In today’s fast-paced world, where the needs of organizations and communities are constantly evolving, continuous learning and development are key to success. The job shadowing program of the Institute for Youth Development KULT has proven to be a powerful tool for both professional and organizational growth, empowering civil society organizations and their teams.
Today, the Institute had the pleasure of welcoming representatives from the Lara Foundation in Bijeljina. The visit offered our guests an excellent opportunity to gain new insights and enrich their own work through conversation and experience sharing.
“Job shadowing is a really interesting concept. We haven’t had the chance to visit another organization in this way before. We saw many new things, but also realized we’re already doing quite a few things well. We’ll definitely be able to apply some of the procedures we observed today,” said Ljilja Lukić, project coordinator.
Collaborating and sharing experiences in this way shows just how important it is for organizations to exchange knowledge and learn from one another. These kinds of encounters help strengthen bonds between organizations and directly support the broader mission of empowering the civil sector.
“We really enjoyed the visit. The sessions rotated naturally and weren’t too long. The focus was on experience-sharing, and we genuinely learned from each other,” said Nataša Kurtuma, Head of Office, and Slađana Milovanović, Legal Advisor.
“The visit was interesting and innovative. As someone who works in finance, I saw a lot of things I liked and could put into practice,” added Danijela Gavrić, Finance Manager.
The job shadowing program is intended for staff and key team members from civil society organizations that have an approved capacity-building plan or strategy. Its goal is to help participants develop new skills and knowledge through hands-on learning by observing the work of other organizations. The program offers a unique chance to learn directly within a real work environment, helping participants better understand the challenges and processes of other organizations. This, in turn, strengthens their professional growth and boosts the capacities of their own organizations.
Learning through practice and real-life experience is often the most effective way to build new competencies. Job shadowing offers just that -an opportunity to acquire practical skills through observation and collaboration, which participants can apply in their everyday work. It’s also a step toward stronger cooperation among civil society organizations.
Job shadowing is more than a visit, a meeting, or a networking session. It’s a process that brings together people, ideas, and experience.
The Lara Foundation is a partner organization actively involved in the capacity-building program through the PRAGG project, funded by the Government of Switzerland and implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina by a consortium of HELVETAS and NIRAS, in partnership with local partners, the Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the Institute for Youth Development KULT.
You can learn more about the job shadowing concept [HERE], or get in touch by emailing selma.sljivo@mladi.org.
