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 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 implementing partner organizations – Regional Academy for Democratic Development from Novi Sad, Serbia, which serve as intermediary organizations for their project.
Project background: This project addresses the lack of democratic practices in universities across the Western Balkans. Student bodies and parliaments often operate with low transparency and limited accountability, frequently functioning as one-party systems. In many cases, student elections offer only a single candidate, leaving no real choice for voters.
These issues are deeply rooted in the structure of student organizations, which have changed little since the 1990s and are often influenced by ruling political parties, using them as training grounds for loyal members. As a result, student bodies fail to effectively represent students’ interests, while contributing to distrust in democratic processes and a sense of powerlessness among youth.
The project aims to strengthen democratic engagement by supporting active student organizations in Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It focuses on raising awareness about the role and functioning of student bodies, increasing knowledge of legal frameworks and student rights, and equipping young people with skills in problem-solving, communication, advocacy, and active participation to drive change within their university communities.
Through the implementation of the STAW project, an educational and strategic planning activities were carried out in Niš, Sarajevo, and Belgrade, combining training, mentoring, and practical support to strengthen youth engagement in student governance.
It enabled young participants to deepen their understanding of student rights, democratic governance, and organizational development. These activities were complemented by targeted educational sessions on legal frameworks, student rights, and electoral processes, as well as training in advocacy, communication, and public engagement. Continuous mentoring and hands-on support were provided to emerging student groups, alongside opportunities for regional exchange and collaboration, fostering peer learning and joint action on shared challenges across the Western Balkans. At the same time, participants were supported in developing key organizational capacities, including strategic planning, branding, outreach, and visibility. As a direct result of these activities, student groups from Sarajevo and Nis transitioned from informal student initiatives into structured and visible student organisations. In Sarajevo, DIREK, and in Niš, SIMFUN formalised their work by registering their organisations, developing visual identities, establishing a social media presence, and launching websites.
The knowledge, confidence, organisational skills, and public engagement capacities gained throughout the project extended beyond the implementation period, resulting in sustainable institutional development. Today, both organisations operate as active actors in student organising: they engage and mobilise students, increase the visibility of youth initiatives, and continue to advance democratic participation and student rights within their communities.
Online campaign: As part of the project, a mini online campaign was implemented to highlight that student rights extend beyond the classroom. Students have the right to know who represents them, how student institutions function, and how decisions affecting their education are made. The campaign emphasizes that transparency and accountability are fundamental rights, not privileges. It also draws attention to widespread issues across the Western Balkans, where student bodies often lack openness, delay or withhold information, and make decisions without meaningful student involvement. By sharing similar experiences from different universities, the campaign underscores that these challenges are not isolated but regional. It promotes solidarity among students, encouraging them to connect, exchange experiences, and collectively advocate for their rights. Ultimately, the campaign stresses that democratic change within universities begins with informed, connected, and empowered young people.
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE
