President of the Youth Council of the Municipality of Stari Grad Mr. Ajdin Kahrovi? met with the Mayor of this respective Municipality Mr. Ibrahim HadĹľibajri?. Mr. Kahrovi? presented the youth development strategy to the Mayor and Mr. HadĹľibajri? demonstrated great interest in the presented proposals, as well as the willingness to pursue cooperation and provide support by reaching a decision according to which the Municipality would cover the costs for registration of the youth umbrella body. In addition, he also stated that the House of Culture Vratnik would be made available to the Youth Council.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered a workshop for the representatives of Youth Councils from the Municipalities of Cazin, Vogoš?a, Domaljevac-Šamac, Goražde, Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, Orašje and Mostar, in the period from 11 until 13 July 2012. As part of the three-day program, the discussion centred upon youth activism in the digital environment, current and future activities of the Youth Councils. The methodology for monitoring and lobbying local authorities, known as the WATCHDOG initiative, and the Youth friendliness index (criteria, verification means, scoring) were presented.

The Volleyball Club Pelagi?evo, Cultural Society Vaso Pelagi? and Youth Council Pelagi?evo initiated the formation of an umbrella youth body in this respective Municipality. The Founding Assembly of the Youth Council of the Municipality of Pelagi?evo was held on 30 July 2012, whereby the members of the management body were elected: the Chairman of the Board Mr. Mladen Jerkovi?, the President of the Assembly Mr. Mi?o Sajlovi? and the President of the Youth Council Dujko Lazi?. The following step is the registration of the Youth Council.

The Youth Council of the Municipality of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje held a presentation on the results of a recently conducted survey in the Municipality, on 10 July 2012, at the premises of the PI Centre for Culture and Education.

The purpose of this survey was to determine how well the young people from the municipality are informed of their fundamental rights and freedoms, and the level of youth motivation to fight for their rights.

The conclusions reached by the members of the Youth Council of the Municipality of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, based on the survey findings, are as follows:

• The vast majority of young people live with their both parents (70%)


• The vast majority of young people do not belong or do not identify themselves with the socially vulnerable categories (69% of respondents said they did not belong to any of these socially-vulnerable population categories)


• Young people keep themselves informed via the Internet (portals and social networks) (64%)


• There is a very low level of keeping themselves informed upon relying on associations and local authorities (less than 3%)


• Young people are not familiar with the European Youth Charter
  


• Young people are not aware of the existence of the Youth Law of FBiH


• Young people have a good understanding of what the function of youth councils should be


• Young people should be introduced to the basic documents related to the youth rights
  


• The vast majority of young people are not members of an association (75% of respondents are not members of any association)


• Involvement of young members of an association is questionable as well as the quality work of such an association


• There is a need for more active and effective engagement of local associations in terms of youth work


• It is necessary to promote involvement and the work of youth in associations


• It is necessary to provide a better environment for the activities conducted by associations

Areas of interest for the involvement of young people:

• Sport, leisure and social life


• Employment


• Education


• Struggle against violence and crime


• Protecting the environment

These areas of interest should be further processed through the development of a strategy for young people from the Municipality of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje.

This event was attended by the representatives of local authorities, the Youth Officer in the Municipality of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje Mr. Hidajet RedĹľi?, as well as the President of the Municipal Council Mr. Marinko Krajina, representatives of the Red Cross and the Centre for Social Work, Director of the MSS Uskoplje, a number of young activists from the AC Youth Centre, as well as the representatives of the OSCE Mission to BiH.

The Youth Council of the Municipality of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje will use these survey findings as a landmark in its future endeavours, thus with the aim to contribute to the promotion of youth activism, establish cooperation between youth and local government, and to improve the lives of young people from the area of the Municipality.

This survey represents the first project of the Youth Council of the Municipality of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, whose mission is to promote youth activism and initiate projects with the aim of increasing the participation of young people as equal actors in the socio-political life of the community.