IIn December 2014, the Institute for Youth Development KULT held a competition for youth leader who completed the Learn, think and act! training course. One of the winners was Haris Topalovi?, a long-time activist and youth leader of the Institute. The award was presented to him by Jasmin Beši?, Executive Director of the Institute. Below you can read what Haris wrote about the importance of UMiD.
„Sad si mali tu na raskrš?u, svi su pametni, svi šapu?u…“, that’s pretty much how I felt. It was 2008, and after finishing elementary school, I enrolled in a high school for dental technicians in Sarajevo. Neither a child, nor a man, but somewhere in between, I took my mom’s advice and took part in the workshop held by the Institute for Youth Development KULT. A group of young people, serious but kind, colorful posters on the wall showing active youth I had never seen before.
“Learn, Think and Act”, is an 18-month long youth leader training course, for some just another training course, opportunity to socialise and travel, and for me a crossroads. Even back then I knew I wanted to work for a more prosperous future for me and others, but I didn’t know how. This question, and other questions I had were answered during the training course that teaches young people how to volunteer, lobby, advocate, work in a team, strengthen and build confidence, face problems instead of hiding from them and, most importantly, to believe that hard work and dedication always pay off. It may sound surreal, but UMiD makes you think differently.
I was even more motivated to improve when I received a letter from KULT, saying: Dear Haris, although I have to admit that at very beginning of the UMiD training course I did not recognise your full potential, now I can safely say that you are a well-rounded person, and that you are starting to take more interest in the topics we are learning about. You work diligently, and every day it becomes more clear to me that you are an active young man whose knowledge, skills and experience will greatly contribute to the positive development of your community. I appreciate your honesty in yesterday’s evaluation. I am extremely glad that you are taking part in the training course and taking a more active approach to making the workshops interesting. The UMiD training course would not be what it is today. Stay on that course. KULT’s team is here for whatever you need.”
Today, having years of experience in volunteering and informal work experience, I firmly believe in and advocate non-formal learning. However, I am not discounting formal education – an important part of every individual’s life. Unlike formal education, non-formal education offers a different approach to learning, encourages creativity, improves every day, knows no boundaries and gives everyone equal opportunities. Non-formal education puts strong emphasis on creativity, and my wish is for the UMiD’s type creativity to one day be included in formal education. It’s not easy, but if every individual follows the Learn, Think and Act! slogan, and have the UMiD factor, they will, first and foremost, help themselves by acquiring new knowledge and skills, values that will help them in life in general, and can also be used to contribute to the development of their local community.
So, let’s learn, think and act so that we can create a better, more successful future for all of us.
Leave a comment