NVO GLAS, u okviru regionalnog projekta „Youth Engagement for Europeanization of the Balkans“, objavljuje osmi intervju u seriji razgovora sa mladima i omladinskim liderima evropskih vrijednosti. Projekat ima za cilj da osnaži ulogu mladih u evropskim integracijama i reformskim procesima, podstičući njihovo aktivno učešće u oblikovanju budućnosti Crne Gore i regiona.
Naša sagovornica ovoga puta je Nikolina Gvozdenović, devetnaestogodišnjakinja iz Bara, studentkinja fizike i matematike, koja istovremeno pokazuje široko interesovanje za društvene teme, ljudska prava i omladinski aktivizam. Kroz svoje angažovanje, Nikolina doprinosi razvoju zajednice i afirmaciji evropskih vrijednosti među mladima.
Nikolina je bila aktivna učesnica kick-off događaja ovog projekta, održanog 7. jula 2025. godine u Podgorici, gdje je imala priliku da razmijeni mišljenja sa vršnjacima iz regiona o ulozi mladih u procesima evropskih integracija.
Intervju je vodila izvršna direktorica NVO GLAS, Milica Dedić, a u razgovoru je Nikolina govorila o svojim utiscima sa kick-off događaja, načinima za unapređenje komunikacije između mladih i institucija, idejama za jačanje regionalne saradnje i pristupu predstavljanja EU integracija koji bi bio bliži mladima. Takođe je podijelila svoje viđenje o značaju uključivanja mladih iz manjih sredina i marginalizovanih grupa, te poruku mladima iz regiona o važnosti njihovog angažmana u procesu evropskih integracija.
Cijeli intervju možete pročitati u nastavku.
NVO GLAS: Nakon učešća na kick-off događaju Youth Engagement for Europeanization of the Balkans, koje bi korake, po tvom mišljenju, trebalo preduzeti u budućnosti da bi se unaprijedila komunikacija između mladih i institucija u regionu?
Nikolina: Institucije u regionu moraju preuzeti inicijativu da priđu mladima na vršnjački način. U idealnoj zajednici za ove teme i stvaranje ovakvih konekcija bi postojao prostor u školi, te bi mladi samoinicijativno prilazili i komunicirali sa institucijama, ali nažalost, naš region nema edukacioni sistem razvijen u te svrhe. Iz tog razloga institucije često moraju biti te koje ostvaruju komunikaciju. Zato je bitno prepoznati prostore koji već pripadaju mladima, vrijednosti koje mladi smatraju bitnim i “kulturu omladine” koja postoji u regionu. Mladima treba prilaziti sa već poznatom terminologijom, sa idejama koje nadograđuju već postojeće sentimente među omladinom, i sa pretpostavkom da su mladi budući lideri evropske integracije. Na ovaj način komunikacija sa mladima može da se vrši u prostorima kao što su škole, omladinski klubovi, ali i u parkovima, gejmerskim igraonicama, i drugim prostorima gdje mladi borave. Nakon ostvarenja početne konekcije otvara se prostor za obostranu edukaciju, razvoj i dalju komunikaciju između mladih i institucija u regionu.
NVO GLAS: Ako bi imala priliku da osmisliš programe ili aktivnosti koji bi povezali mlade iz različitih zemalja Zapadnog Balkana, šta bi predložila kao najefikasniji način za jačanje saradnje i zajedničkog djelovanja?
Nikolina: Mislim da veliki dio podjele koju osjećamo na Zapadnom Balkanu nastaje iz našeg (ne)poznavanja istorije, te i našeg nepoznavanja jedni drugih. Političke partije nas uče jedno, roditelji drugo, škole treće i kroz to stvaraju polarizaciju i podjelu baziranu na često netačnim, nepotpunim i generalizovanim činjenicama. Najefikasnijim načinom da se ojača saradnja i zajedničko djelovanje bih smatrala aktivnosti koje nas uče našoj zajedničkoj prošlosti kroz više različitih, subjektivnih i objektivnih perspektiva, te razvijaju kritičko mišljenje kod mladih i razbijaju pretpostavku da istorija, današnjica ili budućnost može biti crno-bijela. Ove aktivnosti bi naravno uključivale druženja, razmjene mišljenja, kulture, iskustava i sličnog. Na taj način stičemo razumijevanje naše zajedničke prošlosti kroz stvaranje zajedničkog danas i dajemo prostor za buduću saradnju i zajedničko djelovanje.
