Ideas, energy, and visions came together at the closing event of the #JOSUVIJEKSAMTU (eng. #IMSTILLHERE) campaign, titled Visions in Action – Young People Transforming Society. The event brought together young people, representatives of government institutions, and civil society organizations, and provided a platform to discuss the challenges, dreams, and concrete steps shaping the future of youth in BiH.
The program opened with a performance piece titled #JOSUVIJEKSAMTU and you?, in which young artists showcased the dilemmas and hopes of their generation, emphasizing their determination to stay, act, and drive change. Throughout the event, the importance of creating opportunities for youth was highlighted, because through creativity, responsibility, and leadership, young people are the ones who lay the foundations for a better future.
Ajka Rovčanin, Executive Director of the Institute, noted that 70% of young people are satisfied with their lives, 66% are optimistic about the future, and their highest satisfaction comes from relationships with friends and family. More than half said they would stay in BiH if they had the opportunity to start their own business.
“The key message is that society does not need a magic, instant solution. What is truly needed is for everyone to take responsibility at each stage of their lives, to be better and more useful to themselves and their communities. By connecting as responsible and well-intentioned individuals, we can make both small and large changes that benefit everyone,” Rovčanin noted.
Introductory speeches were followed by video stories produced as part of the campaign, in which young people shared their experiences, fears, and determination to remain in BiH. Each story reminded attendees of the importance of motivation, persistence, and solidarity in making a vision come to life.
A panel discussion brought together key speakers: Jasmin Bešić, CEO of the Institute for Youth Development KULT; Eldar Čomor, Mayor of Hadžići Municipality; Marijana Hrvić-Šikuljak, Representative in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament; Emrah Tepić, a young activist with disabilities; entrepreneur Adna Salman Perva; and youth leader Adna Sarvan. Panelists discussed visions for the future of youth, the opportunities institutions and local communities can provide, and how young people themselves can drive change in their communities.
Adna Sarvan, a UMiD training participant, emphasized the value of working on concrete topics and ideas, solving problems, and improving skills. She encouraged more young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to join programs like this, which open doors to new opportunities and demonstrate that individuals and communities can shape the future they want.
The event concluded with the awarding of certificates to the seventh cohort of youth workers and the nineteenth cohort of youth leaders, whose commitment to their communities showed how young people’s ideas are turned into reality. The ceremony highlighted the importance of ongoing work with youth and of linking big visions to real examples of leadership.
Amar Buljubašić, a participant in the youth worker training course, described the experience as an intensive period of training across multiple areas, with the most valuable aspect being networking with peers and sharing experiences.
“We face a lot of challenges in our communities – some shared, some unique to each – but it’s up to young people to confront these challenges and work on solutions,” said Buljubašić.
The program concluded with an informal session where young people shared experiences and positive stories, highlighting that youth are the true drivers of change. Once again, it became clear that the visions of young people are more than just ideas – they grow into action, energy, and the power to transform communities.
The campaign and closing event were organized by the Institute for Youth Development KULT with support from the Embassy of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
