Youth work is essential for nurturing and supporting young people across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Institute for Youth Development KULT has been advocating for the recognition of youth work in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2012 while working on building the capacities of youth workers. At the initiative of the Institute and in line with the subsequent Decision of the BiH Agency for Statistics in April 2014, an expert associate for youth work was recognized as a profession in the classification of professions under code 3412. This is a significant step in standardizing youth work, signaling social recognition not just of the profession but also of informal education as a vital form of professional training.
In 2022, the Institute worked with 18 youth workers from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. By improving the capacities of these youth work professionals, the Institute also supported their organizations in various areas, particularly in direct relationships with young people and the government.
Public advocacy in youth work is essential, particularly in collaborating with the government and supporting them in recognizing and addressing the needs and challenges young people face. To effectively advocate for youth issues, youth workers need a solid understanding of the fundamental principles and elements of public advocacy and public relations. They also need to understand communication in general, be aware of different styles, and develop innovative ways to engage with young people effectively.
“Applying for this training has opened up new perspectives for me, and offered a fresh opportunity to engage with young people. The training combined theory and practice to cover the entire process of working with youth and reinforce our existing knowledge. Taking small steps instills hope and lays a solid foundation for pursuing bigger changes. I believe these small steps of mine will contribute to meaningful improvements in my work with young people in my community. The most valuable takeaway for me was the friendships and experiences shared with colleagues from different communities across the country, each with a unique life and activism journeys. The experience and knowledge I gained through four modules from different trainers and youth workers from all over BiH will certainly be useful to me in my work with young people as the coordinator of the Islamic Community’s Youth Network,” says Belmin from Cazin.
At the same time, social skills in working with young people are essential for addressing their needs and challenges. To better understand how young people perceive the world around them, youth workers must be aware of their own competencies with regard to social intelligence and familiarize themselves with tools and approaches for effective interaction with young people.
“Social competence, burnout and conflict are part and parcel of personal and professional development. My previous perception of conflict was negative, but now I know that it is actually a necessary and integral part of communication. “I’m leaving this module with a wealth of knowledge, techniques, and advice that I’m eager to apply in my work with young people,” says Ermina from Lukavac.
In the upcoming period, the Institute will offer financial and mentoring support to several youth worker initiatives aimed at engaging young people across BiH. These initiatives will serve as practical experience following the training sessions. Initiatives will be implemented through partnerships with local organizations, youth groups, and other youth work stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to improve the position of young people in various local communities and support youth workers in building their own capacities.
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