YinfoPioneers: Empowering Balkan Youth

2023

YinfoPioneers: Empowering Youth in Western Balkan countries”

The YinfoPioneers project consortium produced the report “Youth Information needs in the Western Balkans” as the result of the focus group sessions organised by the Western Balkans partners of the project: Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEREBRA and ORC Tuzla), Montenegro (Forum MNE), North Macedonia (Poraka Nova) and Albania (YVNO). These sessions were organised to collect and analyse data about the needs of youngsters in the Western Balkans regarding access to information in their countries. 

The report shows that it would be helpful for the organisations in these countries to develop a strategy in youth information and to advocate vis-a-vis policymakers for the right of young people to information.  Questions were conceived by a researcher in information studies from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Economics of Åbo Akademi University (Finland) and conducted by the project's partners.

In addition, a social media campaign, including graphics and videos, was designed, and it is currently running. All the content was translated into the languages of the partner organisations so that it could be broadcast in their own countries and understood by as many young people and stakeholders as possible.

In summary, the YinfoPioneers project is dedicated to enhancing the access of youth in the Western Balkan region to quality information by understanding their needs, building capacity, creating effective service models, and advocating for the development of youth information services. We invite you to read the full report here and check our partner's social media channels to see how the campaign's running.