Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE
The BalCANians is one of five regional informal groups whose project “Opportunity RYDErs” 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. This group is composed of five young people from Bela Palanka (Serbia), Foča (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Štip (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 adoption of European values and strengthening of democratic and responsible institutions, and to promote regional cooperation and political, economic and social benefits of the EU integration for the Western Balkans societies. Support is provided through the direct payments by RYDE Coordinator – Center for Democracy Foundation, Belgrade, Serbia, which serve as intermediary organizations for their project.
Project background: Since the early 2000s, the municipalities of Bela Palanka (Serbia), Foča (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Štip (North Macedonia) have faced severe youth outmigration. Industrial decline, centralised universities, and low wages push young people toward bigger cities. Census data show dramatic losses: in Bela Palanka, the 15–29 population dropped by 41% between 2002 and 2022, while the total population shrank by almost 20%. Similar trends are seen in Foča and Štip. At the same time, mobility and learning opportunities offered by the EU (Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, DiscoverEU) remain almost invisible in these towns. High travel costs, weak local promotion, understaffed youth offices, and parental distrust further limit access. As a result, many young people miss deadlines, abandon plans, or doubt whether such programs are even real. The project aims to empower 18 young ambassadors from Bela Palanka, Foča, and Štip to promote EU mobility and volunteering programs like Erasmus+, ESC, and DiscoverEU to at least 150 peers. It aims to increase applications, build peer support, and highlight the real benefits of EU integration for youth, fostering a stronger connection to the European community through collaboration with schools and local authorities.
Opportunity RYDErs training in Bela Palanka
From 26–28 September, 2025, young people from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia, gathered at the Opportunity RYDErs training in Bela Palanka to discover the many ways the European Union supports youth mobility, learning, and active participation.
Through engaging and interactive sessions, participants discovered the wide range of EU mobility programs available to them:
- Erasmus+ – offering opportunities for studying, volunteering, and youth exchanges across Europe.
- European Solidarity Corps (ESC) – a program that enables young people to volunteer abroad, gain valuable skills, and support local communities.
- DiscoverEU – giving young people the chance to travel across Europe, connect with new cultures, and broaden their horizons.
Participants also practiced writing Europass CVs, preparing strong applications, and developing local project ideas. These sessions helped young people understand how to turn their creativity into initiatives that can bring positive change to their own communities. The event highlighted that Europe is full of opportunities—it is up to young people to take them, share their experiences, and inspire others to do the same.
Result: The project “Opportunity RYDErs” was successfully implemented during a 3-month period, activating young people across three Western Balkan small communities. The project reached its main goal: creating a team of 18 youth ambassadors (“Ryders”) who increased visibility, trust, and practical access to EU mobility opportunities among their local peers.
Within the project, the “Pocket Guide to EU Opportunities for Youth” was prepared in BSH, English, and Macedonian languages. The “Pocket Guide to EU Opportunities for Youth” is a practical guide designed to inform young people about different opportunities funded by the European Union, especially through programs like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. The guide explains how young people can participate in international projects such as youth exchanges, training courses, and volunteering activities. It provides step-by-step instructions on how the application process works, from finding calls for participants to preparing for mobility and completing the project cycle. A significant part of the guide focuses on where to find opportunities, highlighting sources such as social media, NGOs, youth networks, official EU platforms, and national agencies. The guide also offers practical advice on how to get selected, emphasizing motivation, flexibility, and persistence, as well as tips for writing a strong application and CV using the Europass format. Finally, it outlines common mistakes applicants should avoid, such as incomplete applications, missing deadlines, or not tailoring their application to a specific call.
At the end of the project, three local info events were organized – two held in person in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, and one online in Serbia – with the aim of sharing the knowledge and experiences gained during the Lab.
CDF / RYDE
The Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe Project is implementing by the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF), Belgrade (as project coordinator) and partner organizations: Academy of European Integration and Negotiations from Tirana (AIEN); Kosovo Stability Initiative from Pristina (IKS); Association Network of Progressive Initiatives from Sarajevo (NPI); NGO Info Center from Skopje (NGO IC); Regional Academy for Democratic Development from Novi Sad (ADD); Youth Act Center from Tirana (YA). The project is funded by the European Union.
