LocationsYoung people from the region break stereotypes and build mutual trust
Youth Camp organised on Palić
October 24, 2023
Color Media Communications
Palić, 23 October 2023 – Birch tree planting, symbolising the fostering of understanding and trust among the young people in the Western Balkans, marked the official closing of the Regional Youth Camp at the student complex Ratko Mitrović on Palić. The tree was planted by Nina Mitić, Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, and Fabrizio Andreuzzi, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in Serbia, together with the young participants in the camp.
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The camp was held from October 21 to 23 and hosted 23 young women and men from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia, as well as two young refugees from Burundi and Afghanistan who live and work in Serbia.
"We must build bridges and tear down the walls that are remnants of the past. In order to achieve this, we must have strong, educated young people who will take part in this change and who will show mutual understanding and work jointly towards a better future”, said Rejhan Kurtović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, who joined the participants at the opening of the camp.
Rejhan Kurtović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue
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Over the weekend, young participants attended workshops on youth activism, social entrepreneurship, video and photography production, media literacy, and interpretation of information shared on social media. Also, they exchanged experiences in the area of activism and demonstrated that they are more than able to collaborate and work as a team.
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Nina Mitić, Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, emphasised that young men and women are key collaborators and, more importantly, social media users, which is why it is crucial that they acquire the knowledge and skills required to interpret information critically.
Nina Mitić, Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue
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“We are working with young decision-makers, local self-governments, youth councillors, and national authorities to include young women and men in decision-making processes and the development of youth strategies and plans on both national and local levels”, said Fabrizio Andreuzzi, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in Serbia.
Fabrizio Andreuzzi, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in Serbia
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"Young generations who will shape public and political discourse in the years ahead are well aware of the responsibility they will assume and wish to strengthen their position in society so that their voice is heard and activities that bring changes in their surroundings are positively accepted within their respective communities. The awareness and conscientiousness these young people exhibited in the camp is just another reason to provide them with support and many opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills in the future through new governmental and non-governmental sector projects”, stressed Thomas Jackson, Regional Coordinator for the ‘Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality &Trust’ project.
Thomas Jackson, Regional Coordinator for the ‘Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality &Trust’ project
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Regional Youth Camp on Palić was organised within the ‘Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality &Trust’ project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the UNFPA, UNESCO, and UN Women, with financial support from the UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund. This project is implemented in Serbia in partnership with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue in the Government of the Republic of Serbia.