“You fight corruption by speaking up” was the topic of “Coffee with…” which was organized during the sixth module of the Institute’s “Learn, Think, and Act” (UMiD) training at the Educational-Leisure Center for Youth SPAJALICA in Ilidža.
The guests of Kafa sa… were journalist Renata Radić-Dragić from the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN) and Nermina Kuloglija from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in BiH (BYRN).
Journalists shared their work and the activities of their organizations, offering the training participants insights into the investigative stories about corruption they work on daily. The young participants had the chance to learn more about investigative journalism and the challenges journalists face while covering corruption and crime in BiH.
In the conversation with Nermina and Renata, the young people learned about the role of journalists in fighting corruption in BiH, and were curious about how they can contribute to preventing and reporting corruption to the relevant authorities. This was an opportunity for young people to share their personal experiences with corruption in their local communities, including the challenges they face when confronted with requests for bribes or involvement in corrupt activities.
“In our society, hearing about corruption and bribery or witnessing them is an everyday occurence. This is the first time I had the opportunity to meet people who investigate, write and call on institutions to act on corruption or crime, even if it puts their lives at risk. I want to thank the guests and their organizations for trying to rid our society of individuals or groups that are destroying us,” said Admir Pivić, an UMiD training participant.
This was an opportunity for young people to share their personal experiences with corruption in their local communities, including the challenges they face when confronted with requests for bribes or involvement in corrupt activities.
Marko Bašić, one of the participants, said that it was a pleasure to interact with the guests.
“It is obvious that they have a lot of experience and were happy to share it with us. The session was interactive and very dynamic, so the time flew by. Corruption is a major issue affecting not just young people, but all generations. We encounter it daily and sometimes even participate in it, often unwittingly. We believe that a box of chocolates is a token of gratitute or that giving money for public services that we’re already paying for will buy us some peace of mind. As individuals, we may not be able to eradicate corruption singlehandedly, but if everyone who has been a victim or witness to it reported it to the appropriate institutions or sought advice from NGOs focused on fighting corruption, we could see significant progress in the foreseeable future,” said Marko.
Since September 2021, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has been implementing the initiative Say NO to Corruption in Sarajevo Canton in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption and Quality Control Office of Sarajevo Canton. Together with our partner, we are analyzing measures intended to prevent conflicts of interest in public institutions in Sarajevo Canton and intend to advocate for adopting a conflict of interest management policy for public institutions in Sarajevo Canton.
This initiative is implemented with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The initiative aims to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of corruption, examine citizens’ and young people’s views on the issue, and provide basic information on combating corruption. The Institute will continue contributing to the solution and implementing workshops and new activities focused on educating young people about corruption.
Leave a comment