How Bojana discovered that small actions can create big change
Bojana Krivokapić is a 15-year-old Scout from Nikšić, Montenegro, who joined Scouting at the end of last year. What began as a curiosity soon turned into a meaningful journey of learning and personal growth. Through Scouting, Bojana found not only a community but also a purpose: to make a difference in protecting the environment.
Recently, Bojana took part in a Training on environmental protection, a three-day experience that brought together 25 young people to learn about environmental protection, leadership, and sustainable practices through interactive workshops and field activities, as part of the project Rise & Lead, funded by the Youth Empowerment Fund. In Montenegro, many communities, particularly rural ones, face ecological challenges and have limited access to public education on environmental issues. Through working with Scouts, it became clear that young people are eager to learn and take action, but often need support to develop the skills to turn their ideas into real projects.
The experience helped Bojana develop key skills in project planning, teamwork, and communication, tools that have made her more confident in taking the lead in her community. She now plans to organise clean-up activities, raise awareness about waste reduction, and inspire her peers to join in.
For Bojana, environmental protection is also about improving the health, safety, and quality of life in her community. “A cleaner environment means a better place for everyone,” she said. “I want to show others that protecting our planet is not only possible but also rewarding and fun when we work together.”
Looking ahead, Bojana hopes to create more opportunities for young people to take the lead through youth-led discussions, tree-planting days, and local sustainability projects. She wants to empower others, especially girls, to see themselves as changemakers capable of shaping a better future.
“I want to lead by example,” she added. “If each of us takes small steps, together we can make a big difference.”
Through Scouting and the project, Bojana discovered that leadership doesn't depend on age or status; it's about taking initiative, inspiring others, and believing that even the smallest change can go a long way.
About the Youth Empowerment Fund
The Youth Empowerment Fund, a partnership between the European Union and the Global Youth Mobilization, an initiative of the Big Six Youth Organisations, aims to break down barriers to funding; provide opportunities for mentoring, coaching and capacity strengthening; unlock opportunities for marginalised and under-represented communities; engage, empower and mobilise young people to create local solutions to the world’s biggest challenges, from climate change and gender equality to access to education and employment.
Young people lead all aspects of the Youth Empowerment Fund, from selecting grant beneficiaries to serving on the board of the initiative, supporting mentoring and capacity-building programs, and participating in the design, leadership, and implementation of projects in their communities.