NVO GLAS: Kako misliš da bi informacije o EU integracijama mogle biti predstavljene mladima na način koji bi im bio bliži, zanimljiviji i motivišući?
Nikolina: Potrebno je staviti fokus na informacije koje se direktno tiču mladih, čiji benefit mladi mogu odmah prepoznati. Mogućnost selidbe, rada i učenja u zemljama EU, i bezgranična putovanja su vjerovatno među najočiglednijim benefitima koje EU nudi mladima. Sitnice kao što je pravilo da svaki novi telefon mora imati isti punjač za mlade znače mnogo. Počela bih ovako, sa upoznavanjem ličnih benefita, a zatim bih mlade upoznala i sa benefitima koji se tiču njihove porodice, roditelja, te naposlijetku i šta bi ulazak u EU značio za cijelu državu i region. Bitno je mladima skrenuti pažnju i na mane koje dolaze sa ulaskom u EU, kao što je određeni gubitak suvereniteta, kako bi mogli formirati sopstvena mišljenja o ovoj temi, te se kroz to sa njom i zbližili.
NVO GLAS: Na osnovu iskustva sa kick-off događaja, šta bi preporučila kao dobre prakse ili ideje koje bi organizatori trebali uključiti u buduće slične događaje?
Nikolina: Multinacionalna sredina je definitivno praksa koja mi se svidjela. Mislim da prenosi duh Evropske Unije i donosi mogućnost za učenje i lični razvoj. Predstavljanje mogućnosti ulaska u EU, to jest gdje se Crna Gora nalazi na putu ka EU, takođe smatram veoma korisnim jer učesnike stavlja na sličan nivo što se tiče informacija koje posjeduju i otvara prostor za diskusiju konkretnih tema, a istovremeno osigurava da mladi koji možda prvi put učestvuju na događaju ove prirode nisu izostavljeni zbog nedostatka informacija. Pauze za ručak i grickalice, kao socijalni dio događaja su divna prilika za umrežavanje, ali i druženje i stvaranje prostora za diskusiju među mladima. Multinacionalnost, informisanje mladih i vrijeme za druženje su definitivno prakse koje bih voljela da vidim na budućim događajima.
NVO GLAS: Šta bi, po tvom mišljenju, trebalo uraditi kako bi se osiguralo da mladi iz manjih sredina i marginalizovanih grupa imaju jednaku priliku da učestvuju u procesima evropskih integracija?
Nikolina: Mislim da je potrebno ostvariti saradnju sa organizacijama, nevladinim i vladinim, koje se odveć bave rješavanjem pitanja koja se tiču mladih iz manjih sredina i marginalizovanih grupa, koje su predstavnici ove grupe mladih. U saradnji sa takvim organizacijama moguće je praviti planove za buduće aktivnosti. Ovako organizovani događaji će u vidu imati ne samo ključna interesovanja mladih iz manjih sredina i marginalizovanih grupa, već i prepreke, bilo infrastrukturne, finansijske ili kulturne, koje utiču na ovu grupu mladih, te pokušati da umanje uticaj istih.
NVO GLAS: Ako bi mogla poslati jednu ključnu poruku mladima iz regiona o njihovoj ulozi u evropskim integracijama, koja bi to poruka bila i zašto?
Nikolina: Rekla bih mladima da evropska integracija najviše zavisi od njih. Mladi često uvrštavaju teme kao što su evropska integracija i sam ulazak u EU u politike koje se njih ne tiču, o kojima odrasli i političari treba da brinu. To naravno nije tačno. Ulazak u EU je naša budućnost, evropska integracija je naša budućnost, a mladi su budućnost svijeta, te i našeg regiona. Interesovanje koje mladi danas imaju prema ovim temama može značiti brži, efikasniji, lakši i dugotrajniji napredak društva. Uz to, dio mladih koji se nalazi u privilegovanoj socio-ekonomskoj situaciji često ne osjeća duboku potrebu za evropskom integracijom jer se oni već nalaze u komotnoj situaciji u zajednici kakva je trenutno. Potrebno je razviti svijest među mladima da zadovoljavanje potreba i prava najmarginalizovanijih grupa nije samo put ka evropskoj integraciji, nego i kolektivnom napretku cjelokupnog društva. Zato mislim da je najbitnija poruka koja se mora poslati mladima ta da od njihove, prvenstveno, empatije, zatim njihovog angažmana i njihovog interesovanja zavisi naša evropska integracija i samim tim budućnost cijelog regiona.
