Youth Initiative for Human Rights Regional Network (YIHR) proudly presents the 7th Youth Summit, which will be held from December 17th to 20th, 2024, in Tirana, Albania.
The Tirana Youth Summit (TYS 2024) is a landmark regional event that unites young changemakers from across the Balkans to learn, debate, and shape new policy recommendations in response to the growing wave of anti-democratic tendencies. In a critical year, defined by political turmoil, wars, and the alarming rise of far-right ideologies, this summit seeks to empower youth as a leading force for resistance and positive change.
With democracies facing increasing pressure both regionally and globally, the summit offers a vital space for proactive youth engagement. Participants will confront pressing political challenges and develop strategies to shape a future where human dignity is paramount. This event stands as a beacon of progressive, independent thought, dedicated to reinforcing democratic practices, safeguarding media freedoms, and advancing human rights throughout Europe.
In a world where crises unfold rapidly and misinformation floods the digital landscape, there is an urgent need for strategic thinking, learning, and debate. TYS 2024 provides the platform to reimagine the pillars of democracy, equipping young leaders with the tools and mentorship to become agents of change within their societies.
As global divisions widen and the concept of freedom faces unprecedented challenges, this year’s summit—under the banner of “Loud Resistance”—will confront critical issues such as rising anti-democratic forces, the far-reaching consequences of both ongoing and past armed conflicts, and the urgent need to fortify democratic values for the future.
TYS 2024 is a platform for activists from diverse backgrounds, committed to building a more inclusive, democratic, and peaceful future. If you are bold, loud,smart, and ready to challenge the status quo—we’ll see you in Tirana!
Since the first Youth Summit organized in Belgrade in 2009, YIHR organized Youth Summits in Prishtina (2012), Sarajevo (2015), Zagreb (2017), Skopje (2019) and Podgorica (2022) with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
Open Call for Participants: Tirana Youth Summit 2024
Are you a young changemaker passionate about making a difference? Do you want to engage in meaningful discussions and connect with like-minded individuals? If so, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) invites you to apply for the 7th Youth Summit!
This year, the Summit will be held in Tirana, Albania from December 17th to 20th, bringing together over 70 participants from the region who are eager to amplify their voices in building a more democratic, equal, and peaceful society.
What is the Youth Summit?
The Youth Summit is a semi-annual regional gathering that unites young people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, and Croatia, alongside peace activists from Europe and global experts. Participants work together on pressing issues such as transitional justice and reconciliation, human rights and the rule of law, democracy, civil society resilience, media literacy, and accountability of public institutions.
This year’s summit, under the theme “Loud Resistance,” aims to empower youth to lead efforts that preserve hard-fought democratic gains and reconciliation processes, while laying the groundwork for youth-driven positive change in the future.
Since its inception in 2009 in Belgrade,, YIHR has organized Youth Summits in Prishtina (2012), Sarajevo (2015), Zagreb (2017), Skopje (2019), and Podgorica (2022) with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Check out highlights from past summits here.
What to Expect
Amidst rising nationalism, stalled reconciliation efforts, and undemocratic practices across the region, as a participant of the Youth Summit 2024, you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the challenges young people face across the Balkans through interactive panels, workshops, and networking sessions.
Additionally, this year’s program includes two online mentoring sessions in late November and early December, where experienced mentors will guide you on key summit topics. These sessions will prepare you for the in-person workshops in Tirana.
Following the Summit, participants are encouraged to take action in their local communities by organizing workshops, debates, panel discussions, or social media campaigns to spread the Summit’s key messages and recommendations.
Why You Should Join TYS 2024
Amplify Your Voice
Share your perspectives on crucial political issues where youth voices are often overlooked, and gain valuable insights from the experiences of others.
Build Your Network
Connect with other young leaders, experienced activists, and policy experts from the region and beyond.
Speak Directly With Decision Makers
Every year, we bring decision-makers from the Balkans, Europe, and beyond – this is your opportunity to engage directly with them.
Gain New Skills
Participate in workshops that equip you with practical tools to advance your activism and advocacy.
Be Inspired
Engage with influential figures – politicians, NGO representatives, and activists – and learn how they’ve driven change and overcome challenges.
Lead Change
Be bold, be loud, and become a driving force for change in your local community.
Who Can Apply?
We invite applications from motivated young people aged 18 to 35 from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, and Croatia.
How to Apply
To apply, please fill out the application form by November 15th, 2023 at 23:59h.
All expenses, including travel, accommodation, and meals, are covered by the organizers.
The working language of the event is English, and the number of participants is limited.
All applicants will be informed about the results of the open call after the closing of applications.
The selection criteria will be based on your motivation, previous experience, and country of origin. We strive for equal representation from each country.
If you have any questions, please visit our website or reach out to us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Don’t miss this chance to be a part of an engaging and transformative experience in Tirana! Join us in shaping the future of our region and beyond, and #BeLoud!
We look forward to receiving your applications and welcoming you to the Tirana Youth Summit 2024!
Who is PGYS for?
Podgorica Youth Summit is for young people who are unafraid to challenge the status quo, who are passionate about building peaceful, democratic societies across the world and who are curious to learn and exchange knowledge with others.
The Summit will gather 200 people from the Western Balkans region and beyond, including political and NGO activists, media practitioners, artists, and academics.
Main topics within PGYS
The Summit will explore various aspects of activism and different creative ways to mobilize communities in order to enable democratic processes. In an engaging and interactive way, it will teach participants about the democratic changes that took place in North Macedonia, and offer parallels to similar processes across the globe. Throughout SKYS, participants will be able to gain insight into different forms of political participation, outside of the realm of high-level politics, but also within the context of online and offline campaigns, peacebuilding through sports and art as a medium of spreading peace.
The topic of the status of Western Balkans countries within EU integration processes will be one of the central issues explored at the Summit, and how the various positives and negatives on the EU accession path affect societies in the region.
Within the overarching theme of the capacity of youth to overcome great challenges and build bridges in divided communities, one of the central panels will explore how young people who were affected by the wars in ex-Yugoslavia managed to rebuild their lives and ignite dialogue and reconciliation with their life stories and work.PG
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