Knowledge and Skills for the Future of Children and Young People

Skopje, 24 July 2025 – Children and young people in North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are already feeling the benefits of the strategic partnership launched a year ago by Nelt Group and UNICEF. The aim of the partnership is to make education systems in the region more resilient, inclusive, and better prepared to meet the demands of modern society and the labour market.

Through a joint three-year initiative worth USD 1.3 million, students from schools with a high representation of vulnerable groups are gaining opportunities to develop digital and green skills, learn through STEM projects, and build self-confidence, creativity, and team spirit. In 2026, the initiative is set to expand to the Angolan market, where Nelt Group also operates.

Children and young people must acquire the knowledge and skills needed to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future. Today’s education must keep pace with developments in science, technology, and the economy so that students gain knowledge based on new scientific discoveries and contemporary technological advancements and develop skills to apply them in everyday life. To successfully address the demands of the modern era, it is crucial to acquire 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity.

“Investing in practical learning and development of green skills empowers students for the future.  It prepares them for jobs in the rapidly-changing economy and the growing green sector and helps them contribute to a more resilient, equitable and innovative society” said Lesley Miller, UNICEF Representative. This partnership allows us to contribute to national efforts to align education with the evolving needs of the labour market, and we hope other companies will be inspired to follow.”

In North Macedonia, the programme “Empowering Students Through Practical Learning and Climate Education” is advancing secondary vocational education by integrating green skills. So far, 16 new partnerships have been established between schools and scientific/public institutions for practical environmental and climate education. Forty-five mentors have been trained, with a plan to reach 120 mentors by the start of the next school year. Curricula for 10 core vocational subjects are being revised, which will annually cover more than 3,000 students, significantly surpassing the originally planned targets.

“The partnership with UNICEF is a strategically focused effort for us, directed toward the community. We see this as an opportunity to contribute to the development of the education system and to ensure quality education for every child. An investment of 330,000 US dollars has been allocated to improving the skills of students in vocational schools through practical training and summer internships, with a focus on enhancing green skills. We want students in vocational secondary schools to acquire knowledge and skills that will benefit them in many ways throughout their professional lives and help them succeed in the dynamic and challenging labor market of the 21st century," said Saško Blaževski, Executive Director of Nelt ST.

In Serbia, the programme “Support for the Development of 21st Century Skills” will help 15,000 students from 30 primary schools, which have a high number of children from vulnerable groups, develop the skills they need for life and work in the modern world. A new concept of school clubs is being developed in collaboration with teachers, experts, and decision-makers. Schools have received STEM kits to be used in teaching and serve as valuable resources for research activities within school STEM clubs. Exchanges of ideas between teachers and principals have been organised and have proven to be a strong source of learning and motivation. Support is also being prepared for school principals to develop leadership skills through a mentoring model inspired by the business world.

in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the programme “TransformED” is working on the digital transformation of education. In the first year, 25 schools participated in the innovative initiative “Tinkering with E-Waste”, where old electronic devices are used for STEM lessons. Thirty-five teachers were trained, and educational materials were developed that will be made available to a network of 100 schools. Some of these materials are part of the IT Girls initiative. UNICEF and its partners have also established an intersectoral body for digital transformation of education at the national level in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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ABOUT UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.mk.

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UNICEF does not promote any of the products distributed by Nelt.

ABOUT NELT GROUP

Nelt Group is one of the most successful business systems in the Adria region in the field of logistics and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods, tobacco, and pharmaceutical products. As an international group, it employs 5,500 people across 14 companies in 12 markets in Europe and Africa. Its leadership position and achievements over 30 years of operations are the result of continuous investment in employee education and development, innovation, and the application of new technologies. An inclusive and open corporate culture is the company’s hallmark.