A transformative campaign must be visible, well thought out, and with a razor-sharp focus. That was one of the key takeaways from the training “Leading Public Campaigns”, held in Sarajevo as part of the Proactive Citizens (PRAGG) project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The training brought together representatives of civil society organizations and informal groups from across Bosnia and Herzegovina to help them strengthen their skills to plan and run campaigns that inspire citizen engagement and promote transparency in public institutions.
During the two-day training, participants from Tuzla, Zavidovići, Vitez, Konjic, Livno, Travnik, Bratunac, and Banja Luka took part in interactive, hands-on sessions, developing their own campaign ideas. They explored how to identify social issues, set clear goals, reach key decision-makers, and build support within their communities.
As the trainers reminded everyone, a successful campaign needs to be public, organized, and goal-oriented, because “if the public isn’t aware of it, it’s as if it never happened.”
“The training was practical, dynamic, and really useful. I liked that we worked through real-life examples and integrated those insights with our own ideas. Everything made sense and was practical and clearly implementable,” said Adis Kriko from the informal group Local Talent Club Zenica.
He particularly liked learning about designing engaging and impactful campaigns.
Participants said the workshop gave them fresh ideas for making local initiatives more visible and recognizable, and showed them the true value of careful planning, effective promotion, and a clear message.
The training was another step toward building the skills of groups and organizations involved in PRAGG, and encouraging active citizenship and participatory democracy across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
