During the second module of the “Learn, Think and Act” training (UMiD19) for youth leaders, participants learned and improved their skills through lectures, hands-on work, and idea sharing, while gaining motivation to take active roles in their communities.
The module began with an engaging session on youth policies led by trainer Jasmina Banjalučkić from the Institute for Youth Development KULT. Using interactive exercises and real-world examples, she helped participants understand how complex decision-making can be, why young people play such an important role in the system, and how they can actively shape policies.
After this session, participants had a much better understanding of how the system works and felt prepared to turn their ideas into concrete action in their communities.
During the module, these future young leaders also learned about Orange Day – a day dedicated to the fight against violence against women and girls, which the Institute celebrates on the 25th day of every month. The Orange Day discussion encouraged participants to think about planning campaigns and future activities, giving them opportunities to bring awareness about this issue to their own communities.
The module concluded with sessions by Ilija Trninić, who guided participants through advocacy and lobbying topics. Using concrete examples, Ilija clearly distinguished between these approaches, explained what makes each one unique, and shared practical tools for building effective strategies to influence decision-makers. His approach gave participants both solid knowledge and the inspiration to speak up for their communities and get involved in decision-making.
“If I had to describe the second UMiD training module in one word, it would be – fantastic! During our three days in Teslić, we had an excellent team and great organization, plus both sessions and speakers were outstanding. We spent the first three days exploring youth policy. After Jasmina’s presentation, I felt informed and empowered to turn my ideas into real projects and be active in my local community. The next two days, we worked with the engaging Ilija, who drew on his extensive experience to show us the key aspects of advocacy and lobbying. I’m excited about what the third module will bring, and the positive changes we’ll create together in our communities,” said Lejla Latić, a training participant.
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.
