The Western Balkans is a region that is on its way to becoming part of the European Union. Although that territory is relatively small, made up of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
A large number of small countries and open issues between some of them reduce mobility, from tourism to business trips to employment. Historical legacy, recent and old conflicts, and even myths maintain mistrust and hatred towards "those others," even within their own borders.
Although the cooperation agreements that the European Union has been promoting for six years within the framework of the Berlin process tend, among other things, to soften the borders, hostility actually deepens them and makes them seemingly impassable in many aspects of life and prevents connection along all the lines that the modern world normally dictates.
This reluctance holds back the economy, culture and education.
How then to remove the ossified deposits of prejudice and open the region to greater mobility, economic pragmatism and cooperation and a better future in general?
So that the opportunity to get to know each other will be given to young people. Those who will create politics and opinion tomorrow.
That is why in 2017 the regional governments established the Regional Office for Youth Cooperation (RYCO), as one of the pillars of the Berlin Process. The job of the intergovernmental regional organization based in Tirana is to offer the young people of the region a clean sheet of paper and a pen, and the job of the young people is to start writing a new chapter, first in peace, and then in friendship and prosperity. Since its foundation, RYCO and partners‚ UN, OSCE, France and Germany, regional and other foundations have supported more than 100 regional projects with a total value of 2,5 million euros.
More than 10.000 young people participated directly and indirectly in them. The head of the RYCO office in Montenegro, Edin Koljenović, talks about the goals and strategy of the organization.
What are the goals of the Regional Office for Youth Cooperation?
This intergovernmental regional organization was founded by the governments of the Western Balkans to promote and support reconciliation, trust, cooperation and dialogue, through the support and financing of projects that bring together young people in the region. We believe that young people should develop a culture of mobility, intercultural exchange and reconciliation and, finally, that it is impossible to create a policy for young people without their participation in decision-making. Therefore, by establishing such a regional organization, the governments of the Western Balkans gave a strong impetus to the regional approach to dealing with youth policies, especially through the unique methodology of intercultural youth exchange programs that have a direct impact on increasing the intraregional mobility of young people, but also their skills and competencies so that they can be active citizens and participate in decision-making. but also the policies that concern them.
Our programs are focused on creating opportunities for young people. We want them to get involved in activities that build mutual understanding and reconciliation in the civic, social, educational, cultural and sports domains. RYCO initiates and participates in policy making and advocates for reform. It supports the development of a political and social environment that empowers and facilitates youth exchange. In pursuing its mission, RYCO demonstrates a commitment to human rights, human dignity and building peace based on mutual respect and trust.
For RYCO, reconciliation is a core value. We believe that building true and lasting reconciliation involves a process that brings together individuals, groups and societies burdened by conflicts and negative perceptions of "others." We want to build new paths towards reconciliation through shared experiences, cooperation and constant exchange. Otherwise, we remain trapped in the past.
Do young people in Montenegro and the region recognize the opportunity to really open new chapters?
The youth of the Western Balkans live under the pressure and influence of a narrative distorted by prejudice, denial, revisionism and nationalism. This inherited, negative narrative is the basis for their life choices about career, residence, friendship, even dialogue with other people. That's how they pass that narrative on. The culture of separation does not serve the interests of young people, the region, or European integration. There is a noticeable absence of opportunities for young people to move within the region for volunteering, formal and informal education and training, even simply meeting and exchanging experiences without conflict. Through its activities, RYCO provides young people with opportunities for learning, traveling, networking and establishing contacts. It also contributes to strengthening cooperation, strengthening mobility, supporting reconciliation, building peace and stability and ensuring prosperity in the region.
What are the strategic directions of your activity?
RYCO developed the Strategic Plan 2019-2021 as a basis for the operation and development of all programs. It recognizes three basic strategic directions: the development of high-quality programs with and for young people that focus on their access to mobility, exchanges and regional cooperation, then the construction of socio-political conditions and an encouraging environment in which all important social factors will contribute to the aforementioned values, as well as investing in the competencies and skills of all structures that can be important partners and contribute to the achievement of common goals. When it comes to the RYCO office in Montenegro, we operate in two main directions: direct work with young people, especially with the youth sector, as well as dealing with policies and policy advocacy in order to create a social and political framework for a better future. On both sides, we want to gradually influence the adoption of the right values, first of all among young people, and thus indirectly also among the elderly. It is important that we live together, not next to each other.
What will eventually become of this organization?
RYCO itself, regional governments, civil society actors and our partners have the future of this venture in their hands. I will remind you that this kind of intergovernmental structure is not the first European experience, and that the most significant among them is the experience and work of the French-German Office for Youth Cooperation (OFAJ), which was founded in 1963 by the Elysée Agreement. Then this office was created as a result of a clear vision, which is that the French and Germans must work to bring their young people together through the various programs they will offer them. Today, this chancellery represents one of the pillars of cooperation between the two countries and has been actively working for over 55 years. I expect that we are finally mature in the region to understand the importance of the work of RYCO as a regional structure, and especially the vision of the region and the mission we have. Therefore, the Western Balkan region must have its future in peace, stability and prosperity, and one of the important first steps is to work on young people and building new generations with European value systems. In our organization, all programs are based on the needs and suggestions of young people, and are designed with special attention to young people through interviews, surveys and discussions and research. Our experience and our work show great interest in our programs and young people expect more, and want to see and participate. On the other hand, we are also encouraged to encounter great cooperation from the civil sector, especially those dealing with youth issues as well as secondary schools, which show great interest in cooperation with RYCO, but also potential in working with young people and achieving results.
How can young people actually participate?
RYCO has so far successfully implemented three grant schemes with more than 100 supported projects. The call for grants as part of the fourth call for projects has just been closed, and now the evaluation of the projects will follow, and we will publish the results by the end of the year. The registered projects reveal a huge interest in youth exchange in the region. We invite the concept of projects that bring together organizations from the entire region. We see that an imaginative and innovative funding concept can encourage and initiate collaboration between organizations across borders. We also see a significant, growing interest in civil society and in educational institutions to address the issue of stereotypes, prejudices, hate speech and radicalization. However, I would like to emphasize that we are not just an office that allocates funds, but we want to be a regional structure that will motivate, gather partners, that activities are complementary, synchronized and that we deal with advocacy and lobbying for youth issues at the regional level because that's the only way we can reach the full capacity of everything we do, in every single country of the region. In this regard, in addition to grant schemes, our organization actively works to provide a whole range of different opportunities for young people and those who deal with young people, from study visit programs, then training programs and capacity-building training to networking and opportunities for connecting and networking those who deal with issues of importance for young people in the region.
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