A fifth of citizens at risk of poverty, adoption of the Social Protection Strategy urgent
Statement from the Center for Democracy Foundation on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty In Serbia, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Office (NSO), 19.9% of citizens live at risk of poverty, while 27.2% of the population is exposed to the risk of poverty or social exclusion. The elderly and the unemployed are particularly affected, indicating a serious lack of a systemic approach to combating poverty. The Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF) actively advocates for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 1 – eradicating poverty, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which has also been…
Call for a Regional Internship Program is open!
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE We are pleased to announce a great opportunity for 5 young people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia and Serbia to attend a paid internship in civil society organizations from Western Balkans. If you are a young person who wish to gain firsthand experience in civil society in Belgrade, Pristina, Tirana or Skopje in a period of two months, learn about European integration, contribute to youth participation and structured dialogue and connect with young people from the region, apply for internship at this link. Deadline for submitting applications is 29 October…
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: POLICY LABS ON YOUTH PARTICIPATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH, MEDIA, AND CULTURE
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE Join us in creating opportunities for collaboration, bringing together young people and policy makers to discuss and work on mainstreaming youth policies across all relevant areas! RYDE (Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe) project team invites youth representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), ministries/institutions, local decision-makers, youth councils, youth from political parties, youth representatives from media and other relevant stakeholders to join the upcoming policy labs. These sessions aim to establish and improve dialogue between decision-makers and youth representatives in order to jointly identify opportunities for improving youth policies in the Western Balkans in the following…
Call for participation: Policy Labs on Youth, Participation, Employment, Health, Media, and Culture
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE Join us in creating opportunities for collaboration, bringing together young people and policy makers to discuss and work on mainstreaming youth policies across all relevant areas! RYDE (Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe) project team invites youth representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), ministries/institutions, local decision-makers, youth councils, youth from political parties, youth representatives from media and other relevant stakeholders to join the upcoming policy labs. These sessions aim to establish and improve dialogue between decision-makers and youth representatives in order to jointly identify opportunities for improving youth policies in the Western Balkans in the following five areas: Youth participation…
Common Challenges/Common Solutions: The Role of Youth Along the Western Balkans’ Path to the EU
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE Young people in the Western Balkans share common challenges, with education quality highlighted as a key concern – agreed the participants in the debate ‘The Role of Youth in the EU Integration Process of the Western Balkans’, held on 2 October 2024 as part of Days of CDF. Mina Rolović-Jočić, Project Coordinator and Manager of the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE) project, stated that the Democracy Foundation has focused on youth engagement for three decades. She presented findings from a study conducted last year across the region, examining young people’s views on issues…
Intermunicipal exchange in Užice on local development planning
“SDGs for ALL” Platform The Social Pillar of the “SDGs for ALL” Platform organized a panel for inter-municipal learning on September 30, 2024, in Užice, titled “Inter-Municipal Exchange in Local Development Planning”. The goal was to enable the connection and exchange of local knowledge and experiences and to enhance cooperation among local self-government units. The event topics included planning for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and developing resilient communities, as well as integrating a gender perspective and the fundamental principle of the 2030 Agenda, “Leave No One Behind,” into local economic and social development planning. The gathering was opened by: Nataša Vučković, Foundation Center for…
Fighters for Improving the Conditions of Student Accommodation Facilities and Other Rights
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE The Fighters for Improving the Conditions of Student Accommodation Facilities and Other Rights is one of five regional informal groups whose project “Students from the Western Balkans in a battle for European Living Conditions” has received financial support through the “Active Achievement Fund”, a sub-granting activity of the “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” project funded by the European Union. The “Active Achievement Fund” aims to empower youth in the Western Balkans to participate in a structured dialogue on public policies relevant to youth, to advocate for the adoption of European values…
Vučković in Strasbourg: Collaboration Opening New Opportunities for Ukrainian Citizens
ALDA – Enhancing Local Democracy with Support from European Partners At the 20th Congress of French Regions in Strasbourg (France), a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the Local Democracy Agency Kharkiv. On this occasion, Nataša Vučković, President of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) and General Secretary of the Foundation Center for Democracy (FCD), highlighted the importance of this new partnership. "I am convinced that this cooperation will open new opportunities for the citizens of Ukraine," said Vučković, emphasizing the broader impact expected from such partnerships on Ukraine's recovery. The signing of the Memorandum took place on September…
Artvist Voices – Art as a Powerful Tool for Addressing Socio-Economic Issues Faced by WB Youth
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE The Artvist Voices is one of five regional informal groups whose project “EmpowerArt Balkans” has received financial support through the “Active Achievement Fund”, a sub-granting activity of the “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” project funded by the European Union. The “Active Achievement Fund” aims to empower youth in the Western Balkans to participate in a structured dialogue on public policies relevant to youth, to advocate for the adoption of European values and strengthening of democratic and responsible institutions, and to promote regional cooperation and political, economic, and social benefits of the…
Participation of Western Balkan Youth in Social Processes – ReLOaD2 Conference
CDF at the Regional ReLOaD2 Conference in Podgorica Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bosnia and Herzegovina, a two-day regional ReLOaD2 conference was held in Podgorica (September 17-18, 2024), where discussions focused on strengthening partnerships between non-governmental organizations and local governments throughout the Western Balkans region. The Project Coordinator of the Foundation Center for Democracy, Mina Rolović-Jočić, spoke about youth participation in the process of creating and monitoring public policies, as well as how young people perceive current policies and to what extent those policies reflect their needs and priorities. On the panel “Youth and youth involment in the society – challenges,…
Generations United Initiative
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE Informal group “Generations United Initiative” is one of five regional informal groups whose project “Promotion of dialogue between generations in the Western Balkans” has received financial support through the “Active Achievement Fund”, a sub-granting activity of the “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” project funded by the European Union. The “Active Achievement Fund” aims to empower youth in the Western Balkans to participate in a structured dialogue on public policies relevant to youth, to advocate for the adoption of European values and strengthening of democratic and responsible institutions, and to promote regional…
Organized group “STAV”
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE The Organized group “STAV” is one of five regional informal groups whose project “Western Balkan Student Mobilization and Advocacy Network (WB-STAW)” has received financial support through the “Active Achievement Fund 2024”, a sub-granting activity of the “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” project funded by the European Union. This group is composed of 9 young people from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The “Active Achievement Fund” aims to empower youth in the Western Balkans to participate in a structured dialogue on public policies relevant to youth, to advocate for the…
