The awarded projects are on media literacy and youth entrepreneurship and will be implemented by Ekvalis and YES Foundation, civil society organisations from North Macedonia. The project implemented by Ekvalis will promote media literacy among youth in the region by focusing on critical thinking and leading positive regional narratives. The YES Foundation project will connect youth by enhancing their leadership and entrepreneurial skills, helping them explore new opportunities and ideas that can be innovative in tackling the COVID-19 crisis.

The projects are funded under the 4th Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) Open Call for Project Proposals supported by the European Union.

The overall objective of the fourth RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals is to support the civil society in the Western Balkans to foster reconciliation and regional youth cooperation during and post COVID-19 crisis. The call aims to contribute to increasing the capacities of CSOs that can implement regional youth-related projects and provide new opportunities for young people.

The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is an independently functioning institutional mechanism, founded by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, aiming to promote the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation between the youth in the region through youth exchange programs. RYCO is financed by the governments of the region, and it is supported by the EU and other donors.