After meetings in Mostar and Teslić, the “Councilors for Youth” initiative continued in Sarajevo, where young councilors from five Sarajevo municipalities met to discuss key issues for improving the status of youth in their local communities.
This time, we had the pleasure of hosting Dino Začinović (SDA – Party of Democratic Action, Centar Municipality), Kerim Smailbegović (Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Stari Grad, NiP – People and Justice), Imran Hodžić (Stranka za BiH – Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stari Grad Municipality), Eman Vukotić (Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Municipality of Ilidža) and Mirnes Omerović (SDA – Party of Democratic Action, Ilidža Municipality).
One of the discussion topics was the adaptation and modernization of youth space in the Stari Grad municipality, which would provide young people with a place to socialize, learn, and develop initiatives. The councilors discussed the housing challenges young people face, with a particular focus on planned measures in the municipality of Ilidža. These include the construction of new housing units, tax refunds on first-time property purchases, more affordable apartment prices, and support for startup businesses. It was noted that support for startup businesses should go beyond financial aid to include advice and mentoring, ensuring their long-term sustainability.
The councilors also discussed an initiative in the Municipality of Centar to create a map of services and rights for young people. This map would consolidate all relevant information in one place, making it easier for young people to access the resources and rights available to them. One key conclusion of the meeting was the need to provide a dedicated youth budget line in each municipality, ensuring that all planned activities and programs for young people are systematically coordinated and implemented more efficiently. The councilors also discussed introducing scholarships for young artists, as no municipality in Sarajevo currently provides this type of support.
A councilor from the Municipality of Centar shared his experiences in celebrating Youth Day and informed attendees that the Youth Council of the Municipality of Centar is in the process of being formed, and is expected to further increase youth participation in decision-making. It was also noted that youth strategies must be implementable, with clear action plans, to have a noticeable impact on improving the status of young people.
At the end of the meeting, the councilors suggested that future discussions focus on the FBiH Law on Volunteering, its implementation, and how to better support volunteers.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT thanks all participants for their constructive suggestions and engagement and looks forward to continuing collaboration through the “Councilors for Youth” platform. We hope to include the remaining young councilors from municipal councils in the near future.
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