The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro organized, in two separate sessions, training for mentors and student volunteers who will provide mentoring support to children without parental care after leaving the Public Institution “Mladost” Children’s Home in Bijela, as part of the project “Social and Economic Inclusion of Children and Young People without Parental Care – Connecting with Local Communities in Montenegro”.
Thirteen psychologists, each with at least five years of professional experience, applied to the Public Call for mentors to support children without parental care after leaving the Public Institution “Mladost” Children’s Home in Bijela, published by the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro on 3 April this year.
As highlighted during the training, their role will be to provide psychological support, counselling and psychotherapy for as long as such support is needed. In addition, in cooperation with the University of Donja Gorica, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Applied Psychology Study Programme, the Union of Municipalities organized training for seven second- and third-year students who will support the mentors in the programme and focus on the social inclusion of young people through visits to cultural, sporting and similar events.
The training sessions were delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Nevenka Pavličić, Specialist in Clinical Psychology, and
Dijana Popović-Gavranović, graduate social worker and systemic family psychotherapist.
Clinical psychologist Assistant Professor Dr Nevenka Pavličić highlighted that the Public Institution “Mladost” Children’s Home in Bijela has a long tradition of caring for children without parental care and that children come to the institution for various reasons, including the death of their parents, abandonment, abuse, neglect, and economic hardship, as well as in cases where parents have been deprived of parental rights due to their inability to provide adequate care.
“Growing up without parental care can have long-term consequences for emotional and social development. Children may experience insecurity, low self-esteem and a diminished sense of belonging, which can affect their ability to integrate into society. They are also at greater risk of social exclusion, unemployment, poverty and mental health problems. The lack of family support can make the process of becoming independent and making important life decisions more difficult,” Pavličić emphasized. According to her, the project aims to establish a comprehensive and high-quality social protection system that will enable every child to build a stable, independent and dignified life.
“The aim is to ensure that these children are not merely physically reintegrated into their local communities, but are also empowered to participate actively in community life, fulfil their potential and feel accepted,” Pavličić emphasized.
Mišela Manojlović, Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, emphasized that the measures to be included in this Programme are not limited to meeting basic needs such as housing, education and employment, but are also focused on providing psychological support, developing talents, and strengthening social and other skills.
“The implementation of these measures requires a serious approach, including the engagement of carefully selected experts and mentors, cooperation and strong mutual support between central and local authorities, the involvement of civil society, international cooperation, and the use of all available donor funds,” Manojlović emphasized.
Manojlović recalled that this is a vulnerable group of people who require comprehensive support, in which mentors will play a key role. Above all, their role will be to provide empowerment and psychological support in all life situations, particularly bearing in mind that these are children who have grown up without parental care.
The project aims to establish a sustainable support system for this target group, based on the applicable regulatory framework at the central and local levels, the country’s strategic priorities, and European standards in the field of social and child protection.
In the next phase, the project will also be extended to include children in foster care.
