Regional Youth Community Forum

I want to stress again the importance of visibility. Youth who stay and build here need to be featured—not just in NGO reports, but in mainstream news, cultural festivals, national awards. Honor those who stay with the same pride we show to those who succeed abroad.

One idea I’d love to see is youth-led municipal budgets. Let young people vote directly on how 5–10% of the city’s discretionary budget is spent. Even small pilot programs could prove that youth decision-making leads to more inclusive outcomes.

Let’s work on trust between generations. Not everything needs to be “modern” or “traditional”—there’s value in both. Intergenerational projects that pair young and older citizens can bridge divides and restore the idea of shared belonging.

Another proposal: national recognition for youth innovation in social impact. From mental health apps to green startups, youth are already solving the region’s hardest problems. Let’s elevate them, scale them, and show the public that local talent doesn’t need to leave to matter.

Another proposal: national recognition for youth innovation in social impact. From mental health apps to green startups, youth are already solving the region’s hardest problems. Let’s elevate them, scale them, and show the public that local talent doesn’t need to leave to matter.

Local transport may seem unrelated to migration, but when youth can’t access schools, jobs, or community centers, they become isolated. Public buses, bike lanes, and ride subsidies for youth should be essential—not an afterthought.

As we near the end of this discussion, I keep thinking: we need to leave behind performative politics. Youth don’t want photo ops or empty applause. They want real, honest collaboration. And if we can offer that, maybe they’ll offer us their futures.

Here’s a challenge to every city: adopt a Youth Impact Score. Measure how each policy, from zoning to education, affects residents under 30. Publish it annually. Build pride around cities that serve their youngest well.

We’ve spoken a lot about policies, but joy matters too. Are our cities fun? Are our parks full of laughter? Do youth feel freedom in public space? You don’t stay where you survive—you stay where you thrive.

Civic tech is an untapped goldmine. We have enough young developers to build platforms for citizen feedback, urban reporting, and real-time consultation. Let’s fund youth to create the tools that empower democracy.

Imagine every parliament having a youth counterpart that mirrors real sessions with real debate. Let the young shadow their leaders. This kind of democratic apprenticeship plants seeds for a new political culture.

Let’s also normalize dual belonging. You can live in Berlin and still love Banja Luka. Identity isn’t all-or-nothing. If we create flexible, hybrid relationships between diaspora and homeland, more young people might return—or stay connected in meaningful ways.

Care work is youth work. Many young people care for siblings, grandparents, neighbors. We should recognize and support these invisible contributions. Paid leave, care stipends, community kitchens—it all makes youth life more livable.

Youth also want beauty. Clean rivers, restored buildings, art on the streets. If we invest in aesthetics, not just infrastructure, we foster emotional bonds to place. And people protect what they love.

I propose a Western Balkans Youth Charter—one guiding vision, written by youth, for youth, adopted by every country. Let it be our declaration that we belong, we contribute, and we lead.

At the heart of it all is dignity. Not just in wages, but in voice, in safety, in dreams. Youth migration is a dignity crisis. And the only antidote is trust and transformation.