Skopje, 9 October 2025 (MIA) - My vision for Skopje is a city that creates opportunities, especially for young people. That’s why I have a clear plan for youth hubs, modern urban spaces, where young people would get direct access to companies, training, mentors, and financial support for their ideas, said SDSM’s mayoral candidate for Skopje, Kaja Shukova, on Thursday.

According to Shukova, the City of Skopje would open youth hubs that connect young people to businesses seeking employees. The hubs would host training and orientation testing for young people, helping them make the right choice for secondary and tertiary education, and they would cooperate with the Employment Agency and the Fund for Innovations and Technological Development.

“These hubs will also provide modest financial support for the business plans of their visitors, but will serve as a link between young people and investors to facilitate the path to success in business. In these centers, we offer connections with companies seeking new staff, guidance on education and career choices, training in digital skills, entrepreneurship and personal development, as well as financial and mentoring support for young entrepreneurs,” Shukova stressed.

SDSM’s mayoral candidate also spoke about providing social assistance through a voucher dubbed “Skopje for All”.

“We also have a solution for better social assistance through the ‘Skopje for All’ city voucher – an annual package that offers free public transport, access to the Zoo, museums, libraries, cultural activities, as well as subsidies for parking and sport. The voucher is meant for young people, low-income families, pensioners, and people with disabilities,” Shukova said.

In the field of education, Shukova said the city would continue to invest in renovating and modernizing schools and boost assistance for youth projects by 300 percent.

“We have a plan for a network of youth hubs, a new high school in Aerodrom, as well as for the digitization of education and a scholarship fund for athletes and talented students,” Shukova said.

The SDSM candidate said she believes with these measures, the foundation would be laid for Skopje as a city that retains its young people, creates quality jobs, and invests in knowledge and the future. 

Photo: MIA