Young people looking to be active in their community need support in identifying problems in their community and encouragement to help solve them. This is exactly what’s offered by local civic initiatives conducted by the participants of the Learn, Think, and Act! training, which has been conducted by the Institute for Youth Development KULT for years.
Through his local civil initiative, Munever Mešić addressed the issue of environmental pollution, focusing on areas where people throw garbage from their cars onto the side of the road and recreational areas where litter is common. Determined to tackle this issue, he launched the “Save Our Villages” initiative. This project involved organizing several cleanup events and educational workshops for children and young people on environmental protection and nature conservation.
Conducting workshops on environmental protection for children aged 10-15 proved to be a great idea. Topics such as ecology, energy use, recycling and environmental education proved very interesting to the participants. Youth and children were delighted young people and said they would be very happy to participate in similar training and gatherings in the future.
“The workshop was very interesting. I hung out with my peers and together we learned something new. We talked about the environment and how we should protect it to make it healthier and more beautiful. I am looking forward to new events like this one”, said a ten-year-old participant of this workshop.
Another participant, who is fourteen, was equally enthusiastic: “I am happy with the training organized by the Youth Association “FUTURA” and I will definitely participate in future activities. I am proud of myself, because I’m contributing to the village and doing something useful for my community.”
After the LCI was completed, a lasting reminder of this impactful story is the educational board that was installed by the side of the road. This board will serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving nature and as a warning to those who may neglect this responsibility.
While the eco board is the most tangible result of the “Save Our Villages” initiative, the activity included days of learning, socializing, and raising awareness among young people and children about the importance of protecting the environment. The clean-up of the Međiđa Donja – Međiđa Gornja road stretch brought together 25 volunteers and activists and the local team of ASuBiH Gradačac. A large amount of trash was properly disposed of by the young people in designated areas.
For Munever, the coordinator of this initiative and a hard-working UMiD participant, the positive reactions from children and young people prove that his work is making a meaningful and significant impact on his community.
“This project left a special impression on participants because it was the first time our village had a training for children and youth organized by a non-governmental organization. This motivates all of us in the Association to continue working to improve our local community. We are grateful to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in BiH and the Institute for Youth Development KULT for their support and the opportunity to present ourselves in the best light possible. The eco board placed at the entrance to the village of Donja Međiđa is a daily reminder to passers-by, especially drivers, of the detrimental effects of littering. It contributes to building environmental awareness and protecting nature. Locals had very positive reactions, and agree that raising awareness about environmental protection should be an ongoing effort. On the other hand, this eco board will also be a nice reminder of the time we spent together, the positive change we made by spending our free time in a useful way, and it’s a great contribution to the community,” said Munever proudly.
Munever’s story highlights the importance of recognizing young people who are eager and successful in driving positive change. It demonstrates how an individual can spark significant progress when given the chance. The Institute for Youth Development KULT has been successfully demonstrating this for 17 years. We are proud of all the young people whose energy, work and ideas bring positive change to this society.
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