Young people have ideas, energy, and a desire to contribute to their schools and local communities. However, for their potential to become visible, they need to be given an opportunity and a space where they can learn, meet peers, speak freely, and feel that their opinions are truly valued.
This is exactly the kind of space created by the #EduConnectBiH Summer Camp for high school students, organized by the Institute for Youth Development KULT from August 18 to 22, 2026, in Konjic. The camp brought together 32 young people from 23 local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina, selected from more than 170 high school applicants.
The strong interest in participating sent a clear message: young people are not lacking in motivation, curiosity, or readiness to act. What they often lack are opportunities to develop their abilities, encounter different perspectives, and recognize their own role in society.
It is especially important that such opportunities be made available to young people from smaller local communities and environments where programs of non-formal education, networking, and active participation are rare or hard to access. Where a young person lives should not determine how much space they have to grow, meet new people, and realize their potential.
Through experiential workshops, simulations, team tasks, and open discussions, participants explored topics such as youth participation in decision-making processes, civic activism, volunteering, critical thinking, creative expression, and mental health. The program was designed to treat young people not merely as recipients of information, but as equal participants who ask questions, make decisions, and contribute their own experiences and ideas.
Giving young people a chance does not simply mean offering them a seat at a workshop. It means showing them that their ideas matter, that they have the right to take part in conversations concerning their own future, and that they are not too young to spark change. When given support and a safe space, young people can build confidence, take initiative, and develop a sense of responsibility toward their community.
Over the five days of the camp, new acquaintances, friendships, ideas, and alliances formed among young people from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although they come from different backgrounds and have different experiences, they were united by a shared need to be heard, included, and supported.
“Participating in the camp was a special and unforgettable experience for me. I had the chance to meet many new and wonderful people, form new friendships, learn useful things, and open myself up to new perspectives and ideas. I am especially grateful to the organizers, who through their effort, energy, and support made us feel accepted and ensured this camp will remain one of our fondest memories. I hope that one day I too will have the chance to be part of new opportunities, because you made me feel special and happy. I am returning home with wonderful memories, new knowledge, friendships, and the motivation to share what I have learned with my own community,” said Sara Tataraga, a student at the Mixed Secondary School in Bugojno.
The knowledge gained at the camp did not remain confined to the five-day program alone. It became a driving force for participants to view their role at school and in their communities differently once they returned home — to start conversations, propose ideas, involve their peers, or take the first step toward the change they want to see.
More than 170 applications for participation showed how many young people are waiting for their chance. It is up to us — adults, educational institutions, organizations, and institutions — to keep creating such opportunities, to make them accessible, and to show young people that their place is not only in the audience, but also at the table where conversations happen, decisions are made, and the future is built.
The #EduConnectBiH Summer Camp was organized within the EduConnect BiH – Applied Learning for Inclusive Communities program, implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT with the financial support of the UniCredit Foundation’s UCF Edu-Fund Platform, which works to reduce educational poverty, strengthen teachers’ capacities, and improve youth employability through the development of relevant skills in the countries where UniCredit Bank operates.
