The working team of the Capital City participated constructively in the National Dialogue held on September 17 and 18 in Podgorica, where it had the opportunity to present further recommendations aimed at developing solutions in the areas of “Youth Challenges” and “Strengthening Citizens’ Trust in Institutions.”
Special attention of the group dealing with youth issues, led by representatives of the Youth Office, Ksenija Borilović and Danilo Vučinić, was dedicated to the challenges of youth migration and depopulation, the lack of quality programs and content, the weakening sense of community and solidarity, the influence of harmful media narratives, as well as the necessity of strengthening young people’s trust in institutions through participation.
Representatives of the Youth Office, together with representatives of institutions, associations, and young people, also discussed other challenges and needs of youth, such as the creation of so-called “safe spaces” – public spaces where young people can spend quality time with their peers, youth mental health, the need for decentralization of youth-related policies, challenges caused by peer violence, as well as the lack of information among young people, for which responsibility can be identified at different levels.
The existing recommendations were supplemented with new ones, among which the most notable are the need to create stimulating policies that will motivate young people to build their future in Montenegro, the standardization of youth clubs through the application of good practices and existing regulatory frameworks developed in certain municipalities, as well as improving opportunities for young people from rural areas through the development of adequate infrastructure.
The Capital City expresses full commitment to developing this project idea through the drafting of a Local Charter on Social Cohesion, which will reflect the Capital’s orientation toward the recommendations of citizens arising from local and national dialogue. Likewise, representatives of the Capital City will, within this project, attend the training “How to Lead Inclusive and Innovative Local Dialogues,” with the aim of equipping participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to independently organize and facilitate local dialogues – structured and participatory processes through which community members jointly identify challenges and propose solutions.
The project “Together for the Common Good” represents a key initiative for building a more cohesive and inclusive society, while offering Podgorica the opportunity to become an example of leadership in the implementation of social initiatives that support the common good.
