PODGORICA – RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro organized a four-day capacity building training for eighteen representatives of civil society organizations from Montenegro. The training was supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and took place from 17 to 20 September in Podgorica.
The training aimed to strengthen the skills and capacities of less experienced civil society representatives in project design of the areas of youth mobility, cooperation, activism and intercultural learning.
The opening remarks were delivered by the Head of RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović, Democratization Program Manager at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Ms Lia Magnaguagno and Youth Representative of Montenegro in the RYCO Governing Board Ms Andrea Mićanović.
“Civil society organizations have shown a great interest for the Capacity Building Training happening in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. They will gain valuable knowledge and skills that will significantly ease their application process for the fourth RYCO Open Call and other similar initiatives,” Mr Koljenović highlighted.
Ms Magnaguagno took the opportunity to emphasize the strong partnership among RYCO and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and addressed the COVID-19 challenges and opportunities.
“The pandemic has altered how we connect with one another and has changed youth activism, cooperation and mobility programs. However, it has also provided a new impetus to the role that RYCO must play to support young people to come together in a safe environment,” Ms Magnaguagno pointed out.
Speaking about the importance of RYCO and youth empowerment, Ms Mićanović reflected on the important role that young people should play during the current challenges.
“I encourage you to apply for the fourth RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, because it is easier not to do anything and wait for change to happen but it takes courage and persistence to fight for the change we want to see. We are often referred to as the future of our society but we are above all its present – what we do today will shape the world we will live in tomorrow,” Ms Mićanović concluded.
At the end of the training, participants were awarded certificates and were invited to take part in the online informative session that will take place via Zoom platform on 23 September. The aim of the online session is to provide potential applicants with more details on the fourth RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, including general information on the call and its objectives, eligibility criteria, financial package and application form.
