Sharing Experiences to Build a Stronger BiH Youth Sector

The Institute for Youth Development KULT  organized an event called ExCHANGE – Sharing Experiences to Build a Stronger BiH Youth Sector.

This event provided an excellent opportunity for organizations in the youth sector to share their extensive experiences, connect participants, and explore possibilities for future collaboration in upcoming activities. The event was attended by approximately 50 participants, including representatives from organizations and activists dedicated to working with and for young people, all aiming to foster positive social change.

The purpose of today’s event was to sign contracts with organizations that will implement activities aimed at building a brighter future for young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, the Institute for Youth Development KULT awarded four grants worth a total of 265,000 BAM, adding to the previously awarded grants to 4 organizations that have already started implementing activities.

Grant agreements were signed today with the following organizations: Youth Press Association in BiH, Association Progressive Development of Organizations and Individuals PROI, Association for Education and Development “Dignitet” and Association of Secondary School Students in BiH.

The CEO of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, Jasmin Bešić, opened the event by greeting the attendees: “This event is a journey through all that we have achieved together, and it is also a step towards the future that we are collectively shaping. It is time to recognize our capacities and make optimal use of them so we can achieve real and sustainable change. United in this mission, we can overcome obstacles and together build a better future for young people in our country. It is important to recognize that all of us here, regardless of the size of our organizations, share the same mission – building a stronger and more sustainable youth sector in BiH. The CHANGE program allows us to work on this vision together. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden for their support, which has been instrumental to the success of this program and our efforts together. Thank you for being our partner in this journey towards a stronger youth sector”, said Bešić.

“Young people are the future, but they are also the present. If young people do not see a future in their country, they will look for opportunities elsewhere. Hopelessness makes young people leave, and in order to reverse that trend, young people should be part of shaping the future of this country. With the support of Sweden, the Institute has put a lot of effort into empowering and training young people, youth workers, entrepreneurs, young politicians and those working in youth organizations in local communities. However, we cannot improve the prospects for young people on our own, and the Institute can’t do it alone either. One of the goals of the CHANGE program is for youth organizations to establish strong ties and support each other, especially when it comes to improving cooperation with the public sector. Today, we celebrate the awarding of grants to the most successful youth organizations advocating for the implementation of youth laws in BiH, and supporting the development of the youth sector. I congratulate you and wish you all a successful event”, said Director General of Sida Eva Smedberg.

The event also discussed achievements in the field of youth work in BiH, including examples of good practice. The presentation of success stories and organizations that have implemented activities with the Institute’s support was followed by a panel discussion on the topic of “Achievements and Challenges in Working with Young People in BiH.” The panelists were Amir Hasanović from the Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE Sarajevo, Ammar Grabić from ONAuBiH Sarajevo, and Edisa Demić from the Association “Dignitet” Mostar.

The panelists agreed that addressing current challenges requires fostering connection, cooperation, and synergy. They emphasized the importance of sharing different experiences and learning from one another to find effective solutions. They agreed that this approach offers a significantly greater chance of making faster progress in improving the quality of life for young people in our country.

The event ExCHANGE – Sharing Experiences to Build a Stronger BiH Youth Sector was organized by the Institute for Youth Development KULT with the support of the Embassy of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina.