JELENA
MONTENEGRO
25 YEARS
"It all comes down to
one word: Responsibility.
We have to take responsibility for our
own future and for the
future generations
to come."
Despite living in the bustling heart of Montenegro, balancing a full schedule filled with her own TV show, her studies at the faculty of communication and media and her role as a fierce activist, Jelena primarily is this: A true family person.
Looking back on her childhood, she fondly remembers the summers spent in the countryside at her grandparents‘ village. Her upbringing surrounded by the beauty of wild nature in the company of her siblings, her grandparents‘ animals and her family has undoubtedly shaped her into a resilient and positive individual. It is these deep, strong roots in her past that give her the strength to fight for an equitable society for everyone in the future.
Jelena says she was not born an activist. Indeed, it is a way of life she discovered for herself. In the beginning she only knew that she wanted to work with young people in the media area. During her first years studying law, Jelena embarked on a process of self-discovery and exploring her areas of interest first, before seeking to find her professional mission. It is something she would recommend to all her peers, as it led her to create her own dream job.
Jelena is the editor and creator of her own TV show “We are still green” in which she presents the critical, yet positive voices of young Montenegrins and their life journeys with the intention of inspiring other young people. In addition, she serves as a project manager at the NGO “Center for Youth Education” leading the „Social Impact Award“ initiative, which is currently operational in eighteen countries across three continents. To her it is an opportunity to listen, but also to be heard.
Jelena discovered her own political voice during the first Youth Parliament in Montenegro in 2022. Given her disillusionment with the state of politics at the time, she was initially skeptical about the potential outcome of the initiative. However, once she and her fellow participants got to work, she began to reconsider. They gathered and called the members of the parliament and got them to listen. Next, they wrote letters not only with demands, but also with suggestions on how these goals could be achieved in collaboration with young people.
Two years later, a considerable number of the demands written on this piece of paper, turned into reality. This experience taught Jelena to never give up. “To always knock on doors, to send that email and to call. It will be worth it in the end.”
In examining the Berlin Process Jelena believes it will step up many developmental stages, particularly regarding environmental challenges and the reform of the educational system. Many young people still leave Montenegro to get a better education abroad, as the system is outdated and cannot keep up with current standards. Moreover, even if one secures a degree, the subsequent availability of employment opportunities is severely limited. It is evident that a considerable amount of work remains to be done. Considering the future of Montenegro, Jelena is optimistic that her homeland will eventually become a member of the European Union - if the issues are tackled today.
In the end, Jelena chooses to believe in the power of activism and in the inherent goodness of humanity – sometimes it just takes a bit more time to find it.
