To give all youth work practitioners a chance to exchange experiences and celebrate their achievements so far, the Institute for Youth Development KULT organized the Second Youth Work Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The event brought together a large number of participants who are committed to amplifying youth voices and who focus on key issues related to the youth sector, as well as opportunities for new partnerships, networking, and joint initiatives. The Convention served as an excellent opportunity for connection, collaboration, and future joint action among civil society organizations, youth organizations, umbrella youth bodies, institutions responsible for youth issues, organizations working on youth issues, the donor community that invests in youth, researchers, and others in BiH who care about young people and want to make progress alongside them.
In her opening remarks, Ajka Rovčanin, Executive Director of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, said: “The Convention is not just an event but a continuation of our shared process of engagement. It is a call for partnership between organizations and government institutions, support for a multisectoral approach, and a chance to share good practice, as well as the challenges we face.”
Adnan Husić, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, added: “The Ministry of Civil Affairs sees a strong youth sector as one of the foundations of a stable and progressive society. What makes this event special is that young people are not just the topic, they are here because they have a lot to say and they have energy that we can channel into progress.”
After the opening speeches, participants took part in the panel “Youth Work as a Tool for Empowering Young People,” where different speakers shared their experiences and ideas: Adis Salkić, Assistant Minister for Youth at the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports, Milijana Simić, Head of the Department for Specialist and Administrative Affairs in the Government of the Brčko District, Jasmina Banjalučkić, head of Strategic Program Management at the Institute for Youth Development KULT, Aleksandar Petković, Senior Associate for Youth Work, Associations, and NGOs in the Municipality of Stanari.
The discussion continued through parallel sessions on topics such as promoting inclusion through youth work, the future of youth work and its media visibility, youth work as a vocation and/or profession, and the importance of prevention in youth-related efforts.
Thoughtful contributions from participants and panelists sparked meaningful conversations and a spirit of collaboration. Thanks to these discussions and the exchange of diverse perspectives, each session offered participants a chance to learn, reflect, and inspire one another.
Ajdin Fejzić, one of the participants, shared: “I’m glad I had the chance to meet different people, connect with them, and experience something new. We discovered shared values worth nurturing and identified areas where we can make improvements going forward.”
Another participant, Mateja Topić, added: “We addressed important topics around young people and their place in society. We discussed what still needs to change and how good practices can be applied in our work.”
The second day of the Convention focused on making youth work more sustainable, fostering stronger collaboration with key stakeholders, and exploring how to continue investing in and shaping the future of youth work.
The Convention’s conclusions will reflect the voices of all participants, sending a clear message, particularly to decision-makers and the broader public, about the value of youth work, the importance of recognizing all stakeholders, and the need for BiH to be actively included in regional and European youth programs.
The Second Youth Work Convention in BiH was organized by the Institute for Youth Development KULT in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, with support from the Embassy of Sweden in BiH.
The event’s media partner was Antena Sarajevo.
