Throughout this year, the Basic Training for Youth Officers has brought together representatives from various local communities across BiH, aiming to enhance their skills in working with young people. The training program covers key topics essential for the work of youth officers. During the final module, the focus was on communication, meeting organization, and youth project monitoring.
Over the course of 25 working days of intensive workshops, participants acquired the skills and knowledge necessary for more effective engagement on addressing youth issues.
“Personally, I was most impressed by the topic of communication with young people via social media. We discussed different styles and types of communication used on these platforms and how they can help us in our work within city administrations. Learning about how social media enables fast and effective interaction with young people, and how to adapt our communication style to be as effective as possible, was very useful and inspiring for my future work. During the session on verbal and non-verbal communication, we analyzed various situations where communication can succeed or fail. Understanding how different types of communication work can significantly improve interpersonal relationships and our work in public administration, especially when working with young people. This training is crucial for my professional development as it has helped me better understand the specific challenges young people face. Through practical examples and case studies, I learned how to better analyze the situation of young people in local communities and develop strategies that can bring them real benefits,” said Mirza Mešković, Youth Affairs Associate at the Department of Culture, Sports, Youth, and Social Protection of the City of Tuzla.
The training included a meeting with youth officers and the Assistant Federal Minister of Culture and Sports, who spoke about the role of young people in developing the Youth Strategy for the Federation of BiH. He emphasized the importance of consultations with various stakeholders and shared details about the next steps in the process of adopting the Youth Strategy, as well as the initiative to establish the Youth Council of the Federation of BiH. During the discussion, he expressed interest and appreciation for the ideas and suggestions presented by the youth officers, underlining their crucial role in strengthening youth participation in decision-making processes.
“For many years, the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports has had a successful partnership with the Institute for Youth Development KULT, particularly in implementing the Basic Training for Youth Officers. Our collaboration with the Youth Council of the Federation of BiH and the Institute on drafting the Federation’s Youth Strategy is also extremely important. This strategic document, soon to be discussed by the FBiH Government, is key to improving the position of young people. Youth officers have a crucial role in promoting and supporting its implementation. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with this group of youth officers and to further strengthening their capacities in the future,” said Salkić during his conversation with the youth officers.
One of the most inspiring parts of the training was a visit to the Youth Center in Teslić , where officers met with young people and the center’s founders. The exchange of experiences and ideas highlighted the importance of listening to young people’s needs and supporting their initiatives in ways that are accessible to them, showing that even small communities can achieve progress that inspires others.
“This training has been a true example of good practice, especially for me as a young associate responsible for program activities at the Youth Center in Banja Luka. It helped me develop professionally, gain knowledge, and get valuable examples and recommendations for future work. During the last module, I learned different techniques for developing presentation skills and organizing meetings in innovative ways. I would recommend this training to anyone who wants to become a modern, versatile youth officer in their local community,” said Nada Vasiljević, Program Activities Associate at the Youth Center in Banja Luka.
Through interactive sessions and sharing idea, participants concluded that this training is crucial for their professional development and growth as youth workers. One of the key messages of the training was that youth officers are essential for connecting local communities with young people and creating opportunities for their growth and participation.
This training marked another important step in building a strong network of youth officers whose dedication and enthusiasm show that, through joint efforts, we can create better opportunities for young people across the country.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT has been holding youth officer trainings and certified courses for expert youth work associates employed in city, municipal and cantonal administrations. The training program consists of 5 obligatory modules (120 hours) to be held from June to December 2024 in various cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The training is held in partnership with, and with the approval of, the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports, and with the support of Sweden in BiH.
