At the UNICEF panel “Youth call for action”, on march 6th. within the Kopaonik Business Forum, young people invited decision-makers, representatives of the business community and state institutions to include them in issues concerning their well-being.
Members of the UNICEF Youth Committee Milica Babić, Jelena Peruničić i Bogdan Dimić talked with prof. Milica Pejović Milovnčević, director of the Institute for Mental Health, Petra Kanuri, representative of the Insfostud group and Jovan Purar, MK Group representative, on a panel moderated by Vesna Savić Đukić from UNICEF-a.
Prospects for young people depend on the environment they live in, the relationships they form, the experiences and support they receive, the services available to them, the social norms in their communities, and the extent to which they can influence decisions that affect them.
As part of research on youth participation, through UNICEF’s U-Report platform, as many as 75 percent of respondents believe that participation is not equally possible for all young people. The respondents’ answers (almost 80 percent) indicate a widespread opinion that people with greater power and authority, such as government officials, parents, social workers, doctors, and others, do not sufficiently respect and appreciate the views of young people.
Medical student Milica Babić pointed out during the panel that significant steps have been taken in providing and providing support for the early development of children in order to ensure the best start in life and make it easier for their parents. She also sent a strong message about the necessity to provide such support services in smaller towns and for the most vulnerable families.
Bogdan Dimić, a high school student from Vranje, spoke about the necessity of better connecting the business sector with the education system so that young people acquire entrepreneurial skills and are better equipped for the needs of the labor market. Bogdan particularly emphasized the necessity of including the business sector in the process of education and economic inclusion of young people. “Traditional beliefs about entrepreneurship as a risky profession must be changed together.” We should also work on empowering young people to make it easier for them to realize their entrepreneurial endeavors,” said Bogdan Dimić.
Psychology student from Čačak, Elena Peruničić, spoke about the challenges in connection with improving the mental health of young people. She emphasized that the innovative service available through the “Everything is OK” platform had a great impact on reducing the stigma among young people to talk about their problems. She drew attention, however, to the necessity to provide mental health services through both peer support and the education system.
Jovan Purar from MK Group, which as part of its business strategy pays great attention to investing in the community, presented an example of support for children and young people in Serbia and in the region where they operate. He also pointed out that MK Group pays special attention to business practices related to employees, which supports working parents.
“MK Group traditionally carries out socially responsible activities aimed at providing support to children and young people in various segments – from education, through healthcare, to helping socially vulnerable groups. But the Miodrag Kostić Endowment, which will give our society the Palace of Science, the first center for research and popularization of science in Serbia, certainly stands out for its national significance. With a donation worth more than 25 million euros, Miodrag Kostić wants to position knowledge as a universal value, especially among younger people. This space will open vistas for new generations, children and students, and provide young scientists with the opportunity to engage in research in the conditions of the world’s best science centers”, said Jovan Purar, director of the legal and general affairs sector of MK Group.
Petra Kanuri from Startuj Infostud Group talked about what young people expect from employers and how to attract young people.
The largest global survey “The Future of Recruitment”, in which respondents from Serbia also participated, shows that the most important thing for young people when it comes to work is to have a healthy balance between private and business life. This research is conducted by “The Network”, a global network of the most visited employment sites of which Infostud is a member, as well as its youth platform Startuj Infostud, in cooperation with the Boston Consulting Group.
“Young people want to improve both professionally and privately, as well as to nurture other aspects of life besides business, and they expect companies to respond to these demands.” This active and technologically advanced generation is becoming a key driver of changes in the labor market and encourages companies to adapt adequately in order to be effective in approaching young people and ensure long-term connection with them,” said Petra Kanuri from Startuj Infostud Group.
Prof. Milica Pejović Milovančević, Ph.D., thanked the business sector for the support it provides to the programs of early childhood development and improvement of the mental health of children and young people, which are carried out with the support of UNICEF in Serbia.
“The challenges of modern life and the risks that come with growing up can sometimes outweigh the protective factors that a child or young person has within their family or group of friends. That is why the Institute for Mental Health and UNICEF have developed innovative telecounseling and psychological support services in schools, health centers and institutions within the social protection system, and in cooperation with non-governmental organizations for thousands of young people in Serbia. The recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by 6 ministers represents the readiness to make support available to every young person in Serbia”, pointed out Prof. Dr. Milica Pejović Milovančević.
Young people concluded that it is important that they have the opportunity to have their voice heard – that they can express their opinions, needs and fears. He particularly encourages the willingness and determination of young people to engage together with their peers, decision makers and the business community in order to jointly achieve positive changes for children and young people in Serbia.