Programme
Youth
Our goal
To help young people become active changemakers with the skills, support, and space they need to shape their communities and influence decisions that affect them.
How we work
Our Approach to Youth
We design with young people, not for them.
That means involving them in defining problems, shaping solutions, and leading initiatives, while also creating the structure, mentorship, and institutional connections needed to turn ideas into action. We focus on participation that is meaningful and inclusive, and connected to opportunities for young people to develop ideas, build skills, and take action.
What this work aims to change
- Meaningful youth participation
- Young people have a real role in shaping programmes, services, and decisions that affect them.
- Skills and confidence
- Young people build practical skills, confidence, and experience through active participation.
- Stronger support systems
- Schools, municipalities, and organisations are better able to create relevant opportunities for young people.
What we offer
- Youth engagement processes
- We design inclusive processes that help identify young people's priorities and shape engagement strategies around them.
- Participation platforms and initiatives
- We create and run platforms and initiatives that help young people participate, connect, and contribute ideas and solutions.
- Youth capacity development
- We deliver training, workshops, mentorship, and collaborative formats that strengthen the skills and confidence young people need to lead.
- Innovation challenges and hackathons
- We facilitate challenges and hackathons that bring young people together to work on real problems and develop practical solutions.
Selected projects
Youth Climate Fund Sveti Nikole
As local partner to the Municipality of Sveti Nikole, SmartUp – Social Innovation Lab Skopje supported the Youth Climate Action Fund, which backed young people aged 15–24 to lead climate projects in the Ovche Pole region. SmartUp facilitated co-creation workshops, designed the visual materials and landing page, led communications and outreach, and engaged two external evaluators to support the selection of US$1,000–5,000 microgrants.
Mediathon: Youth Voices for Social Change
SmartUp designed and delivered Mediathon: Youth Voices for Social Change for the OSCE Mission in Skopje, empowering high school students to become changemakers through media and storytelling. SmartUp trained 47 students and teachers from seven Skopje schools, organized into eight teams that each produced and launched full media campaigns on bullying, inclusion, and civic engagement, reaching youth audiences through school channels, Instagram, and TikTok.
Nasoci.me - Career guidance platform for high school students
SmartUp designed and launched Nasoci.me (Guide.me) for the City of Skopje, a digital career guidance platform helping high school students explore professions. SmartUp produced educational videos featuring professionals from diverse sectors — from social entrepreneurship to sign language interpretation — sharing authentic career journeys and advice. The freely accessible platform complements career guidance already offered by schools and educators.
Explore other programmes
Public Sector Innovation
We help public institutions and municipalities use research, co-creation, and prototyping to improve services and policy implementation.
Education
We support learning systems, educators, and institutions to design more inclusive, practical, and innovation-ready education approaches.
Climate Change
We support climate-related programmes that connect public institutions, communities, and practical local action.
Working together with and for young people
We partner with young people, schools, municipalities, civil society organisations, and programme partners to create meaningful opportunities for participation, learning, and development.