“Young People, Health and the Decisions That Affect Us – From Participation to Public Policies”
During July 2026, the Center for Democracy Foundation organised a youth training programme in Vranje and online entitled “Young People, Health and the Decisions That Affect Us – From Participation to Public Policies”, as part of the Your City – Your Voice project.
The interactive two-day training brought together young people from Vranje and the surrounding area who are committed to actively contributing to the improvement of policies and services affecting the mental and reproductive health of young people.
Starting from the question of how public policies influence the quality of life of young people, participants explored the challenges related to mental and reproductive health and discussed opportunities for improving these policies and services through the more active participation of young people in decision-making processes. They analysed the existing support mechanisms and considered ways to strengthen them in cooperation with local institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
Applying the Youth Policy Lab methodology, participants identified priorities for action and developed their first proposals for improving policies and services intended for young people. Throughout the training, they strengthened their skills in argumentation, teamwork and public advocacy, which are essential for meaningful participation in public policy-making processes.
The outcomes of the training will serve as the foundation for the next phase of the project, during which young people, with the support of the Center for Democracy Foundation and local partners, will further develop recommendations aimed at improving the mental and reproductive health of young people. Through the project’s public advocacy activities, these proposals will be presented to representatives of local institutions and other relevant stakeholders, with the aim of contributing to the development of public policies that better respond to the needs of young people.
The project “Your City – Your Voice” is implemented within the project “EU National Resource Centre for civil society in Serbia” of the Belgrade Open School, financially supported by the European Union.
Center for Democracy Foundation
