By signing a cooperation agreement, the Municipality of Bugojno reaffirmed its commitment to developing a comprehensive youth strategy and an action plan, with support from the Institute for Youth Development KULT and funding from the European Union. The youth strategy will open new pathways for working with young people and offer them new opportunities for employment, education, healthcare, youth activism culture and sports.
Incorporating youth-related issues in policy areas through specific initiatives, alongside promoting youth participation in decision-making, will be a key focus for the Municipality of Bugojno. This commitment reflects the municipality’s dedication to aligning with the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and advancing towards the achievement of the European Youth Goals.
During the meeting, the Mayor of Bugojno Municipality, Mr. Edin Mašić, was appreciative of the support, emphasizing how it will help create better conditions for young people in Bugojno, fostering their personal growth and, in doing so, strengthening the entire community. As the mayor emphasized, the youth strategy will serve as a framework for addressing the identified needs of young people in the community.
The youth strategy will define goals in key areas like education, employment, health care, social status, and security, making it easier to implement projects that improve young people’s lives and help them reach their full potential. Improving sports, culture, activism, and youth engagement and access to information will help Bugojno grow into a community that young people want to build lives in.
The strategy development process will begin with a survey of young people aged 15 to 30, assessing their needs and status in the municipality. The research findings on the position and needs of young people in Bugojno will serve as key data for shaping strategic programs and policies. These initiatives will address identified challenges and create new opportunities for youth.
An essential part of developing the youth strategy will be recognizing the role of young people and youth organizations in shaping policies. Their contributions will help promote democratic processes, aligning with key measures of the EU’s youth strategy.
The Municipality of Bugojno is receiving support from 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 Office (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.
