An inspiring and motivating event titled “Dialogue Between the Youth and Local Government of the City of Bihać: Towards a Youth Strategy” was held in the hall of the Museum of the First AVNOJ Session. Participants included youth from Bihać, members of youth organizations, representatives of government institutions, and Bihać City Council members.
This event provided an opportunity for young people and government representatives to discuss key areas that will be included in the City of Bihać’s youth strategy. Among other topics, they covered educational needs, employment challenges, youth activism, participation in decision-making processes, and culture and sports, which are always central to discussions involving young people.
The dialogue allowed young people and decision-makers to discuss and share ideas to improve youth opportunities in the city and create new initiatives that cater to their needs. The dialogue was an ideal opportunity for trust-building activities and intensifying cooperation between youth and organizations that work with youth, government representatives, and decision-makers.
The participants were satisfied with the Dialogue and appreciated the opportunity it provided for young people to share their thoughts and ideas with decision-makers. The event also helped decision-makers gain a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by young people across the four mentioned areas. Now, they are better equipped to introduce the necessary measures and integrate young people’s suggestions into the strategy draft which is currently being developed.
The event received positive feedback from participants, who were interested in making this dialogue between youth and the government a regular occurrence. They aim to foster collaboration between young people and government representatives to enhance opportunities and improve the position of youth in Bihać.
Ćamil Medanović, a young participant, remarked, “Besides the excellent organization behind the Dialogue, today’s event sent an important message to those in decision-making roles, including parliamentarians who influence policies affecting young people. That message was conveyed through the significant turnout of young people who are invested in improving their status and position in society. Since city-level policies were discussed, we heard some interesting suggestions and observations. I found the observations of the young people from Bišća particularly interesting, and with some effort, I believe their position could greatly improve. I encourage you and the rest of the NGO sector to create more opportunities like this, such as debates, panel discussions, and similar events. I believe it would have an impact, it would energize young people and help the government address crucial problems faced by everyone, not just young people.
To develop this strategy, it’s crucial to enhance and establish a platform for constructive and productive discussions on topics relevant to young people. The strategy will eventually play a crucial role in shaping a youth-friendly environment. The discussion at this event delved into detailed ideas about the benefits young people gain from support and engagement aimed at implementing this strategy and action plan. The educational nature of the discussion helped clarify how young people can be directly and actively engaged. The event also generated a wealth of new ideas and proposals to incorporate into the implementation of the youth strategy,” said Hana Hrnjica.
The event was organized by the City of Bihać in cooperation with the Institute for Youth Development KULT, the Association “Center for Sustainable Development – COR” and the ReLOaD2 program implemented by UNDP.
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