By launching the initiative Recognising UMiD as a training course for active participation of youth in 2012, the Institute began advocating for the recognition of Learn, Think and Act – UMiD as a form of non-formal education which provides youth with an opportunity to acquire different competences which would increase their labor market value. Having successfully completed the training of the 9th generation of UMiD during 2013 and 2014, the Institute continued to lobby for the recognition of associate expert on youth work as an occupation. Pursuant to a decision of the Agency for Statistics of BiH, associate expert on youth work was entered into the work position classification under the code 3412. This is an important step towards standardising youth work and represents the social acknowledgment of not only the occupation, but of non-formal education as a form of professional training.
Aiming to help youth, after the decision of the Agency for Statistics of BiH, the Institute is organizing a Training course for Associate Experts on Youth Work (more frequently referred to as youth workers). You must be wondering who youth workers are. Youth workers are persons who help youth in the process of their growth and development and work with youth in youth clubs and centres, youth organisations, and government institutions such as social work centres. Members of the first generation of youth workers come from 12 youth centres/associations/organisations from the following local communities Novi Grad, Ljubija, Gradiška, Kozarska Dubica, cities of Mostar, Tuzla and Zenica, and three Sarajevo municipalities: Centar, Novo Sarajevo and Ilidža. The training course participants will be given an opportunity to acquire knowledge, experience and skills in youth work, communication, human rights, the legal framework of youth work in BiH, business plans and entrepreneurship, but they will also apply what they learned through practical work throughout the duration of the one-year training course, after which they will take the written and oral tests in order to become certified youth workers.
The project Learn, Think and Act!, trained the 9th generation, comprising thirty youth leaders from 10 local communities in BiH (Banja Luka, Mostar, Trebinje, Zenica and Tuzla, municipalities Livno, Gradiška, Lukavac and two municipalities in Sarajevo – Novi Grad and Ilidža), during a one-year training course and 10 workshops on different topics including civil activism, volunteering, youth policy, public advocacy, etc. They belong to the 15-25 age group and actively participate in their communities.
During the training course, the youth leaders implemented civil initiatives in their local communities, concerning one of four areas: active participation of youth in social processes, celebrating important days, strengthening youth consciousness on ecology, active inclusion of youth with special needs and non-formal youth education. The initiatives were organised with the support of other young people, youth organisations, local, local authorities in BiH, and all previous participants of the UMiD training course.
By forming UMiD Alumni, a network of youth leaders who had previously completed the UMiD training course we got a “fount of good ideas” and the driving force able to recognise the current issues and to influence them, while advocating for changes in the society. During the conference UMiD Alumni – Successful Youth for a Successful Country, youth leaders offered their opinions, conclusions, attitudes and recommendations on the topics Lifelong learning and education, Youth networking and online activism, Political participation and Youth employment. Video of the conference is available here.
In order to familiarise youth, competent institutions, donors, partners and the public, with the training process itself, we published a brochure containing not only a detailed description of the training process, but also emphasising the importance of informal educations and its recognition. The UMiD Learn, think and act! brochure in English and Bosnian can be downloaded in the documents section on the right side.
In addition to all of the aforementioned, you can see the short film about the UMiD training course here.
All the project participants become citizens who willingly take steps towards changing the society they live in, express their opinions and actively participate in the decision-making in their community.
Full project title: Recognition of UMiD as a training course for active youth participation.
The project is being implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT, and funded by the Olof Palme International Centre.
Project contacts:
Katarina Vučković
katarina.vuckovic@kultbih.org
The Project is funded by:
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