Ilidža Municipality, in collaboration with the Institute for Youth Development KULT and the Ilidža Youth Council, has carried out a survey on the status and needs of young people, marking the first step toward developing a new local youth strategy. This process clearly reflects the Municipality’s commitment to improving the quality of life for young people through ongoing support and targeted policies that respond to their real needs.
The analysis of youth needs and conditions in Ilidža serves as the foundation for drafting the youth strategy. It offers insight into the key challenges faced by young people and provides recommendations for enhancing relevant policies and programs. The survey included 385 young people aged 15 to 30 and gathered data on education, employment, health, social care, culture, sports, safety, and youth activism.
The findings paint a clear picture of the real issues young people face in the community.
In the area of education and employment, the analysis revealed high levels of dissatisfaction with the skills gained through formal education. A striking 22.9% of respondents said that their education had been of no use in securing employment in their field, while only 21.8% of young people reported working in a job related to their qualifications. More than half (50.6%) of employed youth were working outside their trained profession, which points to a disconnect between the education system and labor market demands.
Self-employment support emerged as a key issue. Over half (56.4%) of young people expressed a desire to start their own business, and 56.9% identified financial assistance as the most crucial form of support. Mentorship and training were also highly valued. Young people clearly recognize the importance of practical skills and are calling for programs that will prepare them for the job market, especially programs that involve employer engagement and create opportunities for first work experience. Notably, 5.5% of respondents already own a business, while 10.6% are actively working on starting one.
Analysis of health trends among young people in Ilidža led to some important insights. A significant number of respondents (24.9%) could not recall the last time they had a routine health check-up, which underscores the need to raise awareness about preventive care and health education. The high rate of non-responses to questions about reproductive health, along with the finding that 38.19% of young women do not attend regular annual check-ups, points to the need for a more sensitive approach and greater engagement by stakeholders in promoting youth reproductive health.
When it comes to housing and financial independence, the data show that most young people in Ilidža still live with their parents (69.1%). The high cost of housing and rent is the main reason why many do not move out earlier. Current housing policies are not youth-friendly, and only 8.6% of young people in Ilidža own their own home. Financial constraints, such as low income or lack of support for housing, are a major barrier to independence for youth.
The analysis not only revealed what young people in Ilidža are experiencing today, but also points to key directions for action. The youth strategy should include concrete measures in education, employment, health, safety, mobility, culture, and youth participation. Only through a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach can we build a local community where young people will want to stay, contribute, and thrive.
For more information on the position and needs of young people, see: Analysis of the survey on the position and needs of young people in the municipality of Ilidža.
These activities are part of the project “Designing, Developing and Adopting Youth Policies”, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT in partnership with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Network of youth centers for animation, development and training of Republika Srpska (M.O.C.A.R.T.) and the Association of Secondary School Students in BiH.
