The Final Regional Conference of the YourJob Programme, titled “Youth Employment in the Western Balkans”, was held on 23 October 2025 in Prishtina, organized by Caritas Kosova. The conference marked the culmination of a multi-year regional initiative aimed at strengthening youth employability and labour-market integration across the Western Balkans, including Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.
The event brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives of Caritas organizations from the region, donor institutions such as the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Caritas Austria, as well as representatives of public institutions (EU, GIZ), local and international organizations, civil society actors, businesses, and the media. A particularly important presence was that of young beneficiaries of the programme, whose personal and professional journeys served as tangible evidence of the programme’s impact.
The conference took place to present the final results, achievements, and lessons learned from the implementation of the YourJob programme at regional level. Beyond reporting on outcomes, the event served as a platform for dialogue on youth employment challenges, cross-border cooperation, and policy advocacy, reinforcing the message that youth employment in the Western Balkans is a shared responsibility requiring coordinated action among institutions, donors, civil society, and the private sector.
During the conference, participants were presented with concrete results achieved by the programme across the region. These included 6,571 young people receiving career counselling, 2,566 participating in vocational training, 583 internships facilitated, 1,248 young people employed, and 86 young entrepreneurs supported through start-ups. In addition, cooperation with the private sector was strengthened through 719 partner companies and 647 signed cooperation agreements. The programme’s broader contribution was also highlighted through its policy-oriented work, including 16 roundtables, 5 advocacy plans, 8 national and regional conferences, and the development of a comprehensive Gender Analysis, underscoring the programme’s commitment to inclusion and gender equality.
The conference featured presentations, discussions, and visual materials, including photographs documenting key moments, panel sessions, and interactions among partners, donors, and beneficiaries. Media representatives were provided with press materials, images, and summaries, while links to online coverage and official communication channels were shared following the event to ensure wider public visibility.
In closing, participants expressed their appreciation to all partners, donors, and especially to the young people involved in the programme. It was emphasized that the Final Regional Conference does not represent the end of the YourJob journey, but rather an opportunity for the beginning of a new phase of cooperation, building on achieved results to further promote youth employment, inclusion, and sustainable development in the Western Balkans.
