“We grow with the flow – Youth for rivers”  is a 15-month long transboundary project co-created by GAIA from Kosovo, Eko-svest from North Macedonia and Eco-team from Montenegro. The main theme of the project, rural development and environment, is reflected through locally relevant issues, with regional impact and European importance. The project specifically deals with river protections and participation of young people in democratic processes related to their local environmental realities.

The project aims to increase democratic competencies of youth from three rural communities to participate in relevant environmental initiatives, through the support of CSOs, teachers and involvement of institutions.

The project flow is built around 4 main activities:

1. 2-day preparatory meeting in Podgorica in April 2025
2. 5-day long transboundary training for 30 young people on nature protection, citizens science, public participation and advocacy, in Mavrovo National Park in September 2025
3. 3 local youth-led environmental initiatives 
4. 2-day long transboundary event for sharing results and networking with CSOs and institutions, in Kosovo in May 2026

All three organizations are engaged in nature protection and youth work with the aim of contributing to the development of a democratic society and respect of human rights. This project will contribute to the long-term impact they want to achieve in their countries, which is the active participation of citizens in the creation and implementation of environmental policies, with a particular emphasis on increasing environmental awareness among young people of different interests and encouraging their engagement in democratic processes.

Background 

Rivers in the Western Balkans are currently under many different threats (hydropower plants, pollution, sand extraction, climate change, dredging, illegal logging, etc.), thus young generations should get (re)connected with them, learn about their ecology, management, and understand potentials and their role in the protection of nature, management and sustainable development of local communities.

Bringing together youth from these 3 communities, with similar local contexts and potential, will increase the interest, knowledge, and competencies about river protection and their role in the process of decision-making. Building capacities and competencies of young people, future decision-makers, is a direct investment into the future and a prerequisite for their qualitative engagement, and interest in policy-making, democratic processes, and activism.

The presence of important riverine ecosystems is significant for all 3 communities and as such provides the potential for sustainable development, rural and eco-tourism, engagement of different actors, and environmental education.

Empowering and engaging young people in decision-making processes related to nature conservation and community development is necessary, fruitful, strategic, and often unused. Lack of engagement of young people, teachers, and other local stakeholders, into decision-making processes undermines the foundations for sustainable development in rural areas, which is also contrary to values of democratic societies. 

The project is implemented within the framework of the BOOST program supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy.

The views, opinions and content expressed in this text are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Association for Local Democracy-ALDA and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). ALDA and AFD are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.