In the municipal hall in Stanari, young people gathered around a clear objective—they wanted to take a more active role in shaping their community. The dialogue with young people provided an opportunity for their voices to be heard and for their ideas to finally receive the attention they deserve.
The organizers – the Institute for Youth Development KULT, the Network of youth centers for animation, development and training of Republika Srpska (M.O.C.A.R.T.) and the Municipality of Stanari – brought together young people to identify key needs through open discussion and propose concrete measures to improve life in the community. The event sparked lively discussions on three key topics: volunteering, the mobility fund, and the youth budget.
Volunteering emerged as the topic that sparked the most interest. Young people expressed eagerness to engage in activities that benefit the community, from cleaning up illegal landfills to helping the elderly. However, while they are enthusiastic, they also wanted better organisation and support for volunteering, such as covering transportation and meal costs.
Youth mobility is another important issue. Young people from Stanari want more opportunities to participate in educational and volunteer programs, but obstacles such as lack of information, financial resources, and fear of the unknown often hold them back. One of the proposals included establishing a Youth Mobility Fund to financially support youth participation in programs, along with introducing mentoring support to help youth apply and prepare for volunteering.
The discussion on the youth budget sparked a conversation about how the Municipality can better address the needs of young people. Participants highlighted the lack of spaces for youth, the need for better communication about available opportunities, and the importance of offering stronger support for small businesses. They also emphasized the importance of mental health, suggesting the establishment of counseling centers and the implementation of anti-bullying programs.
This dialogue was more than just a conversation—it showed that young people in Stanari have ideas, energy, and the drive to spark change. Their message is clear: they want to be involved, they want to contribute, and they want a community where their voices are heard.
The organizers stressed that the recommendations from young people are invaluable and will play a key role in shaping future activities and policies aimed at improving the position of youth in Stanari.
The dialogue with young people in Stanari demonstrated that change is sparked with conversations—but it can be sustained only if young people are given the chance to actively participate in shaping their future.
The Stanari municipality is supported through 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 Offic (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.
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