We have opened the door, it is your turn now!
OPENS is the Federation of Associations whose task is to show along, with its partners through a set of activities, projects, programs, events, initiatives, that there are many doors which can be opened for the transfer of energy, knowledge, experience, information, as well as that the capacities of young people can thereby be empowered.
The result of the one-year work is the system – such that young people and organisations can implement their ideas and projects.
How?
After the announcement of Novi Sad for the European Youth Capital for the year of 2019 in Varna (Bulgaria), a team was created, the program was set and clear goals were formed!
GOALS
We encourage active participation of young people in the society! By different mechanisms, programs, advocacy and work, by the end of 2020, we will colour the city in OPENS colours and open our door to the young people towards the realization of their dreams!
OUR GOALS:
CELEBRATE DIFFERENCE:
As an intercultural and open city, without prejudices, Novi Sad and #OPENS2019 promote the spirt
of communion and understanding, as one of top priorities. We want to be a positive example of
coexistence at the European level – an example of intraregional, intercultural cooperation and
coexistence of 26 nationalities.
OUR GOALS:
WE ARE DEVOTED TO EUROPEAN VALUES AND PROJECTS:
European Youth Capital is additional opportunity for the promotion of European values and
European integration of Serbia. Novi Sad and Serbia are a part of the European family. Our city is the
leader in several projects at the level of Europe, and also the place through which more than half a
million young people will go by the end of 2020.
OUR GOALS:
WE CREATE INNOVATIVE POLICIES:
The voice of young people must be heard! We strengthen mechanisms which include young people in the process of making decisions directly related to them; we empower new generations of young
people, who are active and equal parts of society. Novi Sad can be a pioneer at the European level, by the implementation of permanent co-management structure in the youth policy.
OUR GOALS:
WE ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE:
We invite young people to take active role and responsibility in the formation of their own future.
We encourage them to influence the life of local community and its political processes, to constantly
create initiatives for the greater autonomy of young people and the realization of their rights. We
support young people who are willing to participate in the processes of decision-making and be
initiators of changes within their community, and even outside of it.
How? The first steps have already been made by the establishment of Novi Sad Youth Forum, Youth
Council of the Major, and by the increase of the budget for young people in Novi Sad.
NOVI SAD IN 2019
Novi Sad is a city where the energy of young people can be felt in the air. Festivals, sports activities, education, activism – young people are the driving force of all events in the city. In the name of that, during the year of 2019, Novi Sad was proud to hold the title of the European Youth Capital – #OPENS2019!
However, even before winning the title, Novi Sad was the pioneer of youth policy. Systamtic care about young people has been developed since 2010 through an action plan for young people, but also the budget of the city for its own content in the city and participation in decision-making at the level the city.
The title of European Youth Capital was a great acknowledgement for young people and the confirmation that they are creating something good. In 2019, it was the opportunity for Novi Sad to become a go-to place for young people from Serbia, the region and Europe. Through the #OPENS2019 program, young people got new spaces, youth clubs, centres, info points, improved health and social services in the city, support to create and innovate, opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills, to exchange experience and opinions with young people from Europe, possibility to influence the development of their city.
But that must not end there.
NOVI SAD AFTER THE YEAR OF 2019
The vision of OPENS during the creation of the system was sustainability, so that even after the turnover of the title, Novi Sad continues to be the city of open and systematically solved matters of youth policy. The title of European Youth Capital has enabled us the opportunity to influence the community in which we live, to learn and work, as well as to initiate some changes and make others believe that, too. Therefore, the responsibility towards further development of the established system is in the previous knowledge and experience, as well as in the following period of learning.
All our activities are still directed towards the improvement of the atmosphere which charishes chances for young people and we are sure that the initiated processes are great grounds for that.
MOTIVATION
The primary motivation is to keep Novi Sad the city of young people even after 2019, the city in which young people are active citizens, the city which will encourage all other cities to create their contents for young people and the city to which young people willingly come and stay.
Our main principle is to see young people as the positive resource for the development, and not as a problem which should be solved. By responding to the needs of young people, we improve the quality of their lives and participation in social and political processes.
We want Novi Sad and Serbia to open their door to Europe!
Vision:
Young people use the opportunities and create the contents they want in Novi Sad, the city which has the established system of the youth policy.
Mission:
The establishment of the sustainable system of youth policy which promotes empowerment and networking of all participants of youth policies.