Michael Hilbert: Ako vidite stvari koje zahtijevaju promjene, učlanite se s UNSCG i učinite da se i vaš glas čuje!

Razgovarali smo sa Michaelom Hilbertom, vođom tima za međunarodna projektna partnerstva u organizaciji Schuler helfen leben (SHL) iz Njemačke.
SHL je podržao ideju osnivanja Unije srednjoškolaca Crne Gore i već više od pet godina podržava rad naše organizacije. Kao naši istinski partneri, trude se da daju svoj doprinos u poboljšanju omladinske politike u Crnoj Gori.
Kako je period novog korona virusa umnogome promijenio rad gotovo svih organizacija, Michael Hilber u intervjuu za naš sajt govori o tome kako se COVID-19 odrazio na planove organizacija koje oni podržavaju.

Michael Hilbert / izvor: SHL

Kako je epidemijska situacija uzrokovana COVID-19 uticala na rad i planove organizacija koje finansira SHL?

COVID-19 je na sve partnerske organizacije uticao. Međutim, oni koji uglavnom rade preko operativnih centara pogođeni su u drugom obimu. „Projekt kolateralne popravke“ (CRP), na primjer, ima sjedište u Jordanu i vodi dva centra u Amanu koji služe za podršku izbjeglicama iz Sirije, Sudana, Jemena i Somalije. Oni su bili primorani da ih zatvore krajem avgusta – i ovo je bio drugi put da su morali preduzeti tako drastične mjere od početka pandemije. Suočavanje sa situacijom koja onemogućava središnji dio vašeg “hardvera” (djelovanja) i pronalaženje načina za pružanje usluga alternativnim sredstvima ogroman je izazov. Istovremeno, neizvjesnost u kontekstu međunarodnog finansiranja stvara dodatan stres za ove organizacije.

To je, takođe, bilo teško vrijeme za naše partnere koji se ne oslanjaju na rad u centru. Na primjer, omladinske organizacije morale su otkazati ili odložiti svoje Akcione dane (među kojima je i UNSCG), a ostale projekte takođe je trebalo značajno prilagoditi.
SHL je rano donio odluku da omogući prilagođavanje davanjem što veće fleksibilnosti i slobodnog prostora. Osvrćući se na proteklih pola godine, vrlo smo zahvalni na kreativnom i saosjećajnom radu zbog kog su naši partneri iznova i iznova radili na pronalaženju rješenja za probleme koje ova nepredvidiva situacija i dalje predstavlja.

Kako i gdje vidite omladinske organizacije zapadnog Balkana koje podržavate u narednih 10 godina?

Nadamo se da ćemo vidjeti kako omladinske organizacije na zapadnom Balkanu potvrđuju svoju ulogu glasnogovornika za prava mladih i demokratskog društva u cjelini. Što se tiče organizacionog razvoja u užem smislu, mladim organizacijama treba biti cilj da razvijaju i sprovode projekte koji unapređuju njihovu autonomiju i sposobnost da angažuju što veći broj mladih ljudi. Akcioni dan je sjajan primjer koji pokazuje kako su mladi sposobni preuzeti odgovornost na takav način.

Koje su razlike u omladinskom aktivizmu i interesima između mladih iz Evrope i nas sa zapadnog Balkana?

Određeni zajednički aspekti svih društava zemalja Zapadnog Balkana predstavljaju izazove s kojima se mladi u zapadnoj Evropi ne suočavaju u istoj mjeri.Najveće istraživanje o mladima za zapadni Balkan („FES omladinsko istraživanje jugoistočne Evrope 2018/2019“) pokazuje da su visoke stope nezaposlenosti, pritisak na političko prilagođavanje, preovladavajuća korupcija (ne samo) u obrazovnim sistemima, loša zastupljenost mladih, zavisnost od roditelja i migracija mladih ono su što se tiče mladih Zapadnog Balkana.
Sudeći iz te perspektive, čini se da omladinski aktivisti na zapadnom Balkanu moraju biti dvostruko otporniji, dvostruko uporniji i, iskreno govoreći, dvostruko angažovaniji da bi stvorili uticaj. Srećom, naše iskustvo sa UNSCG i drugim partnerima pokazuje nam da se ova vrsta izuzetnog aktivizma događa svaki dan.
Međutim, postoje globalne teme poput okoline i rodne ravnopravnosti koje okupiraju omladinske aktiviste bez obzira gdje žive. Tvrdio bih da će se trend prema tim sveobuhvatnim i objedinjavajućim poljima interesa nastaviti, pa čak i ubrzati. Informacije putuju preko granica digitalno i klimatske promjene neće nestati.

