The COVID-19 pandemic has the entire world facing different challenges, living in isolation and practicing physical distancing. Cultural institutions, schools, universities, parks and entertainment venues are abandoned and taking a break from its usual patrons. Teaching staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the world are doing their utmost to make sure that their students get the education they need. The Institute for Youth Development KULT supports formal education, but is also aware of the importance of non-formal education. We have therefore continued with our Learn, Think and Act! training for generation 16, this time with an online module.
The third module, focused on Project cycle management, was held on Zoom, between April 16 and 18, 2020. The trainers used a variety of methods to engage participants in interactive learning and teach them how to present their ideas in the form of a project application. After the pandemic, participants will have a chance to implement their local civil initiatives in their communities, and contribute to solving some of the problems their peers face. The Institute will support their efforts to implement local initiatives with mentorship and funds.
The participants showed a strong interest in this topic and impressive enthusiasm, despite the current situation. They all said they miss spending time with each other, talking, and sharing opinions, and that they can’t wait to see each other again, whether online or at the Educational-Leisure Center for Youth SPAJALICA. This was a new experience for the UMiD organizational team and the participant, and we all learned some valuable lessons. The participants reacted very well to the new format, which motivates us to continue and shows that non-formal education can adapt to distance learning.
Coffee Time With…, a regular feature of UMiD was also held online. For this module, our guests were last year’s UMiD participants, Nerma Džaferović and Mirza Mujdžić-Jojić, who successfully implemented their local civil initiative “Eco Corner” in Gradačac. They talked about their experience, achievements and all the small obstacles they had to overcome to make ideas come to life, which helps current participants prepare for their activities.
UMiD 16 is implemented within the project Dialogue for a Joint Future, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH.
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