How can we create schools where young people are not just learners, but active contributors to change? This was the key question explored by participants of the international SOEN Youth & Schools Forum 2026, held on 9 June in Podgorica, Montenegro, as part of the PlaNET SOEN 4.0 project.
The Forum brought together representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, the Ministry of Regional-Investment Development and Cooperation with NGOs, the Erasmus+ National Office Montenegro, school principals, teachers, youth workers, experts in youth participation, and representatives of civil society organisations from Slovakia, Poland, Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. More than 40 participants took part in discussions on how to strengthen the voice of young people in schools and local communities.
The programme featured international panel discussions on youth participation, inspiring examples of successful school initiatives from partner countries, and practical workshops focused on project management, communication, participatory decision-making, and the use of social media to create positive social impact.
The conference demonstrated that when schools, public institutions, experts, and young people come together around one table, they can develop solutions that have the potential to transform education far beyond the lifetime of a single project.