Prema vašem mišljenju, da li su nevladine organizacije dovoljno uključene u proces donošenja odluka u Crnoj Gori, konkretno UNSCG?

Bez posebnog akcenta na Crnu Goru, čini se da su nevladine organizacije u regionu prečesto pozvane da učestvuju u procesima donošenja odluka samo kada ne postoji način da se to izbjege ili očigledno ide u korist donosiocima odluka.
Bio sam vrlo iznenađen uticajem UNSCG u kampanji # učidoma i pregovorima s Ministarstvom prosvjete u vezi sa maturskim ispitima. To pokazuje da posebno omladinske organizacije moraju biti dio razgovora. Toga se treba sjetiti čak i nakon što budemo uspjeli ostaviti pandemiju iza sebe!

Za kraj, poruka koju SHL ima za srednjoškolce iz Crne Gore?

Ako vidite stvari koje zahtijevaju promjene, učlanite se s UNSCG i učinite da se i vaš glas čuje!
Na engleskom jeziku / in English language
We spoke with Michael Hilbert, team leader for the international project partnership organized by Schuler helfen leben (SHL) from Germany.
SHL supported the idea of establishing the High School Students Union of Montenegro and has been supporting the work of our organization for more than five years. As our true partners, they strive to contribute to the improvement of youth policies in Montenegro.
As the period of the new corona virus has greatly changed the work of almost all organizations, Michael Hilber in an interview for our site talks about how COVID-19 has affected the plans of the organization they support.
1. How epidemic situation caused by COVID-19 affected on work and plans of organisation financially supported by SHL?

Our partner organizations have been affected across the board by COVID-19. However, those who work mainly through operating centers have been affected on another scale. “Collateral Repair Project” (CRP), for example, is based in Jordan and does run two centers in Amman that serve to support refugees from Syria, Sudan, Yemen, and Somalia. They have been forced to close these in late August – And this was the second time they had to act in such a drastic fashion since the pandemic started. Coping with a situation that disables the central part of your “hardware” and finding ways to provide services through alternative means is a huge challenge. At the same time, the uncertainty with regard to the overall outlook of international funding puts additional stress on these organizations.
That said, it has also been a difficult time for our partners that do not rely on center-based work. Youth Organizations, for example, had to cancel or postpone their Action Days (UNSCG among them) and other projects also needed to be redesigned substantially.
SHL made an early decision to enable adaptions by granting as much flexibility and leeway as possible. Looking back at the past half year, we are very grateful for the creative and compassionate work our partners did put in again and again to find solutions to the problems this unprecedented situation keeps presenting.
2. How and where do you see Western Balkan youth organisation you are supporting within future 10 years?
We hope to see youth organizations in the Western Balkans assert their role as spokespersons for the rights of young people and democratic society as a whole. As for the organizational development in a narrower sense, it should be a goal for youth organizations to develop and implement projects that further their autonomy and capacity to engage as many young people as possible. The Action Day is a great example that shows how young people are able to assume responsibility in such a fashion.
3. What are the differences in youth activism and interests between youth from Europe and us from Western Balkan?
Certain shared aspects of all societies in the WB6 do pose challenges that young people in Western Europe are not confronted with to the same degree. The most comprehensive youth study for the Western Balkans (“FES Youth Studies Southeast Europe 2018/2019”) shows that high rates of unemployment, pressure to politically conform, prevailing corruption (not only) in the educational systems, poor representation of young people, dependence on parents, and youth migration are what concerns young people in the WB6.
Judging from that perspective, it seems that youth activists in the Western Balkans have to be twice as resilient, twice as tenacious, and, frankly speaking, twice as engaged to generate impact. Fortunately, our experience with UNSCG and other partners shows us that this kind of exceptional activism happens every day.
That said, there are global themes such as the environment and gender equality, that occupy youth activists no matter where they live. I would argue that the trend toward these overarching and unifying fields of interest will continue and even pick up speed. Information travels across borders digitally and climate change will not go away.

4. In your opinion, are NGOs included enough in decision making process in Montenegro, specifically UNSCG?
Without centering specifically on Montenegro, it seems NGOs in the region are invited to participate in decision-making processes too often only when there is either no way to avoid it or when it is obviously advantageous for decision makers.
I was very impressed by the involvement of UNSCG in the #učidoma campaign and the negotiations with the Ministry of Education regarding the Matura exams. It shows, that especially youth organizations must be part of the conversation. This should be remembered even after we have managed to leave the pandemic behind us!
5. For the end, the message that SHL has for high school students from Montenegro?
If you see things that need change, get engaged with UNSCG and raise your voice!