The two-day conference “Present and Future: Local Progress with Strong Civil Society Organizations,” organized by the Institute for Youth Development KULT with the support of the U.S. government, provided a perfect opportunity to share the achievements of local organizations that were supported by the Institute with capacity building.
Strong civil society organizations are crucial for the progress of the entire community, which is why they need and deserve intensive support with their capacity-building efforts. This event created a platform for discussions and opportunities to analyze the everyday challenges faced by these organizations.
“I am glad that we are here today to talk, share opinions and continue our collective pursuit of new, significant changes in the local communities in our country. The Institute for Youth Development KULT is extremely proud of all the achievements of the local organizations that have completed our capacity-building process. I look forward to continuing to work together in the future to strengthen organizations that create meaningful change in local communities.”, said Ajka Rovčanin, executive director of the Institute for Youth Development KULT.
“The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recognizes the vital role of civil society organizations in achieving positive change in communities. We are proud to collaborate with the Institute to strengthen the capacity of local civil society organizations to provide important services and support to citizens. “This event provided an invaluable platform for dialogue, bringing together participants from various sectors to address challenges and opportunities, share experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Kelsey Crowley, Director of the USAID/BiH Democracy and Governance Office.
During the event, participants had the opportunity to engage in discussions and exchange experiences on crucial topics for the development of civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and learn about perspectives from various sectors. The goal was to provide a comprehensive overview of the current situation in the civil society in BiH, open up opportunities for progress, and create more productive communities in BiH.
The main impetus behind this event is the desire to foster local development and progress by highlighting the strong link between strengthening organizations and the growth of local communities.
“I think that all of us in the non-governmental sector sometimes wonder what it is that we do and produce every day. We know that we’re putting in a huge effort, but there is nothing tangible and that effort is not easily measurable by the public. What’s missing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in all aspects, is for all of us to say what our vision is for the future of this country. I feel defeated when I hear that organizations see each other as competition. Civil society often plays an important role, and without it some segments of the population would be absolutely marginalized.”, said panelist Dario Jovanović, fro the Centers for Civic Initiatives.
The event also featured discussions with partner organizations from neighboring countries, showcasing successful methodologies implemented by local organizations as examples of best practices.
Events like this one facilitate networking among representatives of non-governmental organizations, allowing them to meet other stakeholders, exchange opinions and experiences, and form partnerships. This is crucial for potential cooperation, support and strengthening of civil society organizations, which in turn leads to stronger communities.
The conference “Present and Future: Local progress with strong civil society organizations” was supported by USAID’s LocalWorks Local Capacity Development Activity.
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