Balkan conference "Youth at risk" was held

The goal of Balkan Youth Conference was exchanging ideas and experiences in order to improve prevention programs in the region, to promote inclusive programs, improve the presentation of young people, especially those at risk, to promote good program examples of reducing youth at risk. The conference contributed to the development of partnerships and networking amoung young, youth organizations and informal groups, as well as organisations who are dealing with youth at risk. The dialog was initiated at the regional level to create a support program for youth which will prevent the health, social and economic risks that young people face with.

The project was funded by European Union Commission, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia and the Fund for an Open Society.

The Conference was opened by Snezana Klasnja, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bosko Nicic, Mayor of Zajecar and Goran Radisavljevic, Executive director of TOC.

At the opening remark, Snezana Klasnja said:“From 11 general objectives of the National Strategy for Youth, three are directly related to the activities of the project Youth at risk.: ensure the right to equal oppurtunities for all young people in society, especially young people who live in difficult conditions, improving the safety of young and taking care of their health and developing the health care tailored to young people. Therefore, programs and projects aimed at  improving preventive and inclusive programs in the region have special meaning. Ministry of Youth has developed an intensive cooperation with NGOs in implementing the objectives of the National Youth strategy and funded over 620 programs of international cooperation of young people.“

With he help of trainin for local stakeholders the project has introduced the consepts related to youth care sistem at the local level. This program is beeing conducted in 5 cities of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and they are planing to form the Council for Youth at Risk. The aim of counsils will be to create a network and  maintain a continous dialogue on the issue of youth at risk between civil society, citizens, institutions and organizations and decision makers.

„Creating a counsil – teams – working groups for young peple at risk, composed of experts in this field, will be a support for youth offices and and will be serving as another link between young people and local authorities. This is not about creating new, unfunctional councils, but about creating a single body whose sustainability will be ensured by responsible and motivated members who will collaborate together, learn, exchange knowledge and information, research needs, based on their plan make conclusions, guidelines and a joint plan of actions“, said Ivan Zivkovic, project coordinator.

In days to come you can expect detailed report and materials from the conference

Presentations you can look here.

Photos you may look at gallery.