A dialogue between youth and local government representatives was recently held at the Cultural Center in Tuzla, marking a major step toward establishing the city’s first Youth Mobility Fund. The discussion brought together young people from diverse backgrounds, including representatives of youth organizations, to learn about the initiative and share their ideas on the priorities and structure of the Fund.
With support from the Institute for Youth Development KULT, the City of Tuzla has been working to set up the Fund, which will soon be available to young people. This dialogue served as a valuable opportunity for youth to directly shape a resource intended for them.
Over the course of two hours, young participants and city officials explored what youth mobility really means, why it matters, and how it can benefit society as a whole.
Participants agreed that mobility is far more than just physical movement. It’s about exploration, learning, cultural exchange, skill-building through non-formal education, and broadening perspectives. Experiencing new environments helps young people grow and see the world differently. Youth described mobility as a mix of freedom, discovery, creativity, and the sharing of knowledge and experiences.
Beyond the excitement of discovering new places and opportunities, participants emphasized how mobility can also shift how young people perceive and value their communities.
Many young people who had the chance to travel or study elsewhere return home with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to blend the best of what they’ve learned with what they love locally, creating something meaningful for their peers.
The discussion also highlighted the consequences of limited mobility. When access to learning and growth opportunities is reserved for the privileged, entire generations risk being left behind. Without mobility, young people can find themselves stuck in familiar circles, with few chances to grow personally or professionally, and limited exposure to innovation and new ways of thinking.
Participants stressed that being confined to routine environments and patterns is a recipe for stagnation and regression. Despite the availability of online learning and networking, youth underlined the irreplaceable value of in-person interaction. Face-to-face connection with peers helps build communication skills and personal confidence.
During the event, youth learned what the Mobility Fund will offer – from a simplified, youth-friendly application process to various types of support available in the first phase of implementation. They discussed possible models for supporting travel, exchanges, and participation in training programs and projects, both abroad and within BiH, all with the goal of building young people’s knowledge, skills, and confidence.
In addition to supporting youth participation in competitions and non-formal education, the discussion placed special emphasis on mobility for young artists and activists.
Representatives of youth organizations in the arts, culture, and activism sectors emphasized that mobility must also include opportunities to attend festivals, showcases, and creative events as spaces where young people connect through music, dance, theatre, poetry, and prose, and where artistic activism is promoted.
This event made it clear that involving youth in decision-making processes is essential. Through open dialogue, the City of Tuzla sent a strong signal that it recognizes young people’s needs and is committed to working alongside them to create opportunities for them to reach their full potential.
The City of Tuzla is supported through the project “Designing, Developing and Adopting Youth Policies”, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT in partnership with the Regional Youth Cooperation Offic (RYCO), the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Network of youth centers for animation, development and training of Republika Srpska (M.O.C.A.R.T.) and the Association of Secondary School Students in BiH.
