In the Western Balkans, vulnerable neighborhoods are a stark reminder of the turbulent transition from socialism to capitalism and illustrate the disregard for legal controls resulting from years of repressive rule. Despite their strong presence, young residents are often excluded from planning and development processes as they lack the ability and motivation to advocate for their needs. The proje
ct seeks to close this gap by developing digital tools and empowering the younger generation through urban capacity development programs. These initiatives aim to promote networking and engagement among youth and youth trainers, empowering them to address the deficits in their communities and contribute to their transformation. In line with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, the project aims to address the systemic problems of informal settlements and support their transformation. The main objectives of the project include empowering young trainers and youth centers to influence the planning process, empowering local youth to contribute to the upgrading of settlements, and disseminating the project results to the wider society. By bringing together six organizations from the EU and the Western Balkans, the project aims to harness collective efforts for change. Over a period of 24 months, activities will range from research to training and community involvement. Expected outputs include a comprehensive report on the status of vulnerable neighborhoods, capacity building of youth workers and the development of a digital training toolkit for youth empowerment. The project expects to involve at least 20 young people in urban development tools and reach 1,000 people through dissemination events, thereby fostering positive change.
