A two-day educational camp for young people was held at the Rakočević Estate in Mojkovac, gathering around 30 participants from Montenegro and the region this year. Out of more than 140 applicants, a record number for the past four years that the camp has been held, 30 participants were selected. These individuals were chosen based on their motivation, social engagement, volunteer experience, and interests, making them ideal candidates for this year's agenda topics.
The first day of the camp opened with a panel discussion organized in honor of International Youth Day titled “What Really Matters to Young People?” The panel featured Vladimir Obradović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Sports and Youth; Slađana Anđušić, Secretary of the Secretariat for Local Self-Government and Cooperation with Civil Society of the Capital City Podgorica; Jugoslav Radović, Executive Director of the NGO Center for Youth Education; Saša Palibrk, Media and Information Advisor at the European House; and Kristina Janković, youth activist. During the discussion, the speakers addressed numerous topics of importance to young people today—from education to employment. Participants also played an active role, engaging with questions and comments for the decision-makers.
During the rest of the camp, participants had the opportunity to attend workshops led by renowned domestic and international professionals in various fields: online safety, youth participation, sustainable development, assertive business communication, financial literacy, youth mobility, creative entrepreneurship, and more. In addition to the workshops, there were quizzes, practical outdoor workshops on recycling and waste sorting, film nights, sports competitions, and more.
“We are proud that the EYCA Educo Camp has now become a standalone brand within the EYCA program, attracting a huge number of young people from Montenegro and the region. This is further confirmed by the fact that the camp served as an inspiration to colleagues from the EYCA office in Belgium to launch a similar initiative—the Rural Youth Camp—for young people from different parts of Europe. The feedback from this year’s participants confirmed that we chose great topics that genuinely interest young people, with relevant lecturers from whom they can learn a lot, and that we exceeded the expectations of all participants this year as well,” said Ana Vukčević, Project Manager of the European Youth Card (EYCA) project in Montenegro.
The two-day event was organized by the NGO Center for Youth Education, with financial support from the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro and the Municipality of Mojkovac. The camp’s aim is to promote the skills and knowledge young people need to be active participants in decision-making at the local and national levels, as well as to bring together experts in fields that are currently most relevant for the proper and healthy development of youth.
The camp was also supported by NLB Banka, M:tel,, INA Crna Gora, Lovćen Insurance, Coca Cola HBC Crna Gora, Neregelia, Tehnoplus, Ledo, Red Bull, Bigor, who ensured that participants enjoyed gifts, refreshments, promotional materials, and prizes during the camp.
The project in Montenegro is implemented by the NGO Center for Youth Education, with the support and sponsorship of the Ministry of Sports and Youth on behalf of the Government of Montenegro.