Countries are not doing enough to keep their youth, according to the young participants of the Youth Conference held in Grada?ac o September 18-21.
The conference was attended by youth from Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Germany, who discussed migrations and tried to find solutions that would give youth a chance for a better life and keep them in their countries.
“Youth in this region leave their countries for the same reasons. They leave because they don’t have a job and they’re unhappy with the environment they live in.” – said Jelena from Serbia.
Youth noted that migrations could be very positive, especially circular ones. It’s a great opportunity for youth and for their country, which allows them to live and learn in other countries and then come back and use what they learned abroad.
“I don’t want to leave my country. I want to get an education and do something important. I want to become a legend. My country isn’t offering me anything, I’m staying out of love.” – said Vahid from Macedonia.
During the conference, the participants discussed problems in education, lack of alignment of the educational system with the labor market, lack of opportunities for professional training and a host of other problems faced by youth in our neighbouring countries.
Youth in the region have similar problems and an equally strong impulse to leave, according to the results of a survey conducted in July and August 2017, which were presented during the conference.
According to the results of the survey, youth are leaving because they don’t see a future for them in their own country, they’re unsatisfied primarily with the education system and prevalence of corruption, followed by unemployment.
One of the partners organising the Youth Conference is the Institute for Youth Development KULT, which has an active office in Grada?ac, dedicated to youth work and cooperating with organisations dealing with youth issues. This conference is one of the activities of the Erasmus+ project “Brain Drain, Brain Gain + Circular Migration” (BB+C), implemented from March 2017 to February 2018. This program includes 10 youth organisations from 7 countries.
Implementation partners are: Institute for Youth Development KULT and Gimnazija “Obala” (BiH), Volunteer Center Skopje from Macedonia, Mladiinfo Montenegro from Montenegro, Croatial Film Alliance from Croatia, NGO Duga and Eco Center Vojvodina from Serbia, Youth Center Velenje from Slovenia, Youth Office from Nuremberg and NGO Memos from Germany.
The project is funded by the German National Agency, authorised for implementing Erasmus+ programs, with the support of the European Commission.
Previously, the participants went on a study visit to Skopje, and will attend an evaluation seminar in Nuremberg, in January 2018.
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