The newly established Association of Youth Work Practitioners will advocate for the advancement of youth work as a key tool for empowering young people, fostering inclusive environments, setting high standards of professionalism and quality, and recognizing youth work practitioners as essential actors in youth policy through a supportive legal framework.

This was emphasized at the founding assembly of the professional Association of Youth Work Practitioners, organized by Forum for Youth and Non-Formal Education – Forum MNE.
Ajša Hadžibegović, an experienced youth worker, was elected president of the Association. Aleksandra Gligorović and Mirela Rajković were elected vice presidents, and Dejana Dizdar was appointed President of the Association’s Assembly.

Hadžibegović described the founding of the association as the fulfillment of a 20-year dream.

“This important step has the potential to lead to the recognition of the youth work profession in Montenegro and its contribution to societal development. It’s something we’ve envisioned for two decades, ever since the earliest steps toward what we now know as youth work. Although the profession is still not formally recognized, our goal through this association is to establish its role and highlight its importance to society,” she said.

She stressed the importance of youth work not only for young people but for society as a whole, calling it a key for building a democratic society where human rights are respected and equal opportunities are provided across generations.

“Today, we adopted a vision, mission, and key objectives that clearly define our path. Internally, we now face the task of precisely defining what we mean by youth work and how to communicate it to the wider public,” she explained.

Hadžibegović also noted that one of the biggest challenges remains the definition of quality standards in youth work and their recognition by institutions and broader society.

“Youth work must become part of a systemic response to the social challenges young people face. Our vision includes popularizing youth work and building a community of practitioners. While many people in Montenegro work with youth, they may not identify as professionals in the field or may lack the necessary competencies for such a responsible role.”

She concluded that much work lies ahead in building a strong community of practitioners and strengthening youth work as a profession capable of addressing many challenges faced by both young people and society at large.

Anđelija Lučić, Project Manager at Forum MNE, emphasized that youth work and non-formal education are key for skill development, youth empowerment, and fostering communities that support participation and social change.

“However, in Montenegro, we are facing a lack of standardized programs, professional staff, and sustainable youth services. The profession of youth worker is not formally recognized, and youth work programs are primarily implemented by NGOs. These programs vary significantly in content, there is no quality assurance system, and the services provided to young people are often fragmented, unsustainable, and not accessible to all youth across municipalities. This results in insufficient support during young people’s transition to adulthood,” Lučić stated.

She reminded that in June 2023, Forum MNE gathered youth work practitioners to identify key challenges.

“During that meeting, the need for the formal recognition of the youth worker profession through the Law on Youth was highlighted, as well as the need to establish a professional association to improve the status and conditions of those working with youth.”

Lučić invited all relevant actors to join their efforts in improving the quality of youth work and non-formal education to create better conditions for young people throughout Montenegro.

Andrea Mićanović, a member of the Association, emphasized the importance of professionalizing and standardizing youth work, which is still not recognized as a formal profession in Montenegro.

“It is crucial that we have an organization dedicated to advocating for legal solutions that would allow youth workers to carry out their work in a formally recognized manner. This would enable them to support youth, improve youth policies, and contribute to the development of our society,” Mićanović said.

She explained that the Association’s Statute, adopted at the assembly, addresses key aspects such as the organization’s mission, vision, goals, activities, structure, and membership.

“I believe the Association will act in line with the Statute and that it won’t just remain words on paper. Our goal is to connect youth work practitioners in Montenegro and collaborate on initiatives that will lead to the professionalization of this field.”

Mićanović believes that professionalization and standardization are crucial for improving youth policy and the development of Montenegrin society.

“The Association will drive initiatives that empower youth workers to help create better opportunities for young people and contribute to overall social progress,” she added.

Forum MNE is supporting the establishment of the professional Association of Youth Work Practitioners through the Core Grant of the regional project SMART Balkan – Civil Society for a Connected Western Balkans, implemented by the Center for Civil Society Promotion (CPCD) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) from North Macedonia, and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) from Albania, and financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway.