Uljarević: Young people are seen more as decoration than as great social potential

Young people are perceived more as decoration than as great social potential, and decision makers should create an environment in which young people will have the opportunity to use their capacity for personal and professional development and thus contribute to the development of the community they come from.

This was said by the executive director of the Center for Civic Education (CEO), Daliborka Uljarević, in the opening part of the regional conference "Youth in the Western Balkans - (self) excluded", which the CEO is organizing in cooperation with the TACSO office for the Western Balkans and Turkey with the support of the European Union , as part of the contribution to marking the European Year of Youth.

Uljarević believes that the topic of youth is not sufficiently represented in the societies of the region, which are in an ongoing political and values ​​crisis.

"Exactly the way we treat young people, how we shape them, indicates what character of the social community we want. In my opinion, the decision-makers are responsible for creating an environment in which young people will have the opportunity to use their potential for personal and professional development, and therefore to contribute to the development of the community they come from," said Uljarević, according to the announcement.

She also proposed to the new government the creation of a database that would provide reliable data on the outflow of young people from Montenegro.

The Vice President of the Government of Montenegro, Raško Konjević, assessed that in the previous period not enough was done when it came to young people.

"Available data, predominantly from non-Governmental sources, but relevant research, indicate that over 50 percent of young people have the ambition to leave Montenegro and build their career outside the country's borders. "This fact must turn on all the red lights in the institutions that are in charge of dealing with young people, because a society that more than 50 percent of young people want to leave is a society in trouble," said Konjević.

He said that through the Ministry of Sports and Youth, several strategic documents concerning young people will be affirmed, the aim of which, as he clarified, is to change the environment that is present today through the implementation of those acts.

"It is the starting point for this Government, that through its overall work, especially through the work of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, to change the messages and attitude towards youth participation. If we continue with this trend, I am afraid that this society is wasting its best resource, which is young people and their knowledge that they can provide in their society and country," said Konjević, emphasizing the importance of the civil sector, which remains consistent in advocating principles and values ​​independently. from who makes the government.

The Head of the Cooperation Sector of the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Yngve Engstroem, explained that the EU dedicated this year to young people, marking it as the European Year of Youth, in recognition of the challenges faced by young people during the pandemic.

"This will be a year in which we will respect young people, provide support and nurture cooperation with them. This is a year dedicated to empowering those who have sacrificed so much for the benefit of others. We want young people to be at the center of all EU policies, and as part of social, digital or climate integration. That is why this year will include a series of events with the aim of promoting the participation of young people in decision-making processes in campaigns to raise awareness about the need for a more inclusive, greener, digital EU," said Engstroem.

He also said that they want to reach all young people, especially those who, as he said, are excluded, such as young people with disabilities, minority groups and young people in rural areas.

"2022 year is dedicated to all young people in the EU. This year will bring new opportunities, new relationships, new friendships. "This is the year in which the voice of the youth will be heard," said Engstroem.

The General Secretary of the Regional Office for Youth Cooperation (RYCO), Albert Hani, believes that the attitude towards young people must include culture and elements of listening.

"When we listen to young people, then we can come up with a solution that is more long-term and sustainable, and that is something that is beneficial for them. If we create slaves, people who only obey orders, we will not reach a society that is susceptible to change," said Hani.

He said that we must work together with young people to make their dreams come true, "because if we don't work with them, we won't achieve qualitative changes".

"We need to create good conditions in our society in order to retain young people and keep in mind that 65 percent of young people in the region want to be active in society and are willing to contribute to society. However, they must also be given the opportunity," said Hani.

The leader of the EU TACSO 3 team, Richard Allen, believes that few issues are more important than the future of young people.

"Bringing people together is important for finding solutions. We all face problems, but finding solutions is a much more difficult task. This can only be solved through cooperation with others, exchange of experiences, success stories that lead to changes", Alen concluded.