Young Leaders Envision a Brighter Future in Europe & Eurasia

A conversation between USAID Assistant Administrator Brock Bierman and European Democracy Youth Network President Juela Hamati

Juela Hamati, right, is president of the European Democracy Youth Network, an organization of young political and civic leaders looking to make meaningful changes in their countries and region. USAID recently supported a boot camp for the young democracy advocates to exchange ideas and strategies. / USAID

Scrolling through Facebook or Twitter today might lead you to think that democracy is on the decline. The naysayers online — foreign bots and real people alike — who sometimes dominate social media can lead us to believe that meaningful engagement is beyond our reach, and that those who disagree with us are the enemy. These voices aim to sow discord where democracy demands debate.

Despite these tumultuous trends on social media, I couldn’t be more optimistic about the future.

This spring on the bank of Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia, I spent time with over 40 young political and civic leaders from across Europe and Eurasia. They came from different countries, different political parties (some directly opposed to one another), and different points of view. Before this meeting, I believe some of them probably could not imagine working side-by-side with the other attendees.

And yet, after a week-long, USAID-supported boot camp designed to bolster their skills as young advocates for democracy, their views of each other were transformed.

Brock Bierman, USAID’s assistant administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, speaks at the first first meeting of EDYN’s leadership council in December 2018. / USAID

As the inaugural members of the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN), the group came to see that the only way to solve the problems their generation faces, both within their home countries and across the region, is to reach out to those who see the world in a different way.

In my view, young leaders like the members of EDYN present our surest path toward building a brighter, more prosperous, and democratic future. In commemoration of International Youth Day, I sat down with EDYN President Juela Hamati to discuss her vision for the young leaders of EDYN and to hear firsthand how USAID can best support them.

USAID: As a new organization, can you share a little about the European Democracy Youth Development Network — what does the network hope to achieve, and who are its members, for example?

Juela Hamati: Our members are young civic and political leaders, under the age of 33, from across Central and Eastern Europe. We’re changemakers — each of us works to make a positive impact in our communities. As a member-driven network, we want EDYN to be a space for the youth in Central and Eastern Europe to use each other as resources in support of democracy. We want to be examples to our peers and future generations that WE, the youth, have the power to solve the problems older generations haven’t.

Juela Hamati speaking with journalists at a USAID event in Albania. / USAID

USAID: Anyone who has heard me speak publicly knows the value I place on helping empower young leaders as a key aspect to affecting long-term change. As EDYN begins working toward the vision you outlined, how can USAID and other partners help? What resources, training, or skills would you say are most important for young people eager to make a difference?

Juela: First of all, I would like to say that we’re grateful for the support and guidance USAID, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute have already provided for EDYN. You’re helping us help ourselves. Second, I would like to emphasize that youth leaders need long-term mentors who can help us navigate specific situations in our careers. Third, we need the skills that will allow us to clearly articulate policies we support, advocate for those policies effectively, and sustain our efforts independently. But none of these skills will matter if the youth don’t have an opportunity to apply them. That’s why the most important thing that the youth need is an opportunity to show their potential.

Juela Hamati, president of the European Democracy Youth Network, encourages every person to get involved in their communities. “Whether it’s in politics or activism — participation counts!” she says. / USAID

USAID: Since that first week of training last April for EDYN’s Leadership Council, have you or other members of EDYN had opportunity to put your new skills and resources into action?

Juela: Absolutely! To use myself as an example, I got to apply what I learned in the media training when I spoke at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit last month. There, I had the chance to apply the training we got on public speaking, attitude, how to start the answer and also basic things like what color goes well with the camera and what not. Also, at my daily work, I get to lead a group of volunteers, so the training we got on volunteering — it is really important because it helps me to keep motivated the volunteers I work with.

Members of the European Democracy Youth Network believe that the only way to solve the problems their generation faces, both within their home countries and across the region, is to reach out to those who see the world in a different way. / USAID

USAID: On International Youth Day, what message do you have for other young people who may see challenges in their communities or who have their own ideas for how they’d like to see the future take shape?

Juela: Don’t passively watch as the future takes shape. The youth are the future, so we should take action to make it something we want. That’s why I want to encourage every young person to get involved in something. Whether it’s in politics or activism — participation counts! Everyone’s ideas and actions have the power to make an impact, no matter how small.

About the Author

Brock Bierman is the Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Europe and Eurasia. Follow him @BBiermanUSAID.