The Municipality of Modriča is actively working to strengthen youth organising, recognising the vital role young people play in community development. In cooperation with the Institute for Youth Development KULT, the Municipality has launched the establishment of a Register of Youth Associations.
The Register will help local authorities provide more effective support to youth organisations through resources, information, and partnerships, and make it easier to involve young people in shaping youth-related policies.
As a result, those policies will be better aligned with their real needs. Once formally registered, an organisation gains the legitimacy to cooperate with schools, institutions, and other NGOs, as well as access to essential funding opportunities such as grants, public calls, donations, and various funds.
Youth activism and organising were the central themes of the Youth–Government Dialogue held in Modriča on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. The event brought together representatives of the Municipality, educational institutions, and young activists, who discussed the importance of having formal records and the benefits that registration brings to youth associations.
Modriča is proud of its young people who invest their free time in cultural activities, sports, and community engagement. However, most activities are organised by informal groups or school clubs.
This limits their access to funding and stronger support mechanisms. Young people noted that the biggest barriers to formalising their activism are bureaucratic procedures, which often seem complicated and intimidating, especially for high school students. In addition, high registration costs are a significant financial obstacle at the very beginning.
Municipal representatives reiterated that they are available to young people and will provide full support throughout the registration process. Participants noted that the Municipality needs to better inform youth about how they can organise and the associated procedures, be more active on social media, and communicate with young people directly. They also stressed that lowering registration fees would be an important incentive.
Young people emphasised the importance of creating early habits when it comes to participating in activities and community initiatives, as well as the role of adult support in sustaining their interest.
They are well aware of the benefits of organizing and understand that, as members of formal organizations, they can implement larger community-beneficial projects, develop their skills, and make an even greater contribution to Modriča.
A key idea was proposed during the dialogue: once current informal groups become formally registered, young people should establish a Youth Council. As an umbrella body, the Council would allow for longer-term and more sustainable support, projects, and activities, ensuring that youth activism in Modriča has a strong and lasting impact.
The Modriča 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 Office (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.
