The power of Youth Engagement in Digital Transformation in the Western Balkans
As a student of Industrial Engineering and an active participant in numerous CCIS initiatives, I have witnessed first-hand the power of youth engagement in shaping democracy and driving societal change in Albania and the Western Balkans. My work in projects focusing on decision-making, employment, and civic participation has taught me that democratic progress today is deeply intertwined with the digital environment we inhabit.
In Albania and across the WB region, digital rights are not yet fully understood, regulated, or safeguarded. We face a pressing need to improve public awareness of these rights, to develop a comprehensive and regularly updated legal framework, and to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement capacities of public institutions. The path forward is clear: the Western Balkans must meaningfully align with the EU acquis on digital technologies. This is a unique opportunity for our region to modernize, not just technologically but also in terms of rights protection, inclusivity, and democratic resilience.
But challenges remain. Striking the right balance between digital rights, security, and inclusivity is far from straightforward particularly when introducing fully digital public services. The solution lies in a human-centric strategy for AI and digital transformation. Such a strategy is not simply beneficial; it is essential. It is the compass that helps us navigate AI’s complexity, avoid the “app-centric” fragmentation that dilutes impact, and ensure effective use of world-class AI tools such as Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot.
In practice, a human strategy means building a robust “digital cognitive ladder”: a structured approach that guides investments in AI, encourages multimodal content creation, and delivers measurable societal and economic value. It is also a strategy for cultivating AI literacy helping citizens, institutions, and young professionals alike to overcome fear, adapt quickly, and work collaboratively with AI.
The global AI conversation has already shifted. The initial excitement around generative models like ChatGPT in 2023 has matured into a sober realization: AI is no longer a distant possibility; it is an embedded force reshaping every aspect of work, governance, and daily life. The question is no longer “if” AI will influence us, but “how” we will integrate it meaningfully and ethically into our professional and civic spaces.
For Albania and the WB youth in the region, the answer cannot be just the adoption of tools. We must weave AI into the fabric of our vision, institutions, and culture. This requires leadership, especially from youth, to ensure that AI serves people, protects their rights, and fosters equitable opportunities for all.
My journey through Industrial Engineering has sharpened my analytical thinking, while my engagement with CCIS has deepened my belief in participatory governance. The intersection of these experiences fuels my commitment to help build a digitally empowered, rights-focused, and human-centered future for my country and region.
DISCLAIMER: This article is part of Youth Participation in Digital Democracy: From Digital Skills to Digital Rights of Youth with Fewer Opportunities (EYDR) project, aimed to strengthen the capacities of Albanian and Montenegrin youth to meaningfully engage in digital activism through an approach that balances protection and digital participation.
EYDR is funded by the Erasmus Capacity Building in the Field of Youth of the European Union and is implemented under the leadership of SCiDEV in partnership with UZOR, Beogradski centar za ljudska prava, Asociación Youropia, Centre for Comparative International Studies, Erasmus Student Network in Albania, National Youth Agency in Albania, and SHARE Foundation. Opinions in this article are solely of the author and do not necessarily represent the views European Union stand on the matter.