Kroz svoje odgovore, Nikolina jasno pokazuje da mladi ljudi ne treba da budu samo pasivni posmatrači, već aktivni učesnici u oblikovanju evropske budućnosti Crne Gore i regiona. Njene poruke ističu značaj edukacije, međusobnog razumijevanja i otvorenog dijaloga između mladih i institucija, kao i potrebu za uključivanjem svih društvenih grupa u procese evropskih integracija.
Ovaj intervju dodatno potvrđuje važnost osnaživanja mladih i njihove uloge u stvaranju društva zasnovanog na solidarnosti, jednakim mogućnostima i evropskim vrijednostima.
Regionalni projekat „Youth Engagement for Europeanization of the Balkans“ realizuje se u partnerstvu sa organizacijom BIRC iz Sjeverne Makedonije (nosilac projekta), CFID sa Kosova i NVO GLAS iz Crne Gore, uz podršku Western Balkans Fund-a i kofinansiranje Evropske unije.
Interview with Nikolina Gvozdenović: Young People Are the Bearers of Change and the Key to the Future European Integration of the Region
NGO GLAS, within the regional project “Youth Engagement for Europeanization of the Balkans”, publishes the eighth interview in the series of conversations with young people and youth leaders of European values. The project aims to strengthen the role of young people in European integration and reform processes, encouraging their active participation in shaping the future of Montenegro and the region.
Our interviewee this time is Nikolina Gvozdenović, a nineteen-year-old from Bar, a student of physics and mathematics, who simultaneously shows a broad interest in social issues, human rights, and youth activism. Through her engagement, Nikolina contributes to community development and the promotion of European values among young people.
Nikolina was an active participant in the kick-off event of this project, held on July 7, 2025, in Podgorica, where she had the opportunity to exchange opinions with peers from the region on the role of young people in the processes of European integration.
The interview was conducted by Milica Dedić, Executive Director of NGO GLAS, and in the conversation, Nikolina spoke about her her impressions from the kick-off event, ways to improve communication between young people and institutions, ideas for strengthening regional cooperation, and approaches to presenting EU integration in a way that would be closer to young people. She also shared her views on the importance of involving young people from smaller communities and marginalized groups, as well as her message to young people from the region about the importance of their engagement in the process of European integration.
You can read the full interview below.
NGO GLAS: After participating in the kick-off event Youth Engagement for Europeanization of the Balkans, what steps, in your opinion, should be taken in the future to improve communication between young people and institutions in the region?
Nikolina: Institutions in the region must take the initiative to approach young people in a peer-like manner. In an ideal community for these topics and the creation of such connections, there would be space within schools, and young people would independently approach and communicate with institutions. Unfortunately, our region does not have an educational system developed for such purposes. For that reason, institutions often have to be the ones to initiate communication. Therefore, it is important to recognize spaces that already belong to young people, the values they consider important, and the existing “youth culture” in the region. Institutions should approach young people using familiar terminology, ideas that build upon existing sentiments among youth, and the assumption that young people are the future leaders of European integration. In this way, communication with young people can take place in spaces such as schools, youth clubs, but also in parks, gaming rooms, and other areas where young people spend time. Once the initial connection is established, it opens space for mutual education, development, and further communication between youth and institutions in the region.
NGO GLAS: If you had the opportunity to design programs or activities that would connect young people from different Western Balkan countries, what would you propose as the most effective way to strengthen cooperation and joint action?
