How often do young people in North Macedonia inform themselves about environmental and climate issues — and what happens when that awareness is random, occasional, or insufficient?

This case study focuses on the experience of a young journalism student who describes the “information desert” many young people face: environmental topics are present in public discourse, but they are rarely communicated in a way that is clear, locally relevant, and accessible. When information is delivered mainly through sponsored content or short social-media videos, context is often lost — along with the motivation for deeper understanding and active engagement.

The study highlights the importance of developing habits of self-education through reliable and verified sources, as well as the role young people — especially future media professionals — can play in creating content that explains environmental realities in a way that is meaningful “here and now.” At the same time, it emphasizes that awareness is not an end in itself, but a prerequisite for action: sharing knowledge with peers, participating in environmental initiatives, and creating local actions that make environmental issues visible and relevant in everyday life.

📘 Read the full case study here.

ℹ️ This case study was developed as part of the project “ZZZ – Joint Action for Green Advocacy for Environmental Protection,” funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Civica Mobilitas program, and implemented by Center for Youth Activism KRIK, Center for Social Initiatives “Nadez”, and the Association of Social Workers of North Macedonia – ZSRM.

The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Switzerland, Civica Mobilitas, or the organizations implementing the program.