EXPERIENCE 1
SERVICE LEARNING FOR MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
“Empowering youth to be architects of change, this project transforms community challenges into pathways for growth, resilience, and lasting impact.”
WHAT WE DO
Empowering Youth Through Community-Based Service Learning
The project aims to empower young people across Montenegro by engaging them in projects that address real, pressing community needs. Through service learning, participants gain hands-on experience while developing key life skills like empathy, resilience, and civic responsibility. This methodology is enriched with the whole child development approach designed to help youth fully realize their potential by fostering a sense of personal agency and commitment to community development.
Addressing a Range of Social Issues
The project spans a diverse array of themes, from peer violence prevention and mental health promotion to digital literacy and women’s empowerment. In collaboration with mentors and local stakeholders, participants implement 14 unique community-based projects, each tailored to address specific challenges within their localities. These projects not only respond to immediate community needs but also help young people connect with the broader social and civic landscape of Montenegro.
Building Collaborative Partnerships for Sustainable Impact
Central to the project’s success is its focus on building strong partnerships between youth, educational institutions, NGOs, and local authorities. By connecting these groups, the project fosters a collaborative environment that supports shared goals and sustainable change.
Creating Lifelong Advocates for Social Change
Beyond addressing immediate community challenges, Service Learning for More Inclusive Communities instills a deep sense of civic responsibility in its participants. Through the completion of their projects, young people come to understand the role they can play in society, fostering a commitment to positive change that lasts well beyond the program. This project has equipped a new generation with the skills and motivation to continue contributing to their communities, and strengthening Montenegro’s civic and social foundation.
EXPERIENCE 2
DEMOCRACY WORKSHOPS
“Democratic culture, human rights and solidarity are the basis of our coexistence”
WHAT WE DO
The Democracy Workshops, known as the "Barbara Prammer" Democracy Workshops, are an educational program implemented by the Parliament of Montenegro. Started as an initiative of the Austrian parliament, ERSTE Foundation, and Parliament of Montenegro, grown into a project of the national NGO Forum MNE, Parliament of Montenegro & ERSTE Foundation, Parliament of Austria, and Austrian independent educational provider, and reached full integration into public budget, solidly implemented and funded by the of Parliament of Montenegro. Wholly transparently sponsored by the public body.
Established in 2012, these workshops aim to stimulate interest in politics and democratic processes among children and young people. The workshops provide an interactive learning experience for children aged 8 to 14, focusing on the principles of democracy, rule of law, the functioning of parliamentary institutions, the importance of active citizenship, how European union function, introducing Human and Children Rights, fight against discriminations, why is important to children participate in making decision about them, etc. The program encourages young participants to engage in discussions, simulations, and other educational activities designed to foster their understanding of democratic values and political participation.
The program has seen significant participation, with over 14,620 primary school students and 878 teachers involved within less than three years. This broad reach includes about 20% of children aged 8-15 and over 65% of primary schools across Montenegro. The workshops emphasize the values of democracy, intercultural dialogue, and human rights, aiming to prepare the younger generation for responsible and active citizenship