Youth Connect Western Balkans - Change starts with young people
Are you a young person from the Western Balkans? Do you want to become an active agent of change?
We are excited to offer you the opportunity to join the British Council Youth Connect training programme and become an active agent of change in the Western Balkans.
Youth Connect Western Balkans will bring together 36 young people (aged 18-30) from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to learn and work together in order to make a positive contribution to a more peaceful Western Balkan community.
Youth Connect is a British Council global programme that is grounded in the belief that more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive societies depend on the meaningful social, political and economic participation of young people. It supports young people to become active agents of positive social change rather than passive recipients of policy and services.
Key Dates and Activities
|
Dates |
Location |
Activity |
|
6 – 11 December 2026 |
Belgrade |
4-day workshop for youth |
|
14 December – 12 February 2027 |
Home country / Online |
Action Research |
|
17 – 20 March 2027 |
Montenegro |
Showcasing (final event) |
* In the application form, we will ask you to confirm your availability for these dates and locations.
If you are selected for the programme, you will participate in a 4-day training workshop led by expert trainermentors from the region. This will be followed by a period of Action Research where you will work in groups with your peers from the region with your mentor’s support (Note: no previous research experience is required). The programme will conclude with a final Showcase event in March 2027.
This is a free training programme, fully funded by the British Council. Therefore, we are looking for committed young people who are excited about this development opportunity. By the end of the programme, you will have developed new communication and leadership skills, made new connections, and had the opportunity to shape your wider community.
The working language of the programme is English. Selected applicants will be required to provide evidence of an equivalent C1-level qualification in English speaking, or pass the Aptis English test to confirm their spot on the programme (the British Council will cover the cost of any Aptis exam).
All participants who complete the Youth Connect Western Balkans programme will receive completion certificates.
Who can apply
We are looking for young people who are curious and open to learning from others, and are interested in issues affecting young people and their communities.
The programme is open to young people (aged 18-30) who are citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. It is not open to young people still attending secondary school, regardless of their age. Within the eligible group, everyone is free to apply, regardless of gender, ethnic background, or geography within the countries of the Western Balkans.
What is our position regarding applications supported by AI?
While AI can help you prepare a well-phrased application, we want to get to know the real you from your application. Please also note that the programme will be fully conducted in English and will require active participation in debates, exercises and written tasks in real time without the use of AI. Therefore, we suggest that you prepare the application on your own and stay authentic.
How to apply
Click on this link to access the online application form.
We suggest that you download the Questions we ask in the Application form first to see what you can expect in the online application form. Check the Downloads section below.
Issuing this Call does not commit the British Council to engage with any applicant. In the case of a large number of applications, we will not be able to inform everyone about the outcome. Only selected applicants will be contacted. In mid-November, please check our website to see if the selection has been completed.
The deadline for applying is Sunday, 25 October 2026, at 23:59 CET.