The two-day NGO Meet Up, titled “Local Success Stories – You Can Do It!” fostered new connections, networking opportunities, motivation, and fresh ideas for advancing civil society organizations. Around 50 representatives from NGOs across Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the event, sharing their thoughts and experiences while engaging in discussions with inspiring panelists whose organizations are making significant positive changes in the community.
The event began with a welcome address from Karl Wurster, a representative of the USAID Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ajka Rovčanin, Executive Director of the Institute for Youth Development KULT. Speaking about the importance of the non-governmental sector for Bosnia and Herzegovina, they encouraged the participants to make the most of their time and implement everything they think is applicable in their organizations’ work and could benefit their communities.
In a relaxed atmosphere, participants engaged in conversations with the panelists of the first session, titled ‘Stories from Our Local Communities.'” Ines Kavalec, Director of the “Dajte nam šansu!” Service Center, Naida Kokić, representative of the Foundation “Izvor nade,” and Samir Mahmić, representative of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, shared different life and organizational stories with a common thread, along with the challenges they have faced. The panelists discussed the obstacles they faced, what motivates them, and the communication methods they used while working with users, authorities, and other sectors. They were also very happy to answer numerous questions and encourage the participants not to give up on their ideas.
“All of us here are driven to move forward. If you firmly believe in what you have set as your goal, you will succeed, which is exactly what happened to me,”said Ines Kavalec.
During the second panel, “Investing in the Development of Youth Entrepreneurship: Profit or Cost,” participants engaged with Adela Ramić from Mozaik StartUp Studio and Senajid Đozo, Director of the Impakt Foundation. Participants learned about youth entrepreneurship, risks, opportunities and where to start.
“You mustn’t get discouraged right from the beginning, thinking that your business will fail and you won’t succeed. Approach entrepreneurship with a positive attitude, fully dedicate yourself, and be prepared that results may not come immediately,” said Adela Ramić.
Senajid Đozo added, “Mentoring is not a short-term effort; it should be ongoing, and lifelong learning is necessary for success.“
The panelists also discussed the perspective of the non-governmental sector regarding the development of social entrepreneurship and ensuring the sustainability of NGOs. The final message of the panel was that entrepreneurship holds the key to the future and that supporting young people can truly drive positive changes in society!
After the panel, participants visited the premises of the “Izvor nade” Foundation, where they saw another inspiring initiative supporting the growth and development of young people through education and an integrative approach to knowledge transfer. The Foundation representatives talked about their methods, goals, and community development contributions, highlighting various activities. Participants toured the Foundation, drawing inspiration for their own organizations from this positive example.
The second day of the event started with a session featuring Lana Novalić, a representative from Balkantina who led a discussion about the importance of collaboration between the business sector and NGOs. Lana shared valuable advice and talked about her experiences, and participants asked questions about how they could foster such collaborations within their own organizations. They worked in groups to formulate conclusions emphasizing the notion that meaningful changes and positive outcomes can only result from cooperation and combined efforts of the business and NGO sectors.
The event ended with a visit to the Center for Education and Training Nahla where participants got to spend time with Nahla’s staff. They talked to the Executive Director of Nahla about the growth and development of the organization. Nahla’s presentation focused on their development and dedicated work with a clearly defined target group. It also addressed the importance of cooperation and support between donors and the organization.
The two days, filled with positive energy, socializing, new information, experiences, and stories, provided the perfect opportunity for organization representatives to meet, network, and gain new insights. Organizations took advantage of this opportunity to draw motivation, supporting each other in their efforts to strengthen civil society and create better communities for all. After all, non-governmental organizations do not exist to serve themselves – they work for the good of society!
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