The Municipality of Doboj Istok, with the support of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, is developing its first youth strategy, reaffirming its commitment to improving the status of young people and making Doboj Istok a youth-friendly community.
The youth strategy is a document developed by government institutions outlining programs that address the problems and needs of young people. It provides strategic directions, sets objectives, and specifies measures to achieve these objectives.
Following comprehensive research conducted by the Institute—with the support of the Leptir Association and a team of young interviewers from Doboj Istok—an Analysis of the Position and Needs of Youth was produced. This analysis reflects the perspectives of young people and serves as the foundation for developing the strategic document.
In parallel, the Development Team and working groups, with the support of the Institute, mapped existing policies and mechanisms for youth support in the areas of education, employment, social care, healthcare, and safety. The goal was to obtain a clear picture of the current support system in place to meet young people’s basic needs. In addition, they assessed youth participation in decision-making, youth organizing, activism, volunteering, culture and sports.
The second meeting of the Development Team and working groups provided an opportunity to present the results of the survey and review the situational analysis of available support in the municipality. The meeting also marked the beginning of discussions on how to improve the aforementioned areas and start building the strategic platform.
A shared understanding of the key issues affecting young people in the community was reached by all stakeholders, which contributed to defining strategic goals and the overall focus of the youth strategy. This also laid the foundation for structuring priorities and programs aimed at increasing youth participation and improving their position in society.
The youth strategy and its accompanying action plan—both of which will be developed in the coming period—will enable decision-makers to take concrete steps to strengthen the role of youth in the labor market and improve their access to formal and non-formal education, social protection, and healthcare. These strategic goals will guide the efforts of local authorities in creating new opportunities for young people.
As several working group members emphasized during the meeting, the fact that this is the first youth strategy in Doboj Istok makes this process particularly significant. The new strategy is expected to provide clear answers to the most pressing questions concerning the younger generation—their needs, expectations, and aspirations.
The Doboj Istok Municipality is supported through the project “Designing, Developing and Adopting Youth Policies”, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT in partnership with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Network of youth centers for animation, development and training of Republika Srpska (M.O.C.A.R.T.) and the Association of Secondary School Students in BiH.
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