Youth Participation in Rural Areas

In the period May 2023 to February 2024, the Center for Education and Development (CED) has successfully implemented the “Youth Participation in Rural Areas” project, financed by SMART Balkan. This project aimed to empower young people in rural areas, engaging them in an active way in the development and formation of their local communities.

The focus of the project has been the creation of youth strategies for the Municipality of Tearce and the Municipality of Bogovinje, which will serve as key documentation in the drafting of youth policies and will promote the participation of young people in decision-making processes. The strategies are built on the basis of focus group research and aim to address the specific needs of young people in these municipalities, turning these needs into concrete results.

The project included a series of activities, starting with informative meetings where the CED team informed the mayors of the municipalities about the importance of the project and the activities that will be carried out. In particular, young people from the Municipality of Bogovina and Tearce, represented by the Youth Council and in cooperation with the CED team, have developed workshops for the drafting of the Local Youth Strategy. This strategy already serves as a key document for the implementation of youth policies in these two municipalities.

The project has managed to create an atmosphere of competitiveness, fun and enthusiasm through the organization of the “Community Youth Day”, an event held in collaboration with the Sabedin Bajrami-Kamjan Municipal Primary School and one in the Nerasht village of Tearce Municipality. This activity has provided a platform for young people to express their talents and interests, while strengthening the sense of commitment to the community.

The project was closed with a Final Conference where the main achievements were presented and proposals were given for the construction of sports infrastructures, the establishment of youth bodies responsible for the enrichment of sports life, as well as the organization of local sports campaigns and events. These initiatives, financed by local self-governments and coordinated by young people, aim to encourage greater participation of young people in sports activities and increase the positive impact on community life in the Municipality of Tearce and Bogovine.

Through the commitment and dedication of young people and the support of local institutions, the “Youth Participation in Rural Areas” project has set a new standard for how rural communities can be developed and empowered through active youth participation.