Our focus on youth inclusion, participation and dialogue is long-lasting and has been particularly strong over the recent period. Throughout the Western Balkans cluster, UNFPA and partners have conducted a wide range of activities that empower and connect the youth both within their societies and across the region. This ongoing effort culminated in the events to mark International Youth Day (12 August), tailor-made for each context.
This year, our organization has designated Green skills for the youth as a global theme for International Youth Day. The central idea is contained in the fact that the world is embarking on a green transition – a shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly planet – and that the young population is key to making this transition successful. The feasibility of creating a greener world largely depends on the development of green skills, including technical knowledge to enable the use of green technologies in occupational settings, as well as a range of values and attitudes to facilitate environmentally sustainable decisions in life as well as in work. This is what is needed for all of society, especially the youth sector.
With this in mind, one of the celebrations of International Youth Day 2023 was an inspiring initiative called "Eco-Art Installations for Sustainable Communities." It centered on a youth camp organized by NGO SIT in collaboration with NGO DYVO and supported by UNFPA Kosovo, UN Peacebuilding, UNDP Kosovo and NGO coalition K10, devoted to engaging and empowering young individuals to champion environmental awareness, peacebuilding, and sustainability.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the celebration of International Youth Day 2023 took place at the vibrant and inclusive Fusion Fiesta in Safet Zajko Park in Sarajevo, as part of the UNFPA "Moving Us Closer" project. The Festival promoted social cohesion, reduction of prejudice and discrimination and encouraged intercultural dialogue and reconciliation among young people from seven cities: Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Brčko, Bosanski Petrovac and Bijeljina.
Meanwhile in North Macedonia CO, on the occasion of International Youth Day 2023, another city park event was organized, this one in Shkolka, Skopje. The UNFPA partnered with a range of partners, from the Youth Education Forum to the Agency for Youth and Sports, United Nations Development Program - UNDP, the OSCE Mission in Skopje and USAID, to engage youth towards new opportunities.
Serbia joined global campaign and marking of International Youth Day with peer workshops and activities with youth in four local municipalities, held under the joint United Nations project “Peer Mentoring Program for promotion of human rights, gender equality and increased youth participation in Serbia."
