The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro are preparing a fundraising evening for children without parental care who will turn 18 this year and leave the “Mladost” Children’s Home in Bijela or their foster families. The organizers hope to raise sufficient funds to support these young people as they take their first steps towards independent living by providing housing, assistance with employment or further education, as well as emotional, mentoring, psychological, legal and any other support they may need as they face the realities of independent life.
Reaching the age of majority does not in itself mean that a person is ready for independent living, particularly when they do not have family support. Therefore, continuous psychological and emotional support is essential from the moment they leave care, for a certain period until they become independent or for as long as such support is needed. It is also necessary to provide mentoring from the moment they leave care, including information and practical support in exercising their legal and other rights, such as obtaining personal documents and health insurance, accessing social protection rights and education, seeking employment, retraining, additional qualifications, specialization, practical training, courses and similar opportunities. This also includes support with socialization, understanding their rights and responsibilities in their place of residence, and other forms of assistance necessary to facilitate their integration into the local community.
The fundraising evening aims to secure the necessary funds without placing additional demands on the state and municipal budgets, while providing young people without parental care with support at a time when they are facing the challenges of independent life.
The project complements all efforts undertaken by the state and municipalities to support children without parental care and forms part of a broader project implemented by the Union of Municipalities in cooperation with international institutions. The long-term objective is to ensure that their rights are formally recognized and regulated by law, ranging from material support to psychosocial and mentoring assistance, as well as support for further education and employment, providing, to the extent possible, the support that would otherwise be provided by parents.
Through the broader project implemented by the Union of Municipalities with the support of UNICEF, the existing legal and institutional framework in several areas will be analysed, primarily in the field of social and child protection, as well as education, employment and healthcare, with the aim of improving it at both the central and local levels, particularly for the benefit of young people leaving the “Mladost” Children’s Home in Bijela and beginning independent life.
Plans also include the development of individual career plans, whether focused on employment or further education, as well as career guidance and personality assessment before the completion of secondary school. After that, institutions must be prepared to provide full support in implementing these plans.
The fundraising evening will be held on 2 April in Podgorica, and invitations have been extended to Montenegro’s highest state officials, the Government and ministries, the diplomatic corps, municipalities, as well as representatives of the business community and the diaspora.
