Just Transition Young Voices Awards 2025
Youth play a critical role in driving the energy transition and turning today’s goals into tomorrow’s reality. Fostering their knowledge, motivation, and acceptance of the transition is essential. In addition, this initiative creates opportunities to strengthen cooperation on just transition topics among all partners and to establish a simple, replicable process through the award structure.
The Awards aim to inspire and support young people with an interest in energy and climate journalism to explore and report on just transition topics. The Awards offer learning opportunities, international exposure, and platforms to showcase the work of selected winners.
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Winners
Winners
The Secretariat announced the winners of the 2025 Just Transition Young Voices Awards in August 2025. The competition drew submissions from young adults under 30, representing all nine Contracting Parties. Celebrating the next generation of storytellers shaping the debate on South East and Eastern Europe’s green future, the award was created to amplify the perspectives of young people who will define the region’s climate, energy, and social landscape for decades to come.
The winning stories highlight the opportunities of the green transition, while confronting its complex challenges: ranging from unequal access to clean energy to the impacts of war, migration, and poverty. Winning entries will be published later this year on Balkan Green Energy News and other key partner platforms, such as CLEW’s blog and RYCO’s digital platform Hajde.
First place: Tringë Shkodra (26, Kosovo*)
First place was awarded to Tringë Shkodra (26, Kosovo*) for her compelling piece on her country’s just energy transition and the shift away from coal. She traces Kosovo's* reliance on lignite as an environmental liability, public health and social justice crisis, calling for faster, more inclusive reforms that empower youth.
Shkodra will take up a paid one-month internship with the Energy Community Secretariat.
Second place: Ani Gogokhia (18, Georgia)
Second place went to Ani Gogokhia (18, Georgia) for her first-hand account, illustrating how daily struggles with low wages, migration, pollution, and health crises mirror the risks of an unequal energy transition in Georgia.
Gogokhia's award was a fully funded fact-finding mission on energy transformation in the Western Balkans with Bankwatch.
Third place: Kateryna Pereloma (22, Ukraine)
Third place was awarded to Kateryna Pereloma (22, Ukraine) for her account from Kyiv, documenting how communities are responding to war by embracing sustainability through solar energy, recycling, urban gardening, green startups, and youth-led initiatives.
Pereloma benefitted from a Training for Journalists on Climate Disinformation in the Western Balkans, hosted by CAN Europe in Ohrid, North Macedonia, in September, with travel and accommodation covered.
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Three awards
Three awards
The Energy Community Secretariat, in cooperation with CEE Bankwatch Network, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, the Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) Network, and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), is launching three prizes:
- One-month paid internship at the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna.
- Participation in the Regional Journalists Training in Climate Reporting, hosted by CAN Europe on 1–3 September in Ohrid, North Macedonia – applicants should save the date. Travel and accommodation costs will be reimbursed.
- A paid fact-finding mission on energy transformation in a selected Western Balkan location, with and organised by CEE Bankwatch Network.
Balkan Green Energy News is an official media partner of the Initiative.
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Successful candidate
Successful candidate
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Eligibility Criteria
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Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old.
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Applicants must live in or come from one of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, Georgia or Ukraine.
- Women are strongly encouraged to apply and participate in this initiative.
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Application must be submitted in English.
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Application must include an attached story between 700 – 1100 words.
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Story selection criteria
Topic
Focus on Just Transition
Explore how communities, workers, businesses, or governments are navigating the shift toward a greener economy in a fair and inclusive way. Stories may highlight real people, places, or initiatives that reflect the challenges, opportunities, and solutions involved in just transition—particularly in sectors or regions impacted by the green shift. Issues of equity, the (non)inclusion of marginalized groups, or proposed solutions to ensure a fair transition for all can be addressed.
Quality of writing
Clarity and Understandability
The artcile is well-written, easy to understand, and engaging for the intended audience.
Accuracy
The article uses facts and data correctly to support its claims and provide evidence for its arguments.
Impact and Public Benefit
Originality, Newsworthiness and Impact
The article offers new insights or perspectives, not just re-reporting known facts. Is it relevant and interesting for the audience? Does it enhance understanding of Just Transition, or inspires action?
Bonus: Creativity and Innovation
The article may be judged on its innovative use of storytelling techniques or formats.
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Eligibility Criteria
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Selection process
Selection process
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Timeline
- Application open: 28 May – 28 July
- Jury selection process: 6 August - 13 August
- Winner announcement: approx. 13 August - 20 August
- CAN Europe Prize: 1–3 September in Ohrid, North Macedonia – applicants should save the date
Timing for the Energy Community internship and the fact-finding mission with Bankwatch will be agreed with the winner.
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Selection committee
The Energy Community Secretariat will prepare a shortlist of up to nine applications to facilitate an efficient and focused evaluation by the Jury.
The Jury consists of the following members:- Nevena Smilevska, Just Transition coordinator for Western Balkans, Bankwatch
- Milou Dirkx, Journalism Network Manager, CLEW Network
- Ensara Reçi, Local Program Officer, RYCO
- Marta Schulte-Fischedick, Just Transition Specialist, Energy Community Secretariat
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Timeline