'OPENS' Association of Youth Organizations

OPENS acts as a resource center dedicated to empowering young people, youth workers, and youth organizations. We develop youth policies, strengthen civil society, and support active youth participation through inclusive programs, partnerships, and advocacy. We promote values important to young people, sensitise the community, and encourage sustainable, long-term institutional support for youth. Our mission is to open doors for knowledge, skills, experience, and energy transfer – and to build lasting structures that help young people reach their full potential. OPENS works through several key programs: Mental Health Program – promoting mental health, reducing stigma, and providing young people with knowledge, support, and opportunities for personal development. Participatory Democracy Program – encouraging young people to participate in decision-making, civic life, and their communities. Volunteering Program – connecting young people with volunteering opportunities and supporting organisations in developing quality and inclusive volunteering. Youth Club and Career Development Program – providing a space for learning, socialising, personal development, quality leisure, and career guidance. Youth Policy Transformation Program – advocating for more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable youth policies. A central part of OPENS' work is the Youth Centre, an open and accessible space for young people, youth workers, and youth organisations. The Youth Centre provides opportunities for learning, meeting, socialising, exchanging experiences, and developing new initiatives, while serving as a base for a wide range of OPENS programs and activities. Through its programs and the Youth Centre, OPENS brings together young people, civil society organisations, public institutions, and other stakeholders, creating opportunities for cooperation and supporting young people to actively shape the society they want to live in.