International Youth Day was celebrated in Novi Pazar with a stand-up performance by Bosnian-Herzegovinian actor Kerim Čutuna, followed by an energetic DJ set by Seminem in the city park. The event was organised by the local Youth Office and Europe House Novi Pazar.
In addition to his roles in numerous TV series and films, Čutuna is perhaps even better known among young people for his viral social media videos. At the Summer Stage, the Novi Pazar audience had the opportunity to enjoy his one-man show Nebitno.
“What a welcoming city, it was really pleasant and lovely. I’ve eaten far too many of your ćevapi, but I probably shouldn’t say whether they’re better than the ones in Sarajevo. I wouldn’t want to upset anyone back home,” he joked at the beginning of the evening.
He added that it was important to him for the performance to give people hope, and that he believed young people in Novi Pazar would be further motivated after hearing about his life journey.
“And humour is the easiest way to get people to reflect and to reach them, which is why I use it,” he said.
“Nebitno” is a satirical one-man play about the position of an actor in the society we live in today. It tells the story of archetypal characters we encounter every day, as well as the struggles and dilemmas faced by anyone who refuses to be part of a system that has long ceased to function.
Tarik Rupić, Director of the Youth Office, said that the issues Čutuna addresses in his one-man show are universal concerns shared by young people around the world.
“Through this performance and the party in front of the ‘Motrilja’ Tower, a symbol of Novi Pazar, we wanted to send a positive image and message to the young people of our city,” Rupić added.
According to the organisers’ estimates, nearly 400 young people attended the Youth Day celebration, and everyone we spoke to was pleased with the programme.
“It was interesting, the performance was excellent and had a strong message, followed by the party. But even without that, what mattered was that so many young people gathered in one place, that we socialised and met new people,” Mejrema told us.
Alongside supporting the Youth Day celebration, Europe House used the event as an opportunity to present its activities, particularly those aimed at young people, as well as the opportunities offered by various European Union programmes.
“Young people were also able to share their suggestions and ideas with us, and in just a few hours we received more than 100 messages. Our team will consider all of them and do its best to help. At Europe House, we believe that young people are not only part of the future, but that the present belongs to them as well, and that they can help shape the future. It is important to us that they build a new community and see Europe House as a new place to meet and connect,” said Aiša Nicević from Europe House Novi Pazar.
The message of this year’s International Youth Day is clear: investing in young people means investing in education, creativity, solidarity and active citizenship. According to research, young people in Serbia are precisely those who most clearly recognise the value of such investment and have the strongest belief that Serbia’s place is in the European Union.