As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the position of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Institute for Youth Development KULT is organizing the Basic Training for Youth Officers. This training gathers representatives from local governments to strengthen their skills and knowledge in crucial areas that directly influence how they engage with and support young people. Youth officers are the link between young people, the youth sector and local government.
One of the key elements of the training is building advocacy and lobbying skills. In the fourth module, youth officers learned strategies to represent young people’s interests, ensure their voices are heard in decision-making, and help local administrations adopt measures that improve their work with youth. Special emphasis is placed on the skills needed to plan and implement an advocacy initiative.
“During the youth officer training, we had the opportunity to discuss lobbying, various advocacy methods, and their positive impact on the local community. As a participant, I also had the opportunity to focus on political processes, which are crucial for understanding how lobbying fits into the broader framework of decision-making and policy development in a community. Political processes that shape decision-making must be strengthened to ensure all citizens, especially young people, have a say in the policies that affect their lives. This basic training for youth officers, which consists of 5 modules, will definitely help us in our professional and personal development. Sharing best practices and experiences with other local self-government units will improve the processes carried out by local communities and ensure better alignment of programs and projects at the local level,” said Begić Šehrudin, expert advisor for sports, culture, and youth in the City of Bihać.
Another key segment of the training focused on public relations to help ensure better recognition and acceptance of youth-oriented programs and measures. Participants learned how to strategically plan public communication, create media campaign plans, and use social media to promote activities. Participants learned that transparency and clear communication with the public build trust in youth programs implemented by local governments. They analyzed examples of good practice, learned how to tailor messages for different target groups, and used positive stories about young people as examples.
“As a youth officer responsible for informing users and non-governmental organizations in the Livno City Administration, participating in the basic training has been an important step in my professional development and improving my skills. I don’t view this training as a mere formality but as a valuable opportunity to gain new knowledge and competencies that will have a significant impact on my work with young people in our city. For me, this training is a foundation for further personal growth and development. Through interactive exercises, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges young people face and the ways in which we, as local administrations, can help them overcome those obstacles. This experience has motivated me to actively engage with young people, because I now recognize how crucial it is to establish a strong foundation for better cooperation and communication with them. I believe that a better future for young people in Livno can only be achieved through collective cooperation built on a deeper understanding,” said Mariana Brčić from Livno.
Through practical exercises, participants had the opportunity to prepare and conduct a mock press conference, where they practiced presenting proposals and arguments, advocating for the needs of young people in their communities.
The training equipped youth officers with practical tools and useful guidelines on how to improve their work. In the long term, these skills will help them articulate the needs of young people, and support their involvement in decision-making processes and the promotion of positive changes in society.
This program demonstrates that ongoing investment in education and the strengthening of support networks are essential to building a society that genuinely listens to and empowers its young people.
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 participants will receive their certificates in December this year. The training is approved by the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports.
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