Following the meeting in Mostar, we met young councilors from the Teslić Municipal Assembly, who joined the new ‘Councilors for Youth’ initiative. This meeting marked the launch of the informal platform ‘Youth Councilors’ in the Municipality of Teslić, aimed at uniting young councilors interested in working together on issues that are important to young people.
The platform encourages the exchange of ideas and perspectives, offering innovative approaches to developing policies and programs for youth. The Institute will offer professional support to young councilors in developing initiatives to improve young people’s status, improve community life, provide additional training and learning opportunities, and foster connections with youth organizations and representatives.
The introductory meeting held at the Municipality of Teslić was attended by young councilors Slaven Jelić, representing the Socialist Party, and Meša Jašarević, representing the Democratic Action Party (SDA). The “Youth Councilors” platform and its action plan were presented during the meeting.
In a constructive discussion with Slaven and Meša, we talked about their work so far and the efforts made by the Municipality of Teslić in addressing areas important for young people. The importance of implementing the Youth Policy of the Municipality of Teslić was particularly emphasized, given that it has led to numerous positive changes for young people, including the Mobility Fund, study visits, scholarships for academic success, and support for successful athletes.
One of the key new initiatives in the Municipality of Teslić is a scholarship for youth activists. This initiative aims to further encourage social engagement and volunteering among young people. It is a well-designed opportunity that we believe will serve as an example of good practice for other communities.
The Municipality of Teslić showcases many positive examples, and the Assembly members are clearly aware of areas where further progress can be made. During the meeting, discussions focused on future efforts to enhance support for young people, including expanding internship programs, introducing innovative models to support early-stage entrepreneurs, and strengthening mental health care support systems for youth.
One of the key conclusions of the meeting was the importance of strengthening the capacities of young councilors, fostering their connections with other key stakeholders involved in implementing initiatives, such as relevant municipal services, and promoting cooperation among councilors. Although the councilors come from different political parties and have varying viewpoints, they share a common willingness to collaborate on issues that transcend these differences and ultimately benefit all young people in the local community.
The young councilors in the Municipality of Teslić have demonstrated a strong commitment to continuing their efforts to improve the position of young people in their community. It is always a pleasure for the Institute for Youth Development KULT to support young politicians like Meša, Slaven, and their colleagues in their endeavors. We want to thank the Municipality of Teslić for their cooperation and support in organizing this meeting, especially the councilors whose enthusiasm helped to start a new initiative in Teslić.
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