space to participate.”
“Youth policies cannot be created without young people. That process must be two-way and imply their active participation. All decisions that shape society must include the voice of youth if we truly wish to improve their position. Without their energy, ideas, and vision, we cannot speak of inclusive policies,” said Slađana Anđušić, Secretary of the Secretariat for Local Self-Government and Cooperation with Civil Society of the Capital City of Podgorica, who was one of the panellists. She also emphasised the importance of an open and sincere approach towards young people.“We need to show them that we are here for them, that we work in their interest, and that through concrete examples we prove that what they say is respected and implemented. This requires continuous dialogue and trust, as well as strong support and synergy from both national and local levels, in order to develop youth policy to its full capacity, following European practices,” she stated.
“The Ministry of Sports and Youth strives to create conditions in which young people will have the opportunity to learn, work, and participate in decision-making processes that concern them. Through programmes such as the Youth Guarantee and support for Podgorica’s candidacy for the European Youth Capital 2028, we wish to show that young people are a priority, not a decoration. It is up to institutions to open the doors, but also up to young people to enter courageously – because change starts with them,” said Anja Kečalović, Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, who also spoke in the opening part.
Speaking about the challenges and possibilities for greater youth participation, Anja Malešić, a student at the Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro, and one of the discussants at the Youth Café, pointed out that “young people from Podgorica increasingly show the desire to contribute to society, but they lack space and confidence in their own influence. Activism most often arises from the need for change, from rebellion against injustice, and from the enthusiasm that it will result in a certain positive outcome. To strengthen youth participation, institutions must be open for dialogue and support, while young people should believe in themselves and their influence, and take the initiative.”
“This meeting showed how full of ideas, ambitions, and desire for change young people are. The discussion was open and encouraging, especially on topics concerning the position of youth and opportunities for greater activism in society. The atmosphere was positive, with a sense of unity and motivation for concrete actions,” said Bogoljub Džankić, a student of the Vocational High School of Electrical Engineering „Vaso Aligrudić“.
“This was very inspiring for me. It is important for young people to gather and openly discuss challenges and opportunities in their city. The exchange of ideas and experiences showed how significant it is for young people to be active participants in creating change, and I am especially glad that concrete solutions were proposed to improve the lives of young people in Podgorica,” said Una Perazić, a student of the “Slobodan Škerović” Grammar School.
The was held within the framework of the project “SYNERGY Montenegro – strengthening youth networks and empowering resilient groups and young people in Montenegro” is implemented by the CCE in partnership with the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and the NGO Multimedial Montenegro, in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and Youth and with the financial support of the European Union and co-financing from the Ministry of Regional Investment Development and Cooperation with NGOs.
Jovana Radulović, Project Assistant