About 500 long-term unemployed young people between the ages of 18 and 35, will have an opportunity to participate in training for acquiring new skills and professional orientation. The “Your Job” project, funded by the European Union, aims to increase the employability of young people in the cross-border area of BiH and Montenegro, both through professional orientation, quality professional guidance, first work experience, and entrepreneurial practice, as well as through encouraging dialogue between young people, organizations civil society, companies and public institutions.
In this regard, a three-year project to support the employment of young people and the creation of new employment opportunities in the cross-border area was presented today in Berane. The project tasks were discussed by: Mrs. Liselotte Iaksson, Deputy Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Mr. Marko Lalević, manager of the municipality of Berane and Mr. Marko Đelović, director of Caritas Montenegro.
In her address, the representative of the EU Delegation in Montenegro expressed her satisfaction with participating in the beginning of the cross-border cooperation project, which will promote employment opportunities for young people.
I am especially happy that today we are launching another project for young people because 2022 has been declared the European Year of Youth and initiatives like this can contribute to the creation of a qualified and resilient workforce ready for the future in the countries of the Western Balkans, said Mrs. Iaksson.
The EU has set aside significant financial resources for generating growth and jobs and makes a significant contribution to cross-border cooperation by financing this program with 8.4 million euros for the period 2014-2020. The EU will continue to support the development of good neighbourly relations and the economic development of border regions by financing cross-border programs, and this support will continue in the future, concluded the representative of the EU delegation in Montenegro.
In his presentation, Mr. Marko Lalević, manager of the municipality of Berane, greeted all those present on behalf of the president of the Municipality, and expressed his gratitude and satisfaction that this conference has been organized in Berane.
The key resource of every country is people, especially young people, while one of the biggest problems in the north of Montenegro and especially in the municipality of Berane is youth migration due to the lack of employment. The easiest way to retain young people is to enable them to find employment after schooling, therefore the municipality of Berane will provide full support in all activities, concluded Mr. Lalevic.
The director of Caritas Montenegro greeted the participants on behalf of all project partners. We are pleased to announce today and open the implementation of a new project within the cross-border cooperation between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Mr. Đelović and used the opportunity to thank the European Union and the funds it makes available in this area, which are significant for improving the quality of life of vulnerable groups and which contribute to the additional strengthening of certain categories in order to become visible on the labor market.
In the project, 12 counsellors will be educated for the “competency passport”, who will work directly with young people and local businesses on a daily basis. Additionally, within the project activities, young people will receive business counselling to start their own, sustainable business through self-employment, and with the help of a counsellor, establish contacts with employers and complete an internship, i.e. their first work experience. The project will also work on establishing a dialogue for harmonizing needs and resources between civil society organizations, companies and institutions.
Fifty participants from stakeholders dealing with youth employment programs from the project region, representatives of donors and other partner organizations took part in the conference.
The European Union, through the IPA II BiH – Montenegro cross-border cooperation program, finances the “Your Job” project with grants of around 360,000 euros. Your Job project is implemented by Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with partners: Mozaik Foundation and Association for the Development of Competences “S.K.I.L.L.S.” from Sarajevo (BiH), as well as with Caritas of the Archdiocese of Bar and Business Start Center Bar (Montenegro).
