By educating pupils on the proper attitude towards the environment and by making classrooms green, the national campaign Čuvaj da te čuva is launching a new phase of its activities.

The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Montenegro, Johann Sattler, said that previous actions had brought about a visible change. He stated this during the presentation of the new segment of the national environmental protection campaign Čuvaj da te čuv

He stated that, for the first time, an environmental crime police unit now exists in Montenegro and added that a tyre-treatment machine will finally resolve the issue of tyres scattered across the country.

Sattler welcomed the Government’s decision requiring sellers of plastic bags thicker than 50 microns to pay a 5-cent fee per bag.

He added that the next step concerns thicker bags.

“We welcome this step because it will further reduce the amount of plastic. I just want to say that we are only at the beginning. Activities will certainly continue, and next spring we will carry out a coordinated clean-up of Montenegro’s road network,” Sattler said.

Ambasador je istakao važnost intenziviranja rada sa djecom, jer mladi brzo formiraju navike, a i The Ambassador emphasised the importance of intensifying work with children, as young people quickly form habits, and children adopt them most easily.

“With the help of the Centre for the Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP) and Green Wave, we will visit ten schools in Montenegro and speak with pupils about environmental crime. Through lessons on these topics, we will also discuss the misuse of national resources, forest exploitation and illegal landfills,” Sattler said.

He stressed that children are the strongest multipliers of change.

“And I believe this aligns with the broader green ambition proposed by our partners, led by Vuk, which includes afforestation, clean-ups, waste separation and all these initiatives within environmental responsibility — showing children that protecting nature is not merely a slogan, but something they can practise daily wherever they are,” Sattler added.

The Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, stated that the Ministry she leads had adopted an education reform strategy for the period 2025–2035, which recognises the importance of topics such as sustainable development and the enhancement of green skills among pupils.

She recalled that the Ministry had previously implemented a project related to sustainable development and environmental protection.

“More than 100 EdTech laboratories have been equipped in primary and secondary schools across Montenegro. They now feature 3D printers, recycling devices, laptops, state-of-the-art equipment, enabling pupils to develop not only digital skills but also green skills, with the help of their teachers,” Jakšić Stojanović said.

She added that the Eco-Schools project is also underway.

“This project has been implemented since 2016. We already have 52 schools holding this designation in Montenegro, and 17 schools are in the pilot phase. The Čuvaj da te čuva campaign and the story we are now launching perfectly align with the strategic direction of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation,” she said.

The project will involve the following schools: Njegoš Primary School in Danilovgrad, Ratko Žarić Primary School in Nikšić, Mahmut Lekić Primary School in Tuzi, Dragiša Ivanović Primary School in Podgorica, Božidar Vuković Podgoričanin Primary School in Podgorica, Serbia Primary School in Bar, Maršal Tito Primary School in Ulcinj, Radomir Mitrović Primary School in Bar, Aleksa Bećo Đilas Primary School in Mojkovac and Salko Aljković Primary School in Pljevlja.

Jakšić Stojanović said that, in addition to the educational part, which will include various workshops and interactive activities, ten schoolyards would also be equipped.

“We are launching a beautiful initiative, the story of outdoor classrooms. These classrooms will allow our pupils to acquire different knowledge and skills in the most beautiful setting, that is, nature,” she added.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG), Irena Radović, said she was pleased to be a part of the Čuvaj da te čuva national campaign.

“It is pleasing to finally recognise that although these three areas are often viewed separately, they are deeply interconnected — environmental protection, educating the youngest, and social responsibility form the basis of long-term, high-quality economic development and prosperity,” Radović said.

She noted that the CBCG had recognised the green and digital transition and incorporated it into its development and strategic plan until 2028.

Radović stated that this initiative and the Čuvaj da te čuva campaign have particular value. They teach children to think and act long-term, responsibly and sustainably.

She emphasised that through the Eco-Schools initiative, children would learn to separate waste responsibly, save water and energy, and treat their surroundings with care.

“This is also the foundation of financial literacy, environmental awareness and civic responsibility, without which there can be no stable, developed society or economic prosperity, which Montenegro aspires to,” Radović said.

She stressed that, for the CBCG, the Eco-School project is not only environmental; it represents an investment in knowledge, skills and competences, with the aim of moving Montenegro from its current development level of 50 per cent convergence with the EU to 90 per cent within 15 years.

“And that is why working with the youngest is precisely the activity which will ensure these values are adopted, and that children show us adults how these values are lived and what their implementation brings,” Radović added.

Radović said that the CBCG would continue to promote initiatives connected to sustainable development, education and institutional responsibility.

The director of the NGO Let’s Green Montenegro, Vuk Vujisić, said that without education and learning, the vision of an ecological Montenegro could not come to life.

“Only through educating our young people can we establish a system of responsibility and ensure that tomorrow we can live in a society that understands how to treat the environment,” Vujisić said.

He explained that the new segment of the campaign will involve educational programmes in schools across Montenegro.

Vujisić said that these educations will be carried out in cooperation with the civil sector, the CZIP organisation and Green Wave.

“We will green schoolyards by planting trees, providing outdoor furniture, eco-benches and recycling infrastructure. And most importantly, through this campaign, we will provide outdoor classrooms,” Vujisić stated.

According to him, this will create an environment in which pupils can truly experience what it means to have a responsible attitude towards the environment.

Vujisić said that in the next two years, maximum efforts would be invested in presenting the vision of an ecological Montenegro to young people and highlighting the importance of their involvement in the process.

“For this first phase, Let’s Green Montenegro has provided seedlings worth € 20 000, but with our partners we will, I believe, quickly reach the figure of € 100 000 for outdoor furniture and outdoor classrooms,” Vujisić said.