The children

At the stage of adolescents, their difficulty is closely linked to behaviours. Each year, many young people lose life from accidents that are related to inappropriate driving often associated with drinking and substance abuse. The change in their body can also be a big challenge. Sexual activity brings risks of their sexual and reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS. They face numerous difficulties: identity crises, value crises, expressing themselves, making touch decisions, participation to social activities, becoming independent, and relationship with peers, teachers, elderly, and parents… In Serbia, finding job is another issue that puts young people under pressure.

It is clear that they need supportive environment. However limited attention is given to adolescents both socially and politically. Some adolescents are even more affected than others. Such disadvantaged groups include Roma, those with disability, those in institutions, those who live in poverty, and a large number of those who conducted “unacceptable” behaviours. Stigma and discrimination put them in the higher risk and isolation, and there is little, if any, system in place to reach out to them to provide education, health, and other social services, to realize their rights.

Capacity and potential of adolescents are often overlooked in the system despite the fact that they can be strong partners in the development of the society. They have right to participate in issues and decisions that affect them, and they are the ones that know best about their needs – what kind of problem they face, what kind of support they need, why they behave in certain ways, how and by whom their needs could be fulfilled. Let’s give them a chance.