For young people to actively contribute to their communities, they need opportunities to recognize the challenges around them and the motivation to take part in solving them. That’s exactly what local civil initiatives offer to participants of Learn, Think, and Act! (UMiD), a training program implemented for years by the Institute for Youth Development KULT.
One of these participants, Asmir Omerdić, launched the initiative “Financial Literacy for Youth” to help young people in his community better understand the world of finance and take control of their own finances. A team of young volunteers supported him throughout the process, along with the Institute for Youth Development KULT and the Izvor Nade Foundation.
The group handled everything themselves, from researching and preparing workshop topics to contacting speakers, creating promotional visuals, and organizing the seminars. Afterward, they conducted surveys to measure participants’ progress. The results showed evident progress in their understanding of financial literacy.
The workshops covered a wide range of topics, from personal finance and investing to macroeconomic basics and the digital economy. Alongside the learning component, the team put a lot of effort into promoting the seminars and collecting participant feedback, which helped them continuously improve and tailor the program to young people’s needs.
“This initiative made a meaningful difference for young people in the community. Through interactive seminars, participants acquired practical skills and knowledge that will enable them to navigate future financial challenges. The pre- and post-tests showed clear results – as their knowledge grew, so did their confidence and willingness to take an active role in planning and making financial decisions. It wasn’t just a training session – it genuinely shifted their mindset and strengthened them both personally and socially,” said Asmir Omerdić, UMiD participant.
A key factor in the success of the project was the Learn, Think, and Act! (UMiD) program itself. Omerdić says the training played a major role in his personal and professional development. It helped him understand how projects work, how to deal with challenges, and how to coordinate activities effectively. The knowledge he gained proved invaluable during every stage of implementing the initiative, from planning to analysing results. That experience now serves as a foundation for his future community work.
By the end of the project, the impact was clear. Young people reported having more confidence and better financial management skills. One participant noted that the seminar was “very useful,” adding that his self-assessed financial knowledge increased from four to eight. Feedback like this was the best proof that the effort paid off, and participants not only learned but also became motivated to share that knowledge with others.
“My message to young people is that financial literacy is essential for their future and their empowerment. It’s important to start learning early about basic financial concepts like saving, investing, managing debt, and budgeting because this helps you make informed decisions and build a stable financial foundation. Financial literacy isn’t just about money; it’s about creating security and long-term well-being, avoiding debt and financial hardship, and achieving your personal and professional goals,” Asmir said.
UMiD19 is a three-month training program implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT. The program consists of 3 modules covering 10 topics that help young people become active community members and leaders. In 2025, 10 young people from 10 communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in the nineteenth UMiD cohort.
