By the end of 2024, the Youth Hub for the Western Balkans and Türkiye had grown into one of the region’s most recognisable youth networks, with 68 member organisations spanning seven countries and a history of impactful projects. But with that growth came quiet uncertainty.

The network was expanding, but its identity felt blurred. Was it truly a community, or just a structure delivering EU-funded activities?

“We felt like we were functioning more as a project than a living, breathing network,” reflected Mirjana Milosavljević, one of the core coordinators. “That awareness sparked something. We realised it was time to look inward and define what kind of community we truly wanted to be.”

This question became the spark for something deeper. When the opportunity arose to participate in EU TACSO 3’s Strategic Mentoring Programme, the Youth Hub team didn’t hesitate. What they needed wasn’t more funding or tools. They needed space—and a dedicated moment to look inward and ask who they really were, what they stood for, and how they wanted to grow.

So, with the guidance of experienced mentor Lucija Popovska, they entered a different kind of process.

More Than a Plan

What followed was far more than a typical strategy exercise.

Working across five interactive sessions, each with a clear theme ranging from positioning and values to governance and advocacy, the team built a deep understanding, not just documents.

“Lucija came in with fresh eyes, and that turned out to be a gift,” said Mirjana. “She asked real questions. She listened. And through her learning about us, we began learning about ourselves.”

For a network that had grown quickly and organically in many ways, this was a chance to pause and make sense of its own identity. What emerged was not just a vision and mission, but a shared language.

They began to see more clearly where the confusion had been. Not all members felt equally involved. Some saw themselves more as grantees than co-owners. The line between project coordination and network leadership was often blurred. And with seven core coordinating organisations spread across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye, internal communication could feel fragmented.

Still, the will to connect was there.

One powerful step was a questionnaire. Designed and sent by the coordinating team to the wider membership, it invited grassroots organisations to share what they valued, how they saw their role, and where the network should go next. Over a third responded, an encouraging sign that people wanted to be part of something more.

“The focus extended beyond a document—it centred on building real ownership,” Mirjana explained. “This process helped us start rebuilding that—slowly, intentionally.”

A Living Strategy

By the end of the mentoring process, the Youth Hub emerged with a dynamic strategy framework—a strong foundation for future growth, rather than a fixed, one-size-fits-all plan.

Central to that process was revisiting their core purpose. One of the earliest realisations during the sessions was that, despite years of working together, not everyone in the network shared an understanding of why they existed.

“We thought we all had the same vision,” Mirjana recalled. “But once we started talking, it became clear—we had never actually sat down and articulated it together.”

It was the first time the group came together to articulate their shared vision in a unified way.

With the mentor’s support, the team began aligning around a clear and compelling message. They defined a common vision:

“Strong and meaningful participation of young people at all levels of social and public life in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.”

From there, the mission followed naturally: to enable national advocacy for youth participation across the region, grounded in research and capacity building. For the first time, this wasn’t just text in a project proposal—it was a statement the group could stand behind, because they had shaped it together.

“Lucija helped us pause. To reflect, to align, and to actually think together,” Mirjana said. “It was simple, but so powerful.”

The Work Continues

The mentoring process may be complete, but the real journey is just beginning.

The team is now tasked with translating a shared vision into shared practice—finding ways to engage members and create a more active, responsive network. The big questions around governance, resource mobilisation, and meaningful participation are still on the table.

“We have homework,” Mirjana said with a smile. “But we’re not doing it alone. Now we know what we’re building—and we know we want to build it together.”

What began as a mentoring exercise blossomed into something much deeper: a shared pause, a space for reflection, and a moment of collective clarity.

It wasn’t just about strategy; it was about remembering why the network exists. In rediscovering their vision, the Youth Hub team reconnected with each other, with their purpose, and with the belief that real, lasting change starts from within.