Nikolina: I believe that a large part of the division we feel in the Western Balkans stems from our (lack of) knowledge of history — and of each other. Political parties teach us one thing, parents another, schools a third, and through that they create polarization and division based on often inaccurate, incomplete, and generalized facts. Therefore, I would consider the most effective way to strengthen cooperation and joint action to be activities that teach us about our shared past through multiple different, subjective and objective perspectives. Such activities would develop critical thinking among youth and dismantle the assumption that history, the present, or the future can be seen in black and white. These activities would, of course, include socializing, exchanging opinions, cultures, experiences, and more. In this way, we gain an understanding of our shared past through the creation of a shared present and open space for future cooperation and collective action.
NGO GLAS: How do you think information about EU integration could be presented to young people in a way that would be closer, more interesting, and more motivating for them?
Nikolina: The focus should be on information that directly concerns young people — those whose benefits they can immediately recognize. The possibility of moving, working, and studying in EU countries, and the freedom of borderless travel, are probably among the most obvious benefits the EU offers to young people. Small things, such as the rule that every new phone must have the same charger, mean a lot to the younger generation. I would start from there — by introducing personal benefits — and then move on to explain benefits for their families and parents, and finally what EU accession would mean for the entire country and the region. It’s also important to draw young people’s attention to the potential downsides of joining the EU, such as a certain loss of sovereignty, so they can form their own opinions on the topic and, through that process, connect with it more deeply.
NGO GLAS: Based on your experience at the kick-off event, what would you recommend as good practices or ideas that organizers should include in future similar events?
Nikolina: The multinational environment was definitely a practice I really liked. I believe it conveys the spirit of the European Union and provides opportunities for learning and personal development. Presenting information about the EU accession process — that is, where Montenegro currently stands on its path toward the EU — I also find very useful, as it puts participants on a similar level regarding the knowledge they possess and opens space for the discussion of concrete topics. At the same time, it ensures that young people who may be participating in this type of event for the first time are not left behind due to a lack of information. Lunch and snack breaks, as the social part of the event, are a wonderful opportunity for networking, socializing, and creating a space for discussion among young people. Multinationality, informing youth, and having time for social interaction are definitely practices I would love to see in future events.
NGO GLAS: In your opinion, what should be done to ensure that young people from smaller communities and marginalized groups have equal opportunities to participate in the processes of European integration?Nikolina: I believe it is necessary to establish cooperation with organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, that already deal with issues concerning young people from smaller communities and marginalized groups — organizations that represent these groups of youth. In cooperation with such organizations, it is possible to create plans for future activities. Events organized in this way will take into account not only the key interests of young people from smaller communities and marginalized groups but also the obstacles — whether infrastructural, financial, or cultural — that affect this group of young people, and will aim to reduce their impact.
NGO GLAS: If you could send one key message to young people from the region about their role in European integration, what would that message be and why?
Nikolina: I would tell young people that European integration depends mostly on them. Young people often categorize topics such as European integration and EU accession as political issues that do not concern them, believing that adults and politicians should be the ones to deal with them. That is, of course, not true. EU accession is our future, European integration is our future, and young people are the future of the world — and of our region as well. The interest that young people show today in these topics can mean faster, more efficient, easier, and more sustainable progress for society. Furthermore, the part of the youth who are in a more privileged socio-economic position often do not feel a strong need for European integration, as they already find themselves in a comfortable situation within the community as it currently is. It is necessary to raise awareness among young people that meeting the needs and protecting the rights of the most marginalized groups is not only a path toward European integration but also toward the collective progress of society as a whole. Therefore, I believe that the most important message that must be sent to young people is that our European integration — and thus the future of the entire region — depends primarily on their empathy, as well as their engagement and interest.
Through her responses, Nikolina clearly demonstrates that young people should not be passive observers but active participants in shaping the European future of Montenegro and the region. Her messages highlight the importance of education, mutual understanding, and open dialogue between youth and institutions, as well as the need to include all social groups in the processes of European integration.
This interview further confirms the importance of empowering youth and their role in creating a society based on solidarity, equal opportunities, and European values.
The regional project “Youth Engagement for Europeanization of the Balkans” is implemented in partnership with BIRC from North Macedonia (project lead), CFID from Kosovo, and NGO GLAS from Montenegro, with the support of the Western Balkans Fund and co-financing by the European Union.