As part of the Learn, Think, and Act! (UMiD19) program run by the Institute for Youth Development KULT, Adna Sarvan from Zenica launched an initiative called “Be Aware, Act, Protect Your Health” in partnership with the youth association REaktiv. The project grew out of her wish to get young people talking about subjects that are still rarely discussed, such as HPV, vaccination, and reproductive health.
The initiative began with a survey exploring young people’s knowledge and attitudes, which showed that most participants knew very little about HPV or how to prevent it. To address this, Adna organized an interactive workshop where participants could speak with health experts, ask questions freely, and challenge common misconceptions. Alongside the workshop, an online campaign ran on social media, supported by the distribution of educational materials to help spread awareness among young people.
“Before the workshop, I hardly knew anything about HPV or prevention. Now I really wish this topic was talked about more in schools. I’d love to see more workshops like this to raise awareness,” said a seventeen-year-old participant.
A nineteen-year-old attendee said he appreciated being able to ask questions about health without fear of judgment. “Now I have a much clearer idea of what it means to take care of my health,” he added.
Through this initiative, Adna saw how eager young people are to talk about important but often overlooked topics when they have a safe and supportive space to do so. “Both young women and men showed great interest, and talking with professionals gave them access to accurate, trustworthy information. Most importantly, they left feeling more confident and aware of how important it is to look after their health,” Adna said.
She is particularly proud that the workshop inspired two participants to get an HPV vaccine, which she says is a sign that the project made a real difference. In their feedback, many young people said they wanted more opportunities to learn. As one participant said, “These are topics people rarely talk about, but they’re important to all of us.”
Adna says the Learn, Think, and Act! training played a key role in making her project possible. “The UMiD training gave me the tools I needed – I learned how to plan, lead, and evaluate projects, but also how to motivate others. Everything I learned about leadership, communication, and activism helped me design and carry out this initiative independently, with clear goals and results. The training also gave me the confidence to believe in my ideas and take responsibility for making positive change happen in my community,” she said.
“Stay informed, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and always look for reliable information. Knowledge is the first step toward health and empowerment, and every change in a community begins with just one person who decides to take action,” Adna said in her message to her peers.
Learn, Think, and Act! (UMiD) is a three-month training program implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT. It comprises three modules and ten thematic units designed to empower young people to become active citizens and community leaders. The nineteenth edition of UMiD, held in 2025, brought together ten young people from ten different communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
