In order to effectively present and promote the “My Novi Pazar” application, a second round of consultations was held with young people from various local communities. The goal was to create interaction between the focus group and the app’s development team. Through these consultations, young participants had the opportunity to directly influence the shaping of the final version of the app, thereby becoming active contributors to its creation. This participatory approach allowed users to offer their suggestions, comments, and ideas, ensuring that the application aligns fully with the needs and expectations of its target group.
This time, the thematic focus was placed on the importance of strategic documents in the community-level decision-making process. Strategic documents—such as development plans, urban strategies, and youth policy frameworks—are key to shaping public policy and making decisions that impact the quality of life in local communities. These documents provide a framework for decision-making, support transparency, and serve as a foundation for citizen engagement in shaping policies that directly affect them.
Through consultations with youth, the concept of civic engagement and responsibility in the decision-making process was promoted. Young participants, through direct interaction with the development team, had the chance to familiarize themselves with the app’s functionalities as well as with opportunities for future development and improvement. Additionally, the strategic documents presented during the consultations clearly demonstrated how citizens, when equipped with the right information, can meaningfully contribute to local community development.
In conclusion, the youth consultations on the “My Novi Pazar” app showed that direct participation in the creation and development of technology is of essential importance. Furthermore, the role of strategic documents was emphasized as a form of guidance for making informed and effective decisions at the local level—ensuring that the voices of citizens, especially young people, are heard and considered in shaping the future of their communities.
